The Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre (MNFC) received a joint investment of $15 million on Tuesday to support the construction of their new centre. 

Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and Member of Parliament for Halifax, along with Karla MacFarlane, Minister of L’nu Affairs, announced the joint investment at the temporary MNFC location on Brunswick Street. 

The Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Society is a non-profit board-governed organization that operates several programs for Mi’kmaq. The society helps provide structured, social-based programming for urban Indigenous people and they also hold community functions and events. 

“I was very happy last May to announce a $5 million dollar federal contribution to the new centre followed in October by an additional $28.8 million. That brings us up to $33.8 million so far in federal funding toward the friendship centre,” Fillmore says.

This was in addition to the $10 million announced by the province of Nova Scotia. 

The new building will allow for more space to broaden the cultural activities hosted at the MNFC.

“I love my community, and I only want what's best for our community,” Pam Glode Desrochers, executive director of the MNFC says. “I just want to make sure that the staff have a safe and secure place and that our community members have a safe and secure place. But also something that they can be so proud of and see themselves in.”

Glode Desrochers says the support from all levels of government shows the way forward will help to achieve Truth and Reconciliation.

“I think that in itself, colonization began here and this is where Truth and Reconciliation will begin and hopefully go across Canada.”

Listen to the CKDU story below: