The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) is pleased to announce two (2) new member Friendship Centres to the BC region; the Sacred Wolf Friendship Centre in Port Hardy and the Kla-How-Eya Aboriginal Centre in Surrey. The addition of these 2 Friendship Centres brings the total for the BC region to 25.
National Senator Marge White was happy to welcome the new members to the BCAAFC. “We extend our hands of welcome and we hope they will be successful in their new role as a Friendship Centre in serving their communities. Always remember the philosophy of the Friendship Centres is to have an open door, welcoming Aboriginal People.”
Janet Hanuse, Executive Director for Sacred Wolf Friendship Centre, feels for her organization that, “Isolation is one of our most frequent and significant barriers living in North Vancouver Island, so it has been a tremendous honour, to be welcomed into this province- wide family.”
The history of Friendship Centres in BC dates back to 1954 when a group of concerned Aboriginal people in Vancouver, including Senator Marge White, formed the Coqualeetza Fellowship Club to provide support to Aboriginal students moving to the city. Over the next few years the organizers found themselves responding to ever increasing requests for services, and similar organizations opened in other urban areas like Prince Rupert and Prince George.
“We are extremely excited to be part of the Friendship Centre Movement and look forward to many more years of serving the urban Aboriginal community and building pride, strength and a better future,” stated June Laitar, President and Founding member of Kla-How-Eya Aboriginal Centre.
Both new Friendship Centres will participate as voting members in their first provincial Board of Directors Meeting in Victoria, BC on February 24-26, 2012.
