The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) represents the collective interests of 31 Friendship Centres in cities and towns across the province. Friendship Centres are places for community members and Indigenous people living in urban spaces to gather, connect with one another and receive culturally based services. Friendship Centres improve the lives of urban Indigenous people by supporting self-determined activities which encourage equal access to, and participation in, Canadian society while respecting Indigenous cultural distinctiveness.
This introductory webinar will:
– Provide a historical overview of the Friendship Centre Movement.
– Highlight the centrality of culture and community to the wholistic, wrap-around approach used by Friendship Centres.
– Provide an overview of the supports and services available to justice involved clients experiencing mental health issues.
– Discuss distinctions of Urban Indigenous people and First Nations people.
– Provide examples of how mainstream organizations can build relationships with Friendship Centres and better support Indigenous clients.
Presenters:
Hayden Moore is a senior policy advisor at the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres. She lives and works in Toronto.
Nick Haisell is a Senior Program Advisor – Justice with the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres. With a background in legal history, he previously worked as a post-secondary instructor with the OFIFC. His work is grounded in advancing Indigenous rights and supporting justice programming that meets the needs and priorities of urban Indigenous people living across Ontario.
Moderator: Rachelle Larocque, Program Manager of Justice Policy at CMHA Ontario and member of the HSJCC Secretariat.
Host: Trevor Tymchuk, Consultant, Provincial HSJCC, and Person with Lived Experience.
Presented on April 23, 2025 by the Provincial Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee.
