Made possible through funding by Heritage Canada and administered at the national level by the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC), the Native Friendship Centre Program offers integrated and culturally-relevant services for a diversified and extensive clientele, regardless of the place of residence, the community of origin or the culture of its users. In Québec, the Regroupement des centres d’amitié autochtones du Québec administers this core funding program for the six native Friendship Centre that have access to this program.

Native Friendship Centres are urban service facilities for urban Aboriginal citizens. They have also become major learning and training organizations for thousands of Aboriginals. Native Friendship Centres advocate for the rights and interests of Aboriginals, and they work daily on fostering a better understanding of the issues, challenges and problems urban Aboriginals deal with, not only with citizens of Québec, but also with our Aboriginal fellow citizens living on reserve.

For over 40 years now in Québec, Native Friendship Centres have acted as incubators for major initiatives that have led to the implementation of several programs and services for urban Aboriginals. Over the years, Native Friendship Centres have become privileged spaces to express the needs, aspirations and claims of a portion of the Aboriginal population, those living in urban settings.

In Québec, 10 Native Friendship Centres are implemented in the cities of Chibougamau, Senneterre, La Tuque, Val-d’Or, Sept-Îles, Joliette, Saguenay, Quebec City, Montreal and Trois-Rivières, with the latter being a Centre under development. The mission of Native Friendship Centres is three-fold: improve the quality of life of Aboriginals, promote the culture and build bridges between peoples.