Indigenous Friends

IndigiTAL: Connecting Through Technology starts next month!

Starting Monday, August 10, join us to build your digital skills, connect with others, and learn in a supportive environment. Register now through the link in our bio to secure your spot!

IndigiTAL: Connecting Through Technology is just a few weeks away!

This program curriculum focuses on building practical tech skills while also exploring how technology can foster cultural preservation and strengthen community connections.

Sign up through the link in bio or copy the link below. Apply now to secure your spot early!

https://indigenousfriends.typeform.com/to/JZTxR1Bl

As National Indigenous History Month comes to a close, we want to say thank you!

Over this past month, we’ve shared small glimpses into the stories, creativity, community, and values that continue to shape the work we do at Indigenous Friends Association every day.

This month is not only a time to reflect on Indigenous histories, cultures, and knowledge, but also a celebration of how those teachings and creative practices continue to grow, evolve, and thrive today.

To everyone who spent time learning with us, shared our posts, supported our work, joined our programs, donated, or simply followed along this month, thank you for being here with us.

Community is at the heart of everything we do, and we are grateful to walk this path alongside all of you.

If you would like to continue supporting Indigenous-led programs rooted in culture, creativity, and community, you can do so here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/147167

This month is also a time to reflect on the history and ongoing impacts of colonization in Canada, and most importantly, the importance of continuing to create spaces where Indigenous communities can grow, learn, create, and thrive.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls to Action remind us of the importance of improving access to education, opportunity, and community support.

At Indigenous Friends Association, our work exists with that mindset and is at the forefront of our organization.
Our work is about more than building digital skills;
It’s about access.
It’s about community.
It’s about creating space for Indigenous voices, creativity, self-determination, and culture to continue growing into the future.

Our programs remain free and accessible because of community support. Thank you to everyone who has supported us until now!

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/147167

What happens after our programs?

Those who take part in our programs leave with skills ranging from digital literacy, coding, web design, and digital art, but they also leave with something more.

They leave with confidence, a supportive community, a deeper connection to culture, and new paths filled with opportunity.

For some, that journey continues through paid internships where they gain hands-on experience in areas like web development, design, and digital art while continuing to grow their skills in supportive environments.

For others, they carry what they have learned back into their communities, use it to grow a business, explore creative passions, or build new opportunities for themselves and those around them.

We invite you to explore some of the positive success stories shared by members of our community here: https://www.indigenousfriends.org/successstories

We also encourage anyone who has taken part in our programs to share their own story and growth with us in the comments, whether through art, business, community work, or something entirely their own ❤

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to become part of our community!

“Art is a way to express our sovereignty, our resilience, and our humanity.”
— Kent Monkman

Art has always been a form of storytelling within Indigenous communities. Through carving, beadwork, painting, regalia; design, stories, teachings, and lived experiences have been carried forward across generations.

Our resident artist Tsista is no exception.

As an Anishinaabe and Onyota'a woodland-style artist from Beausoleil First Nation and Oneida Nation of the Thames, Tsista has been creating art since childhood. Today, as an artist, mentor, and educator with Indigenous Friends Association, he draws inspiration from personal experiences, community, humour, and culture, using digital art to tell stories and share new perspectives.

Through digital art, Tsista continues that tradition of storytelling in new spaces, carrying culture and creativity into the digital world in his own way.

If you would like to read more about Tsista’s journey and how he became part of our team, sign up for our newsletter here: https://indigenousfriends.typeform.com/to/mif16oc3

We’ll be sharing his full story on June 21st!

If you would like to support more Indigenous artists exploring digital spaces through our programs, you can donate here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/147167

The history of Indigenous Friends Association is deeply rooted in culture and community.

Founded by Alejandro Mayoral-Banos in 2015, IFA was originally created from the need for Indigenous youth in urban and post-secondary spaces to have access to safer digital spaces and stronger connections with fellow peers.

Alongside that need was something equally important: creating spaces where people could reconnect and rekindle their relationship with traditional Indigenous values, culture, and community.

From there, we grew. We evolved. We expanded.

Today, we offer programs centered around education in digital art, coding, and technology, while continuing to weave culture, community, and safe learning spaces throughout everything we do. Indigenous community members across Canada are welcome to join our programs free from the comfort of their home.
What does support through our programs look like?
It looks like:

• A welcoming place to learn new skills that meets people where they are at.
• Free access to the tools and technology needed to learn.
• Time with Indigenous mentors who share their stories, knowledge, and lived experiences.
• Support that makes participation easier, including childcare and nutrition.
It is about creating spaces where people can focus on learning, creating, and growing without added barriers.

If you would like to support the work we do, you can donate here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/147167