Kamloops Friendship Centre celebrates 30 years

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The Interior Indian Friendship Centre in Kamloops has been serving the urban Aboriginal people since 1972. Over the years, it has seen its programs and membership change, but it has always offered counselling, referrals and advocacy to its members, as well as providing a gathering place where Native culture is promoted.

Delphine Terbasket, general manager, and June Puhallo, program director, are proud of the many services the centre is able to bring to the area.

"Early in our history, a lot of Native folks were migrating off-reserve to seek further education or to look for work," explained Terbasket. "The centre provided a place them to get together, as most were cut off from family and friends." The Kamloops catchement area is home to approximately 9,000 people of First Nations ancestry, mostly of Shuswap heritage, but the people who use the centre are from all over Canada and represent a diverse group. With ranching, forestry and mining the major industries in the area, employment-hopefuls are often drawn to Kamloops.

Thirty staff members run programs and services that range from referrals to an employment service located close by the centre's downtown location, to Healthy Beginnings, a pre-natal program. "We have a clothing exchange and numerous workshops for moms. And an early child development program includes nutrition, child safety in the home and other related issues," added Terbasket. An education worker helps students coming to Kamloops to enter the University College of the Cariboo.

June Puhallo especially enjoys her work with Elders. "We have an exercise program, special events, crafts, and we go out into the schools to interact with the children. As well, our Boys and Girls Club comes to the centre and the Elders and staff make bannock and craft projects with them."

The organization of the 30th anniversary celebrations on Oct. 24 comes under Puhallo's direction as well. "We have a great program planned, such as a performance by local traditional dancer George Leach, and we've sent invitations out to all past board members," she said.

She co-ordinates events put on by the other programs as well. Puhallo has been with the centre for 12 years, and comes from a nearby Shuswap community. Most of the staff is of First Nations heritage.

Terbasket has been involved with friendship centres in one way or another most of her life. "I was a residential school survivor," she said. She left her Penticton home and headed to Vancouver, where she entered the nursing profession and was connected with the friendship centre there. She became an administrator with her Similkameen First Nation near Penticton and eventually retired. "Or thought I retired, until I was asked to come to Kamloops to fill a six-month position," she sayid adding that she is still with the centre seven enjoyable years later.

Both women credit an outstanding 12-member board of directors with making the centre a success. "Our president is Basil Morrissette, and he has been involved with the Centre almost since its beginning," says Puhallo. Morrissette was granted the Order of British Columbia and has been recognized by the National Association of Friendship Centres for his tireless efforts. He is also credited with being the founder of the Native Court Workers of B.C. education program. "The board members give us much direction and includes a youth representative, Sonya Sill, who also is involved in the provincial and national friendship centre organizations. She is a good link for us to the larger groups," Puhallo concluded.

The friendship centre's programs and services have changed over the years in direct response to the changing needs of the urban Aboriginal community and changing present-day government priorities. "Our circle of caregivers and board of directors envisions services and programs for all, from the Elders to the smallest child," added Terbasket. "The Elders hold the key to our past and through our children the key o our future. Our challenge is to keep our focus intact through these times of change, and look to the future with the strength of our collective vision and the wisdom of the Elders."