Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre
About Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre
Since its founding in the late 1970s as the Fort Erie Native Social Club, the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre has grown into a vital community institution serving Fort Erie, ON and the surrounding region. What began as a safe gathering space for Indigenous people seeking refuge from discrimination evolved into Canada's first completely funded satellite Friendship Centre when it became incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1983. This historic achievement reflected the organization's dedication to providing essential services and support during a critical period in Indigenous community development.
The centre's relocation to its current Buffalo Road location in 1988 marked a turning point, enabling significant expansion and the development of specialized facilities tailored to community needs. Today, the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre operates with a philosophy centered on healing and cultural reclamation, recognizing that decades of historical restrictions on Indigenous practices and ceremonies created profound losses in community knowledge and identity. The organization actively works to restore these traditions and support members in reclaiming their cultural heritage.
Guided by the vision "Together for a Stronger Tomorrow," the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre operates as a collaborative community hub where no single person claims credit for success. The organization's core values—tradition, friendship, respect, professionalism, compassion, integrity, and honesty—inform every program and service. By extending friendship to the entire community while prioritizing Indigenous wellness, the centre continues its foundational mission to enhance all aspects of Native life and help community members become the persons they were meant to be.