Red Deer Native Friendship Society - Red Deer

The Red Deer Native Friendship Society incorporated in 1985 and functions as a non-profit organization with charitable status. The Red Deer Native Friendship Society started with a couple of local Metis families and other concerned citizens in the early 1980s. Disturbed by the troubles faced by Aboriginal people migrating to the city, the Ralph Hanley family opened a small gathering place. The group called a meeting to get organized and Frank Winnie was elected Chairman of the first Board of Directors. RDNFS became incorporated under the Societies Act as a non-profit organization in 1984.

The group applied for and received funding from the United Way, Family Community Support Services, and the Alberta Secretariat and the Red Deer Native Friendship Society officially opened its doors. Winnie recalls the lean beginnings, where the first agenda item of every board meeting focused on how to pay the next months rent. Despite these struggles, the Society demonstrated that it could raise enough local support to keep the Centre open for the crucial first year required to gain federal support. In 1985 the Society received their first federal core funding and became a fully-fledged member of the National Native Friendship Centre Movement.

Elder Tom Cranebear created and presented the Red Deer eagle staff to the Friendship Centre for the community at this time. Some early members included Beverly Keeshig- Soonias, Peter Priest, Kim Jernak, Darryl Lickers, Sarah Carr, Lyle Keewatin Richards and Douglas Campbell. The early days of the Red Deer Friendship Society were modest. There were three staff who focused their efforts on providing a home away from home for Aboriginal people and connecting them to each other, the community and local resources. They operated the LaBase program which taught survival, literacy, employment and computer skills. There were no other local Aboriginal services and many hopeful newcomers found the only support they received was a bus ticket back to their home reserves.