OTTAWA, April 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The National Association of Friendship Centers (NAFC) is funding the 2024-2025 federal budget and Government of Canada to support and recognize the important work of Friendship Centers. I’m satisfied.
Friendship Centers support more than half of Canada’s Indigenous population and contribute to the health and safety of the communities they serve through culturally relevant health, cultural, economic, legal and social services. These investments recognize the important role and need for Friendship Centers in serving urban Indigenous peoples.
We remain concerned and will continue to advocate to ensure that all Indigenous people, regardless of their location, have access to Indigenous-specific funding. For example, Best Start for Indigenous Children does not have a city-specific mechanism and investments do not reach more than half of the Indigenous child population.
“While we had expected greater consideration for urban Indigenous people and a long-term commitment to the important work of the Friendship Center, this first two-year replenishment will It helps our members provide the life-saving services our communities have come to rely on,” said NAFC CEO Jocelyn Formsma. “We are grateful to be recognized for our role and impact in more than 100 communities for the more than 1 million people Friendship Centers serves each year.”
In addition to additional commitments to the Friendship Center, there are several additional national programs that the Friendship Center operates in mental health, health care, Indigenous languages, infrastructure, and student support learning programs. NAFC is pleased that these programs will continue and looks forward to speaking with our government funding partners to discuss further updates and enhancements to the programs offered by the Friendship Center.
NAFC also recognizes that we have a strong role to play in Red Dress Alert, emergency management and response, Indigenous justice strategies, implementing federal/provincial child care agreements, and improving Indigenous health outcomes. Masu.
NAFC looks forward to further strengthening our existing relationship with the Government of Canada and is excited about the growth and development this budget will bring to the Friendship Center movement.
Media inquiries:
John Payet
Senior Communication Coordinator
jpaille@nafc.ca
The National Association of Friendship Centers is a network of over 100 Friendship Centers and State/Territory Associations that form part of the Friendship Center Movement. Canada’s most important national network of self-determined Indigenous-owned and operated civil society community hubs and programs. Services and support for urban Indigenous peoples.
