At the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary (AFCC), our Community Outreach and Cultural Reconnection services are dedicated to fostering strong, living connections for urban Indigenous individuals and families with their cultural roots and heritage. We create welcoming spaces to share traditional knowledge, support language revitalization, and enable meaningful participation in ceremonies and cultural gatherings.
Our diverse initiatives support this by:
- Empowering families with shared cultural learning and Elder guidance (e.g., Honouring The Bonds).
- Engaging youth (ages 14-26) in cultural exploration and leadership through our Youth Programming.
- Extending compassionate outreach and pathways to stability for vulnerable community members via our Encampment Support and Transition Program (ESTP).
Ultimately, our goal is to preserve Indigenous heritage, support holistic well-being, and ensure all programs centre on authentic cultural reconnection and shared learning.
Programs
Encampment Support and Transition Program (ESTP)
About the ESTP: Our Approach
The Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary (AFCC) is thrilled to introduce our Encampment Support and Transition Program (ESTP) – a vital and recently launched initiative making a real difference in our city! Developed in close collaboration with the City of Calgary and numerous dedicated community partners, ESTP provides a compassionate,culturally safe, and effective response to individuals living in encampments.
Our approach is Indigenous-led and grounded in principles of dignity, respect, and client-centered care. We build trust through trauma-informed practices, focus on harm reduction, and work hand-in-hand with our partners to create a supportive network. ESTP is more than a program; it’s a commitment to fostering hope and positive change.
Program Goals: Pathways to Stability & Hope
The Encampment Support and Transition Program is driven by clear objectives aimed at creating lasting positive change:
- Reduce Harm: Immediately improve the safety and well-being of individuals residing in encampments.
- Facilitate Transitions: Support respectful and dignified pathways from street living to safer shelter and stable, long-term housing.
- Connect to Support: Link individuals to a comprehensive network of health (including mental health and addictions), social, cultural, and economic supports.
- Enhance Coordination: Improve collaboration among all service providers to create a more seamless, effective, and humane system of care in Calgary.
Who ESTP Helps: Supporting Our Unsheltered Relatives
ESTP is designed to support individuals experiencing homelessness and currently residing in encampments within Calgary. While our services are available to all vulnerable people in these situations, we have a specialized focus on supporting Indigenous individuals through culturally safe and relevant practices, including Elder involvement and traditional wellness approaches.
Our dedicated outreach teams proactively engage with individuals directly in encampments, building relationships and offering support where they are.
Why ESTP is Important: A Dignified Response
Encampments reflect complex challenges faced by vulnerable members of our community, including systemic barriers and the urgent need for appropriate housing and support. ESTP is important because it offers a humane, effective, and culturally sensitive alternative to displacement.
By providing immediate assistance, building trust, and navigating pathways to housing and holistic well-being, ESTP addresses not just the symptoms but also the root causes of unsheltered homelessness. For Indigenous community members, access to culturally grounded support led by an Indigenous organization is crucial for healing and rebuilding.
Our Locations & How We Work: Mobile Outreach
The Encampment Support and Transition Program is an outreach-based initiative.
Our dedicated teams, equipped with mobile support units (vans that serve as mobile offices and carry vital supplies), work directly “on location”across Calgary.
We go to where encampments are located to connect with and support individuals, rather than operating from a fixed public drop-in site for this specific program. This mobile approach allows us to be flexible and responsive to the needs of individuals where they are.
Get Involved: Support ESTP & AFCC's Mission
The success of the ESTP and all AFCC programs relies on community spirit and collaboration. You can help us make a difference:
- Donate to AFCC: Your financial contributions support vital programs like ESTP, enabling us to provide essential resources and care. Visit our DONATE page to learn more.
- Raise Awareness: Share information about AFCC’s work and the importance of supporting community-led initiatives like ESTP.
Contact & How to Help
- AFCC’s Encampment Support and Transition Program (ESTP) is primarily an outreach-based service, with our teams working directly in the community. If you have concerns about an active encampment or the well-being of individuals there, please contact the City of Calgary by dialing 311 for a coordinated response which may include ESTP.
- For general inquiries about the ESTP program itself, or to learn how you can support AFCC’s initiatives (including ESTP), please reach out to us at info@afccalgary.org or call (403) 270-7379. Individuals in encampments seeking support are engaged by our outreach teams; for broader city-wide social supports, dialing 211 is also an option.
“This program is about more than just moving people; it’s about connecting with individuals on a human level, understanding their stories, and providing a culturally sensitive, person-centered path towards stability and hope. It’s about restoring dignity.” – Shane Gauthier, CEO, AFCC
Honouring The Bonds
About
This program helps families grow stronger together through cultural connection via traditional Indigenous teachings, offered alongside modern parenting practices. Guided by the wisdom of Elders, it’s grounded in compassion, hope, and gratitude, creating a space to learn, grow, and heal. We use ceremonies, storytelling, and cultural experiences to inspire joy and meaningful connections.
Goals
To help families grow stronger together through cultural connection and traditional teachings.
Who it Helps
Urban Indigenous and Non-Indigenous families (parents/guardians and children/grandchildren) wanting to connect with traditional teachings and culture.
Why it's Important
Many urban Indigenous families are disconnected from cultural practices; reconnecting increases well-being, reduces social isolation, and improves quality of life. It serves as a bridge between traditional ways and living in a western environment.
Locations
Kanakaa’tsinom “All Friends Place” facility (4630 16th Ave NW) and other remote locations.
Get Involved
Email htb@afccalgary.org.
Contact
Vada Hoof (Client Support/Knowledge Keeper, vhoof@afccalgary.org, or Eugene Wilk (Program Manager, ewilk@afccalgary.org.)
“We’ve learned tools to bond with our kids…We have a better idea of how to live in the western world while preserving and nurturing our cultural ways. We’ve healed through seeing our cultural roots as a source of joy and pride.”
Youth Programming
(Honouring Life Youth Program)
About
AFCC works with Calgary schools to deliver bi-weekly cultural programming for youth. Activities include smudging, medicine teachings, learning the Seven Sacred Teachings, traditional arts and crafts, interactions with Elders and Knowledge Keepers, storytelling, land-based learning, summer camps, and field trips.
Goals
To create a safe space for youth to explore and connect to their culture. Connection to culture increases self-esteem and provides a sense of belonging. We aim to help youth recognize and utilize their gifts, setting them on a path to success.
Who it Helps
Youth between the ages of 14-26 looking to enhance their connection to culture. Open to all Indigenous youth.
Why it's Important
Youth are future leaders; learning their culture is vital for carrying on language, history, teachings, and stories.
Location
Programming takes place within partner schools (Jack James HS, Forrest Lawn HS, Discovering Choices Downtown & Northgate, Dr. Gladys McKelvie Egbert Jr High, Ian Bazalgette Jr High, Ernest Morrow Jr High, John Ware Jr High). Summer activities may vary.
Get Involved
To learn about summer events, follow AFCC social media or contact program leads.
Contact
Brett Bairstow (Youth Program Coordinator, bbairstow@afccalgary.org, or Tawny Zerkee (Youth Program Coordinator, TZerkee@afccalgary.org.)
The program has helped numerous youth reconnect with culture, positively impacting self-esteem and helping them work towards goals like graduation, post-secondary education, and employment.