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Pam Glode-Desrochers, Executive Director of the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre in downtown Halifax, knows all about journeys. She’s about to take another as they move into a larger, albeit temporary, space on Brunswick St. to better accommodate the Centre’s growing suite of services.
“We currently operate over 55 programs,” said Glode-Desrochers. “We’re still in a building that could roughly accommodate the eight programs we started with decades ago. It is long overdue that we move on.”
The real destination is the much-anticipated Wije’winen Centre, slated for the former Blood Services building site at the foot of Citadel Hill. Initiated several years ago, the Centre was derailed by Covid and extenuating pandemic circumstances. “We hope to make good progress in the next two years towards a culturally significant footprint for the Mi’kmaw people in Kjipuktuk – Halifax,” said Glode-Desrochers.
The new 70,000 sq. ft. building will provide both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people with a proper setting to gather, learn, and collaborate. “It will be an emblem of reconciliation,” Glode-Desrochers says. “We call it Wije’winen, which means ‘come with us’ in Mi’kmaw.”
Since opening in 1973, the non-profit organization has provided supports for the urban Indigenous community. Programs cover employment, education, health, housing justice, seniors, childcare, and family support, to name just a few.
“To serve a growing and diverse Indigenous urban population, we need a true gathering place that’s equipped to accommodate the need,” Glode-Desrochers explains. “At the same time, it needs to reflect our ways of traditional being and learning through culturally appropriate programming.”
“We feel we are getting closer to a proud and important legacy for the Mi’kmaw people, to have a visible presence in Kjipuktuk once again. It has been a long road, but we will walk these last steps together as we know we have many partners supporting us.”
Glode-Desrochers continues to meet with key funding partners and projects important updates in the coming months.
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