The Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre is receiving a $4.91 million investment from the government of Canada for new facilities and program development, they announced in their new location at 2021 Brunswick St. in Halifax.

"Today on behalf of Digital Services Canada, and ACOA (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), I'm pleased to announce nearly $5 million in federal funding to help the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Center, design and construct a new facility and provide new program delivery," said the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and Member of Parliament of Halifax Andy Filmore.

Halifax MP Andy Fillmore, parliamentary secretary to the minister of innovation, science and industry, spoke on behalf of Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services;and the Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister Responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), at the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre. Photo by Sara Gouda.

Filmore spoke on behalf of government officials on May 19, saying the urban Indigenous population is growing at an extremely rapid rate. 

He explains where the funding will be distributed.

"It's a $4 million dollar grant from indigenous Services Canada to help pay for the design and some portion of the construction of the new Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Center in downtown Halifax. Today's announcement was also $910,000 from a COA to help to fund the more than 50 core programs the friendship Center offers over the next three years while we bridge to whatever the next new center is going to be."

Another keynote speaker was MP Jaime Battiste of Sydney-Victoria. Battiste made history when he became the first Mi'kmaq to become a Member of Parliament and represent Novascotia in the House of Commons.

He explained that a sense of community is missing when moving to an urban location.

"I always knew that the friendship center had indigenous people here. It was a safe space, you knew that people who shared your values, you could speak your language."

Pamela Glode-Desrochers, executive director of the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre with over 30 years of experience in the society, said their programs continue to grow.

"We continue to add programs, some harm reduction projects, some education programs that we're adding on some justice (programs), housing and homelessness has been a huge part for us. I've been with the front row center for 30-plus years, and we went from eight programs to 55."

The final keynote speaker was the centre's triage support worker, Charlotte Bernard. 

Bernard explained why supporting the centre is important to her.

"I have used the center in so many different ways. I was homeless; I lived in their shelter."

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