The Art of Reconciliation program is for Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people ages 18-29 to build their confidence to engage in reconciliation dialogue and actions with their peers and community. Learning spaces are based in Indigenous ways of seeing the world and inclusive of experiential cultural sharing while exploring themes of reconciliation. Art making follows a series of workshops with final artwork and artist statements resulting in weeks of reflection, group discussion, and deep learning. Public exhibitions of participant artwork brings the broader community into the reconciliation dialogue.

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The Volunteer Program provides opportunities for all community members to share their time and skills with the various departments of VNFC and help to enhance the capacity of programming and activities. We ensure all volunteers have a supported intake and strong onboarding process, which includes an online orientation webinar, screening processes, tour, and optional cultural safety training. Some opportunities include the Community Soup Lunch, Bruce Parisian Library, Food and Medicine Garden, and more!

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The Victoria Native Friendship Centre (VNFC) acts as the host for the Victoria Urban Reconciliation Dialogue (VURD), handling the logistics and maintaining the records of the VURD Steering Committee (Committee). The Committee seeks to work with the community to examine the meaning and impact of reconciliation for the Victoria region from an urban Indigenous context while including perspectives that are diverse and cover a wide demographic of the region.

Three key areas of focus include:

• Supporting urban Indigenous voice.
• Enabling community engagement.
• Generating ideas for tangible actions.

The VNFC is a role model for Indigenous process in VURD meetings, and champions the influence of Indigenous worldview in the design and approaches to all work mandated by the Committee. The VNFC is proactive in building relationships with those agencies and individuals identified by the Committee as being vital to the Reconciliation Dialogue and acts as the liaison to community for those interested in engaging with the Committee.

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The VNFC hosts several initiatives focused on centering and uplifting urban Indigenous voices including the Greater Victoria Urban Indigenous Community Leadership Table, the BC Region Coalitions Network, Urban Indigenous Knowledge Transfer Ceremony, and the Provincial Urban Indigenous Leadership Gathering. While VNFC holds the space for this work, it is always guided by strategic community advisors, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers.

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The VNFC welcomes community to a free, healthy, delicious Community Soup Lunch on most Fridays (check calendar) from noon to 1pm, and tours of the VNFC can be arranged afterwards by contacting reception@vnfc.ca. Can’t make it, but want to contribute to community food security? We welcome donations.

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