The Friendship Centre Movement began in the mid-1950s when local groups were formed across Canada to represent the interests of Indigenous peoples migrating from outlying reserves and Métis Settlements to urban areas. These groups became known as Friendship Centres.
Friendship Centres were and continue to be dedicated to providing culturally-based programs and services that respond to the distinct needs of urban Indigenous people. They are known for their ability to bridge gaps that exist between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in urban areas. Friendship Centres have long been recognized by government and community members for contributing to the revitalization of Indigenous culture; developing greater awareness and understanding of urban Indigenous peoples and their role in Alberta communities.
In the late 1960s, Friendship Centres began organizing into Provincial/Territorial Associations (PTAs) aimed at providing administrative support to each of the local Friendship Centres within their specified region. The increased organizational network that resulted from the creation of PTAs enabled local Friendship Centres to focus more diligently on assisting Indigenous peoples in adjusting to their new urban environments.
On April 28th, 1970, the Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association (ANFCA) was the first Provincial/Territorial Association to be incorporated in the Friendship Centre Movement. In the years that followed six additional PTAs were formed across Canada. During this time of foundational growth and development, the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) was established to ensure a national Friendship Centre perspective was championed.
The NAFC was established in 1972 to represent, nationally, the growing number of Friendship Centres emerging across Canada. As the national body of the Friendship Centre Movement, the NAFC is democratically governed by a voluntary Executive Committee and a volunteer Board of Directors, is status blind and accountable to its membership.
In Alberta, 21 Member Friendship Centres work to improve the lives of urban Indigenous people in their communities. As part of their mandate, Friendship Centres welcome all community members regardless of place of origin or status to partake in their services and programming – they are status blind and non-political, not representing, but supporting and advocating for all community members who seek their support. This sense of inclusivity has earned Friendship Centres the reputation of a caring, culturally driven community organizations who are committed to improving the socio-economic situations. Inclusivity is one of the core values of the Friendship Centre Movement.
Some Interesting Friendship Centre Details
As grassroots organizations, Friendship Centres rely on the valuable contribution of volunteers and staff in order to make their programs successful and to realize genuine improvement in the quality of life of urban Indigenous people.
Over 3,200 Friendship Centre members contribute over 67,000 hours of volunteer hours per year to Friendship Centre projects and events. Over 250 individuals are employed by Friendship Centres.
Within the ANFCA region, member Friendship Centres serve over 100,000 people annually, of which approximately 75% are of Indigenous ancestry and 25% are non-Indigenous.
There are member Friendship Centres located in urban centres as small as High Prairie (2,600 people) to the City of Calgary (1,096,833 people). The most northern centre is located at High Level in the northwest part of the province with the most southern centre located at Pincher Creek in the further southwest corner of the province.
Friendship Centres not only support their 20 urban centres, but provide programs and services to urban Indigenous people transitioning to urban centres from over 140 First Nations reserves and 8 Métis Settlements as well as to the urban Indigenous people not connected to a nation or land base.
Friendship Centres are determined, creative, resourceful – they are skilled at leveraging funding contributed by federal and provincial governments. It is estimated in Alberta over $9 million dollars is annually contributed through leveraging efforts of the 20 Friendship Centres in Alberta. This level of achievement is attributed to dedicated individuals working tirelessly to develop programs and services designed to improve the quality of life of urban Indigenous families and individuals.
Friendship Centre Movement
As part of a larger national structure known as the Friendship Centre Movement, the ANFCA works alongside other PTAs and the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) for the betterment of Friendship Centres all with a goal to uphold and advocate for effective resources to address the needs of the growing urban Indigenous population across Canada.
