First Light

In June 1983, The St. John's Native Friendship Centre was legally established as a non-profit organization, spending a winter and spring at MUN with a small grant from Plura, a church based funding agency which allowed them to install a telephone line and purchase some office supplies but was still staffed by Volunteers. That April of 1983 The Secr... etary of State provided funding to the Centre allowing them to create a board of directors, 10 in total. Two from the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI), two from the Naskapi-Montagnais Innu Association, two from Labrador Innu Nation (LIA) now Mamit Innuat and 4 St. John's residents, in hopes of representing all Aboriginal peoples of this province. Soon after, the Friendship Centre was moved into a bigger building on 23 Queens Road and the first Executive Director, Edward Bennet was hired. As well as expanding its staff and space the Friendship Centre started to expand its scope into the non-native community; preparing media and workshops to educate non-natives; for example workshops for healthcare providers to help them understand Native culture, traditions and aspirations. By 1985 there was a funding increase to allow for an assistant Director, as well the Conne River Band became independent of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians, and so the board of directors was restructured to help ensure each Aboriginal group in Newfoundland and Labrador was represented. There were now 6 representatives for St. John's and 1 for each Aboriginal group in the Province, The Innu, Inuit, Mi'kmaq and Métis. In 1986 a new Executive Director was hired, Raphael Gregoire who helped the Centre access programs through the Canadian Employment and Immigration Commission as well as through the Provincial Social Services and have the capacity to hire new personnel. This new expansion and yet another increase in funding, saw the centre moving once more in the spring of 1987. This was done in hopes of establishing a hostel for transient Native peoples. However, this new location on 9 ...Read More