In the spring of 1967, citizens from Selkirk and surrounding areas and communities met to discuss the need for a local Friendship Centre. [1] By September of that year, the Selkirk Friendship Centre was established to foster friendships, promote equality and develop a sense of community among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
The founding of the Selkirk Friendship Centre went beyond the community recognizing the need for one of these facilities. The Selkirk Friendship Centre was part of the National Friendship Centre Movement that began in the 1950s. These centres originally served as gathering spaces for Indigenous people who were adapting to urban life after relocating from rural and reserve communities to the city. [2] The relocation of Indigenous peoples from their rural and reserve communities to city centres was due to Indigenous peoples seeking better educational and employment opportunities only offered in city centres. [3] Over time, Friendship Centres evolved to offer vital services such as employment support, housing assistance, and cultural programming. Manitoba’s first Friendship Centre began its informal operation in Winnipeg in 1951, with Selkirk’s following in 1967. [4]
As Indigenous migration to urban centers in Manitoba increased, many individuals faced discrimination, housing insecurity, and economic hardships. [5] In response, residents of Selkirk and surrounding communities recognized the urgent need for a Friendship Centre, leading to the establishment of the Selkirk Friendship Centre. [6] This Centre became a vital institution, offering essential resources such as employment training, social services, and cultural programs to support Indigenous peoples in navigating urban life while preserving their cultural identity. By bridging traditional Indigenous knowledge with modern urban society, the Centre played a pivotal role in Indigenous empowerment and integration.
A defining moment in the Selkirk Friendship Centre’s history came in 1974 with the St. Peter’s Project. [7] The Centre took on the restoration of St. Peter Dynevor Anglican Church in East Selkirk, demonstrating the Centre’s ability to manage large-scale initiatives and funding. The successful completion of the St. Peter’s Project not only preserved an important historical landmark for the community but also secured larger government funding for the construction of a new Friendship Centre facility on Eveline Street. [8] This achievement underscored the Centre’s growing influence in Indigenous advocacy and community development in Manitoba.
Throughout the 1980s, the Selkirk Friendship Centre expanded its impact by playing a key role in establishing Friendship Centres in Riverton and Powerview. These satellite locations were essential as the Selkirk Friendship Centre noticed that there was an influx of Indigenous peoples coming to them from these areas. These satellite locations extended crucial services to more Indigenous communities, addressing the increasing need for housing, employment, and social support in areas that were further away from Selkirk. The Riverton Friendship Centre, in particular, became a vital hub for First Nations and Métis individuals transitioning from reserve and rural communities. [9] However, government funding cuts in 1992 led to the unfortunate closure of the Powerview Friendship Centre, highlighting the challenges faced by Indigenous organizations in securing long-term support.
The Selkirk Friendship Centre’s legacy also includes major housing initiatives, such as the Tyro Housing Project in 1990. This $2.3 million development provided 28 affordable housing units, addressing the housing crisis among Indigenous families and reinforcing the Centre’s role in fostering economic stability, community well-being and self-sufficiency. [10] Through its enduring commitment to advocating for First Nations, Métis and Inuit people, cultural preservation, and community development, the Selkirk Friendship Centre has had a profound and lasting impact on Manitoba’s history. Its efforts in providing essential services, expanding support networks, and advocating for Indigenous rights have made it a cornerstone of urban Indigenous resilience and empowerment in the province. Since its establishment, the Selkirk Friendship Centre has played a vital role in supporting Selkirk’s Indigenous community's social, educational, cultural, and economic development. [11] It offers a range of programs for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents, including services for youth, elders, and families, all aimed at improving the well-being of First Nations, Métis and Inuit community members.
As an independent organization, the Centre responds to community needs, addressing service gaps and offering a space grounded in Indigenous traditions and values. This approach strengthens relationships and promotes inclusion. According to Executive Director Robin Nishibata, as of 2024, the Centre operates fifteen programs across six locations and two sublocations, manages four rental properties and a 28-suite apartment building, and employs over fifty full-time staff. “We have over 400 community members that access our programs,” she stated. [12] The Centre continues to serve as a vital and stable pillar of the Selkirk community.
The Selkirk Museum, which features an online exhibit titled Selkirk Friendship Centre, published in July 2023. This exhibit was developed in collaboration between the Selkirk Friendship Centre and Museum Programmer Katrina Eeles. It provides a comprehensive history of the Centre’s founding in 1967, highlighting its mission to promote equality of rights and opportunities for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members. Additionally, the City of Selkirk website features updates on events hosted by the Selkirk Friendship Centre, ensuring that community members and visitors can stay informed about its ongoing initiatives.
At the provincial level of representation for the Selkirk Friendship Centre, the Manitoba Association of Friendship Centres (MAFC) also acknowledges the Selkirk Friendship Centre as a key part of Manitoba’s network of Friendship Centres. While its commemoration is brief and does not provide an extensive historical overview, it still serves as a valuable source of information for visitors.
On the national level of representation for the Selkirk Friendship Centre, the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) recognizes the Selkirk Friendship Centre on its website. The NAFC highlights the contributions of individuals associated with the Centre, including the early career of Senator Murray Sinclair, who played a significant role in supporting the Friendship Centre Movement.
