barrieoncommunityprofile-blog

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Here is a video to check out of one of the many activities the Barrie Native Friendship Centre holds for youth revolving around Indigenous knowledge in a fun and active way. 

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Georgian College Barrie

Georgian college Barrie Ontario offers an Indigenous resource center that offers a wide range of cultural resources for Aboriginal students and community members to access. Georgian College offers an Elder and Niwijiagan peer mentoring program, Indigenous education advisors, and Indigenous student advisors (Georgian College, 2015). 

By offering these resources it allows for the student body to learn more about Aboriginal cultures as well as providing necessary cultural support for Aboriginal students attending the college. 

Georgian College. “Indigenous Services”. 2018. Retreived February 5, 2018. https://www.georgiancollege.ca/student-life/student-services/indigenous-student-support/ 

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Barrie Area Native Adversary Circle

The BANAC was established in 1989 and operates as a regional social planning and development organization serving Simco County, Muskoka, and northern York Region. The organization works to instill the importance of the Anishnabe language, wisdom, and knowledge. Current initiatives held by the BANAC range from Aboriginal community development in areas of child care, health planning, social development, and support to seniors and families (BANCA,  2015)

The BANAC website also offers many resources for individuals who need access to assistance in a cultural manner, such as the National Aboriginal Health Organization, Aboriginal Child Welfare, Beausoleil First Nation, etc. 

Barrie Area Native Adversary Circle. 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2018. http://www.banac.on.ca/index.html

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Interview With Barrie Friendship Centre’s Post-Secondary Summer Student

This interview is with Justine, a former Post-Secondary Summer Student, from Barrie Ontario who was apart of the Barrie Native Friendship Centre and also holds Aboriginal status. 

Do you identify as Aboriginal?

A: Yes, my father found out that my grandfather held Aboriginal status due to my great-great-great grandfather marrying an Aboriginal woman in Canada when he came from Whales with the military. Later on down the line, a family member of mine was wed to another Aboriginal individual, and due to our geographical proximity as a family, we are “assigned” to the Christian Island reserve. 

How was the experience of obtaining your Aboriginal status?

A: It took a very long time, over five years, which for someone who needed their status for any possible issues this was an incredibly long time. I was in no need or rush to obtain my status, it was no big deal for me to wait, but if I needed it for legal or governmental reasons this would be a strenuous process. 

How has your Aboriginal experience been in Barrie? In terms of accessing cultural services and support before you got to the Friendship Centre?

A: I had no need before I got my status or joined the Friendship Centre. Once I was given my status I took a little interest in the cultural side of being apart of an Aboriginal community, but as my life took off with post-secondary education the interest left me. But after first year, when looking for a job I came across the Friendship Centre and decided to apply, and since being there it has opened my eyes to my cultural history. 

How has your experience been at the Friendship Centre in Barrie?

A: I had a really good summer there. The job had the regular ups and downs, but my boss taught me a lot about the culture, helping to open my eyes to many things I had not thought about before. I learned a lot from the events we held at the center and the work my boss was doing to help find employment for community members in need. Even though I did not do a lot of one on one work with people attending, I still learned a lot from the events and activities that were held by the Friendship Centre. While working this job I got to visit Christian Island to do workshops and met many people on the island who had lived their whole lives there. The whole experience has changed my life for the better. 

Do think the Barrie community should or needs to do more to bring cultural services to Aboriginal people living in the urban area?

A: I think there is a lot more that can be done, but I do understand it is hard to distribute resources to everyone who needs them in the community. Overall I think the community is doing a good job right now but has a long way to go for the future. 

In the future, Justine hopes to work with Queen’s and other Aboriginal organizations here in Kingston because she still feels she has much more to learn and experience of Indigenous culture. 

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Native Friendship Centres

Friendship centres are the largest and most significant urban Indigenous service delivery infrastructure in Ontario (Friendship Centres in Ontario, 2013).Friendship centres are in place to provide culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal peoples living in urban communities (ibid). Native Friendship Centres are safe spaces and places where Aboriginal individuals can attend programs and services that are geared toward serving Aboriginal people and revolve around cultural content (Katarokwi Native Friendship Centre). 

The Native Friendship Centre in Barrie Ontario is located in a downtown location to provide the most access to Aboriginal individuals in the Barrie community. Barrie’s Friendship Centre is run independently from the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres and has been serving the Barrie area since 1988 (Friendship Centres in Ontario, 2013). These Native Friendship Centres also serve all identifying Aboriginal peoples, regardless of status.The Centre also provides programs revolving around youth, employment education, healing, health, and justice (Barrie Native Friendship Centre, 2013).

Katarokwi Native Friendship Centre. “About”. Retrieved: January 30, 2018. https://katarokwi.wordpress.com/about/

OFIFC. “Barrie Native Friendship Centre”. 2013. Retrieved: January 30, 2018. http://www.ofifc.org/centre/barrie-native-friendship-centre 

OFIFC. “Friendship Centres in Ontario”. 2013. Retrieved: January 30, 2018. http://www.ofifc.org/about-friendship-centres/general/friendship-centres-ontario

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Census 2016

The census of 2016 taken in Barrie Ontario regarding Indigenous lineage shows that there is a total of 194,450 individuals who identify as having an Indigenous family history. From this statistic, many individuals identify with a single Indigenous group of either Inuit, First Nations, or Métis in the community. 

Out of this large number of individuals, there are only 1,930 individuals who obtain registered or treaty Indian status, while all other 192,515 individuals who identify as having an Indigenous heritage are not registered or have treaty Indian status (Statcan.ca, 2016). 

Statcan.ca. “Census Profile 2016″. Retreived January 30, 2018. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CMACA&Code1=568&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Barrie&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=Aboriginal%20peoples&TABID=1

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The healing path being taken by the community of Barrie and Aboriginal community members. 

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DEVS 221 Community Profile

This page is for the Community Profile assignment for Professor R. Lovelace’s DEVS 221 course on the community of Barrie Ontario, by Allison White.