As most people are aware, the Friendship Centre building has been lost due to fire.
Through this difficult time, we felt it was important to bring people together in friendship as well as to raise funds in support of our new start.
For these purposes, a drum benefit was held on Friday, May 29, which brought traditional drummers together with participatory drumming from Drumocracy to make a phenomenal event. The drum benefit was a huge success.
On behalf of the Red Deer Native Friendship Centre, we would like to thank the community of Red Deer for all of the support that we’ve received thus far.
It has been a short time since the loss of the Friendship Centre, and during this time we have seen immense support from our community.
Thanks to the members of the public and the agencies who stepped up to help organize and carry out the drum benefit.
We would like to thank Fred Scaife, from the Red Deer Food Bank Society, for donating the barbecue and food, as well as Kim, from Berachah Place, and Lacey and Andrea, from the Central Alberta AIDS Network Society, for giving their time and resources to the event.
Thanks to Amanda Ens, from CFSA, for calling the gathering of the community meeting.
Thank you to Nadette Agecoutay, from Aboriginal Employment, for hosting us in their space until we can get on our feet again.
Thanks to Stacey Carmichael for gathering Leadership Centre Alumni support and donations. And thanks again to Lyle Richards and Dean Johnston for setting up the teepees.
We are grateful for all those who came out to support us. Through this event, we were able to raise $1,600.
The generosity was overwhelming and we are thankful to the community for supporting us.
Sheralle Graystone
and the staff
of the Red Deer
Native Friendship Centre