This September, Vicars School staff and students are proud to support the Canadian Native Friendship Centre in Edmonton and the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary.
Every month, we devote an entire day at our student clinics to raising money for local charities and causes that are important to us. This time, as part of our observation of National Truth and Reconciliation Week – all proceeds from our September 25 clinic in Edmonton and September 27 clinic in Calgary will go to these incredible organizations.
What Are Friendship Centres?
Both the Canadian Native Friendship Centre (CNFC) and the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary (AFCC) are part of the friendship centre movement. They are members of a Canada-wide network of organizations that act as a community and service hub for Indigenous Canadians of all backgrounds living in urban areas.
And friendship centres are Indigenous-run, so their staff and members understand the specific needs of their communities and are able to design their services and programming to suit their circumstances.
Unlike organizations that specialize in providing or facilitating one particular service (such as housing), friendship centres act as a sort of “one-stop shop” for their members. In addition to offering basic services, providing material support, and helping people navigate government systems, friendship centres are a place for indigenous people to connect with their communities and their cultures.
“The Canadian Native Friendship Centre is a collective, inclusive organization with the goal of reconnecting the Urban Indigenous population to it ancestral roots and heritage, while sharing and educating the non-indigenous population on Indigenous culture,” explained CNFC Community Services Manager Loni Pruden.
The cultural programming at the CNFC includes Cree language classes, Jigging classes, pow wow drumming and singing, and traditional arts and crafts, and opportunities to learn from elders and other knowledge keepers. They also run specific programs for youth in city, helping support their younger members in school, sports, leadership, and the arts.
At the CNFC’s request, the donation from Vicars School this September will go directly to their Food Security Program.
“This program is in high demand and offers emergency food hampers to community members and families in need,” said Pruden. “Hampers are done on a monthly basis and are designed to support those in need with nutritious meals, school snacks, and to supplement the high cost of groceries.”
The AFCC has similar goals. Their mission is “to build relations that lead to cultural connection and economic inclusion” through a wholistic and culturally grounded approach to care.
“We’re proud to lead a variety of programs, movements, and visions that we all work together to bring to life,” said Winter Copeland, AFCC Director of Programs & Services.
Their work falls into four general categories:
- Community outreach and cultural reconnection programs that share traditional knowledge and help members stay connected with their culture and community
- Housing services, including the award-winning Omahkitapioyis Elders’ Lodge
- Community member services, helping their members access essential services and navigate employment supports, educational opportunities, and the justice system
- Elders services, including running Kanakaatsi’nom, the city’s first Indigenous Elders’ Drop-In Centre.
About Vicars School Giving Clinics
Vicars Giving Clinics are our way of giving back. Each month, we dedicate one student clinic day in Edmonton and one in Calgary to a cause that aligns with our values. On these days, 100% of student massage fees are donated to the chosen organizations. We schedule Giving Clinics on high-demand days to maximize the impact of our donations.
You can help boost the impact of our giving clinics by booking a massage on those days, by telling a friend about our clinics, or by supporting the organizations directly.
The Edmonton campus of Vicars School is located on Treaty 6 Territory. This land is the traditional home of many First Nations, including Nehiyaw, Denesuliné, Stoney Nakoda, Anishinabae, and Niitsitapi peoples, and a part of the Métis Nation of Alberta Region 4.
The Calgary campus of Vicars School is located on Treaty 7 Territory. This land is the traditional home of many First Nations, including the Tsuut’ina First Nation, Stoney Nakoda, and the nations of the Blackfoot Confederacy, and is a part of Métis Nation of Alberta Region 3.
Vicars School students, staff, and clients come from many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. What brings us together is a shared dedication to healing and wellness. We believe that participating in the ongoing work of Truth and Reconciliation is an integral part of that mission.