In addition to these commemorations, the Selkirk Friendship Centre maintains an active presence on Facebook, where it shares updates, promotes events, and fosters community engagement. Collectively, these platforms highlight the Centre’s enduring commitment to building community connections, advancing equality, and supporting both Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations in the region.
Name
Role(s)
Dates Involved
Elsie Hourie Bear (1921-2002)
Board member
1969-1991
Amy Louise Clemons (c1906-1989)
Pro Tem Committee, Board member, Executive Director
1968-1969, 1973-1975
Adam Cuthand (?-1994)
Pro Tem Committee, Board member
1968
Herbert Gordon “Bert” Flett (1908-2005)
Pro Tem Committee, Board member
1968
Louis “Lou” Greenburgh (1914-2006)
Pro Tem Committee, Board member
1968
Lorna Marguerite Morrisseau (1926-2018)
Pro Tem Committee, Board member
1968, 1971-1972, 1974-1977
Brian Norman Orvis (1931-2010)
Board member
1970-1973
Howard Russell Pawley (1934-2015)
Pro Tem Committee, Board member
1968
Vera Hunt Richards (1913-2002)
Pro Tem Committee, Board member
1968
Rose Shrupka
Pro Tem Committee, Board member
1968-1969, 1972-1973, 1978-1983
James “Jim” Sinclair
Board member, Executive Director
1968, 1973-1998
Calvin Murray Sinclair [Mazina Giizhik] (1951-2024)
Board member
1973-1982
Paul Wilfrid Lee Smith (1928-2015)
Pro Tem, Committee, Board member
1968
Ed Stonechild
Pro Tem Committee, Board member, Executive Director
1967-1968
Walter Bruce Tod (c1937-2006)
Pro Tem, Committee, Board member
1968, 1971-1976
Dorcas Wehner (1933-2023)
Pro Tem, Committee, Board member
1968
“Selkirk Friendship Centre gets $1,500 Opening Day,” Winnipeg Tribune, 4 June 1968.
“Friendship Centre Grants total $70,122 for ’70-’71,” Winnipeg Tribune, 2 July 1970.
Katrina Eeles and Selkirk Friendship Centre, “Selkirk Friendship Centre,” Selkirk Museum, 2023.
“New Apartments Can't Solve all Selkirk's Housing Problems,” The Selkirk Journal, 4 December 1990.
Winnipeg Indian and Metis Friendship Center, series of posts on History 3442 Group Blog, Fall 2019.
“Three Mere Housewives” and the History of the Brandon Friendship Centre by Scott M. Kukurudz
Manitoba History, Number 56, October 2007
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Odd Fellows Hall / Miami Friendship Centre (431 Norton Avenue, Miami, RM of Thompson)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitou Pool Hall / Friendship Centre (421 Main Street, Manitou, Municipality of Pembina)
Mackenzie Stewart graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a bachelor's degree in Anthropology and History and is a master’s student in history in the Joint Master’s program at the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba. she currently works as a Heritage Programmer for the Selkirk Museum. “I enjoy all history, but I like to specialize in Canadian history focusing specifically on early Canadian history. This is because I am a Métis woman, and I enjoy being an Indigenous historian and strive to provide Indigenous voices to early Canadian history interpretation.”
This article was produced as part of a collaborative public history project between students in the Department of History and Joint Masters History Program at the University of Winnipeg, the Southern Chiefs’ Organization, and the Manitoba Historical Society. Honours and Masters students researched and wrote digital public history articles that align with the Southern Chiefs’ Organization 25th Anniversary History Project and contribute to the expansion of Indigenous history content on the Manitoba Historical Society website. Course: Commemorating Indigenous Histories, HIST-4614/GHIST-7513, Winter 2025, Instructor: Dr. Erin Millions.
1. Jeff Witwicki, 1968-1993 25 Years of Bringing People Together, ed. Denise Burzuik, Jim Sinclair, and Donna Hawes (Selkirk: Selkirk Friendship Centre, 1993) 28.
2. Will Langford, “Friendship Centres in Canada, 1959-1977,” American Indian Quarterly 40, no. 1 (Winter 2016): 5.
3. Leslie Hall, “The Early History of the Winnipeg Indian and Metis Friendship Centre, 1951-1968,” in Prairie Metropolis: New Essays on Winnipeg Social History, ed. Esyllt W. Jones and Gerald Friesen (Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 2009) 222-223.
4. Selkirk Friendship Centre, “Selkirk Friendship Centre” (presentation, 2025).
5. Langford, “Friendship Centers in Canada, 1959-1977,” 5.
6. Witwicki, 1968-1993 25 Years of Bringing People Together, 11.
7. Witwicki, 1968-1993 25 Years of Bringing People Together, 13-14.
8. Witwicki, 1968-1993 25 Years of Bringing People Together, 13.
9. Witwicki, 1968-1993 25 Years of Bringing People Together, 14.
10. David Somers, “New Apartments Can't Solve all Selkirk's Housing Problems,” The Selkirk Journal, 4 December 1990, pg. 12.
11. Katrina Eeles and Selkirk Friendship Centre, “Selkirk Friendship Centre,” Selkirk Museum, last modified 1 July 2023.
12. Selkirk Friendship Centre, “Selkirk Friendship Centre.”
Page revised: 4 February 2026
