Photo courtesy Everything GP Staff

By Erika Rolling

Provincial Funding

Program at Grande Prairie Friendship Centre getting provincial dollars

Feb 27, 2023 | 12:03 PM

Nearly $700,000 in grants have been announced by the Alberta government to go to six Indigenous-led organizations for programs designed to stop violence against Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit-plus people.

The funding is to expand programming to support the safety and well-being of Indigenous women in the province.

One of the funding recipients is the Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association, which is receiving $150,000 to continue programs in four of its 21 friendship centre communities.

The programs help vulnerable Indigenous women, girls, survivors of violence, and family members that have lost loved ones to violence.

Acting Executive Director for the ANFCA, Jeanette MacInnis said in a news release; “Funding will help expand culturally safe and Indigenous-led programming for vulnerable Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBT+ peoples and supports for families of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. Demand for these supports has increased significantly post-pandemic and our friendship centres are needed more than ever in providing these programs.”

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The four centres benefitting from the grant include; the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre, Nistawoyou Friendship Centre in Fort McMurray, Red Deer Native Friendship Centre, and Sagitawa Friendship Centre in Peace River.

The other funding is being split as follows:

• Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women (Edmonton and Calgary) – $300,000 to help increase access to support for Indigenous women.
• Awo Taan to work with Calgary Police Service – $75,000 to improve processes to meet the needs of families, survivors, and loved ones of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2S+ people.
• Four Winds and Associates Inc. – $60,000 to fund engagement with community partners, police services, and broadcasters to expand the reach of the Aboriginal Alert system, which raises awareness of missing Indigenous people.
• Standing Together, in partnership with the YWCA Edmonton – $55,500 to host weekly healing circles for survivors of gender-based violence. Grounded in cultural practices, these circles will help survivors and loved ones on their path to healing.
• Creating Hope Society – $50,000 to work with high-risk vulnerable community members to access medical treatment, trauma therapy, and basic amenities like food, transportation, and family visits. The Street Trade Resources Education Empowering Together (STREET) program uses high-intensity outreach to build relationships with community members involved in street-level sex work.