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Lac La Biche Canadian Native Friendship Centre
About Lac La Biche Canadian Native Friendship Centre
Rooted in the spirit of wahkohtowin (kinship), the Lac La Biche Canadian Native Friendship Centre has served the Lac La Biche, AB community since 1986 as part of the National Friendship Centre Movement. Incorporated as a non-profit society under the Alberta Societies Act and later recognized as a registered Canadian charitable organization in 2009, the Centre emerged from grassroots community efforts to provide off-reserve Indigenous service delivery infrastructure for urban Indigenous populations.
The organization's journey reflects deep community commitment and resilience. Founded by dedicated volunteers who secured initial grant funding and donated office furniture, the Centre has grown from humble beginnings to become one of only two Friendship Centres in Alberta authorized to use the word Canadian in its title. The Centre's lakeview property, purchased through volunteer fundraising efforts in 1994 and renovated by over 1,000 volunteer hours, stands as a testament to community dedication.
Guided by sacred teachings and beliefs in the healing power of education and the arts, the Lac La Biche Canadian Native Friendship Centre operates with a vision of being a culturally connected, recognized, and respected first line of inquiry serving diverse peoples. The Centre honors the resilience of individuals and families while celebrating how cultural diversity strengthens community bonds. Through partnerships with local institutions like Northern Lights School Division and programs addressing tobacco reduction, the Centre continues its mission of bettering the community through culturally sensitive programs and services that reflect the profound heritage of Cree and Métis peoples in Northern Alberta.