Spirits of Friendship
The Friendship Centre Movement has been shaped over a period of 60 years by Aboriginal leaders in communities across Canada. These dedicated Aboriginal men and women have greatly contributed to the success and growth of today’s Friendship Centre Movement.
These are the stories of the Friendship Centre pioneers. We are honoured to have known them and privileged to have worked with them and to be apart or their legacy.
Xavier Michon
1920 - 1987. Xavier Michon was known to many as the Grandfather of the Friendship Centre Movement. He was a lifetime member of the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC), so honoured for his early efforts in helping to establish the NAFC and the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres (OFIFC); as well as being the founding father of the Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre. In his early years, Xavier responded to the plight of Ontario's Aboriginal peoples and his career became a quest to address the difficulties that many of us have faced during cultural transition. Like many of us, he experienced poverty, discrimination and even violence; never forgetting to… Read More >
Ray Chambers
December 18, 1945 – April 3, 2006. Ray Chambers was born in Gimli, Manitoba at the Johnson Memorial Hospital on December 18, 1945 to Robert Henry Chambers and Ethel Isabel Anton. He married Susan Joan Jackson on March 9, 1968 in St. James, Manitoba. During their thirty-eight years together they raised two daughters, four adopted children and many, many foster children. He was also the proud Grandfather of eight grandchildren. With over fifteen years of dedicated service, Ray Chambers embodied the spirit of the Friendship Centre Movement. He believed in the work of Friendship Centres and he believed in the people working for and utilizing the services at Friendship Centres.… Read More >
Peter Dubois
Peter Dubois - 1927 – 2002. Peter Dubois was known across Canada as a tireless crusader for First Nations rights and a minister of harmony between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal peoples. He was deeply involved for a half century locally, provincially and nationally in promoting social and educational opportunities for Aboriginal peoples and, providing programming models for future generations of Aboriginal peoples across Canada. Peter Dubois was born on the Mucowpetung First Nation near Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan in 1927. He completed his high school education at the Qu’Appelle Indian Residential School. He married Marj Keepness (also from Muscowpetung) in 1952. Following a call that he felt in his heart to be… Read More >
Georgina Donald (Lifetime Member)
November 10, 1932 - September 14, 2006. Georgina Donald was the youngest of seven children of David and Denise Grandbois. She was born on November 10, 1932 in Calling Lake, Alberta and was raised in Athabasca. As her mother passed away when she was still young, her sister Lena provided the motherly guidance for her and her siblings (Albert, Paul, John, Jean and Francis). The Grandbois moved to Edmonton in 1949, and Georgina met the love of her life, Ross shortly thereafter. Georgina and Ross married on February 3, 1951 and celebrated their 49th Wedding Anniversary shortly before his passing on March 17, 2000. Together, Georgina and Ross raised six… Read More >
Maurice Joseph (Moe) Blondeau
September 27, 1932 – January 22, 2008. Maurice was married to Leona (Bird) for 47 years. Together they raised 6 children – Valerie, Edward, Pierre, Brenda, Lori and Curtis. Maurice was a cherished Grandfather and loved spending time with his numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren. He was a devoted family man and loving son who was predeceased by his parents Maurice Blondeau Sr. and Mary (Pelletier). In January 1951, after leaving his hometown of Lebret, Saskatchewan, Maurice joined the army. He took his basic training on the west coast of Victoria and by March of 1952, he was stationed in Korea. Approximately, 10 months later he was… Read More >
Walter Raymond Joseph Schoenthal
April 30, 1936 - July 9, 2007. Walter was married to Marie Schoenthal for 17 years and later to Donna Delorme. He was a loving and devoted father to six children – Neil, Crystal, Curtis, Memorie and Myron. He was a proud Grandfather to 9 grandchildren and Great Grandfather to 1 great grandchild. Walter was predeceased by his parents Orville and Mary. Walter lived in Regina, Saskatchewan all of his 71 years. In 1952 at the age of 16, he joined the Royal Canadian Army which brought him to Germany to help with the post-war efforts for the 1st division headquarters. This career unfortunately ended when his leg was injured… Read More >
Amy Clemons
Amy Clemons, the great-great granddaughter of Chief Peguis was a perennial driving force behind the Friendship Centre Movement in Selkirk, Manitoba. A Friendship Centre original, Amy was the Selkirk Friendship Centre’s first Executive Director and helped establish the society from infancy to stability until her retirement in 1973. She was born and grew up near St. Peter’s, Manitoba. Five of her school years were spent in a residential school in Elkhorn, Manitoba. In May, 1970, Mrs. Amy Clemons was named “Women of the Year” by the Women’s Advertising and Sales Club of Manitoba. Shortly after that, Governor General Roland Michener announced she was a recipient of the Order of Canada. … Read More >
Elsie Bear
Elsie Bear was one of the Selkirk Friendship Centre’s most honoured helpers. She was born in Grand Marais and moved to Selkirk, Manitoba after getting married. She has left her mark for life on the organization, her fellow volunteers, the community and the many Aboriginal people she worked so diligently for. Following her extensive involvement with the Selkirk Friendship Centre, the Manitoba Metis Federation and the St. Peter’s Anglican Church, her list of affiliations grew. Upon her retirement, she quickly became involved with the Manitoba Association of Friendship Centres (MAC), the Indigenous Women’s Alliance, the Selkirk & District Arts Council , the Selkirk Branch of the NDP and a Senator… Read More >
Winston Menard
January 26, 1942 – August 9, 2008. After a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer, Winston passed away on August 9, 2008 at the age of sixty-six. He is survived by his wife Barbara and their three sons David, Hugh and Ian. He was predeceased by his father Aime, mother Flora and sister Florence. Winston was born on January 26, 1942 in Winnipegosis, Manitoba. He was raised in the Parkland Region, finally calling Bigstone/Duck River his home where he raised his family and worked on his PMU operation ranch since 1973. Winston’s love of helping people expanded when he was asked to join and receive full support to various committees… Read More >
Luverna Delores (Delo) Clause
October 25, 1939 – May 7, 2004. LuVerna (Thomas) Clause was Seneca, from the Hawk Clan. Her walk life was from October 25, 1939 to May 7, 2004. She was born on the Six Nations Reserve in Ohsweken, Ontario. Her parents were Peter Thomas and Blanche Adell (Gibson) Thomas. She was the oldest of seven siblings and affectionately known by those close to her as “Delo”. LuVerna married Walter A. Hill in 1961, together they had six children and departed ways in 1985. She later married the love of her life Ivan Carl Clause. LuVerna was a proud mother of six children, Grandmother to twenty-eight grandchildren and a Great Grandmother… Read More >
Delia Gray
March 17, 1917 – November 12, 1999. Each year on November 16th, the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) pays tribute to Mrs. Delia Gray by hosting the Delia Gray Memorial Gala. The memorial gala is a way for people to remember the late Delia Gray who was a special lady to the Métis Nation. She was often referred to as the Matriarch of the Métis Nation of Alberta. She was the first Provincial Elder, Advisor to the Provincial President and Vice-President of the MNA and they honour her memory by carrying on the tradition for her love of education, her love for dance and her love for visiting. She had… Read More >
Dave Parker
February 28, 1915 – February 28, 2000. Senator Dave Parker Sr. started with the Friendship Centre Movement in the mid to late seventies after returning to the North Okanagan and beginning a new life of sobriety in 1975. He was born in a shed on February 28, 1915 in Penticton, British Columbia and passed into the spirit world on his 85th birthday, February 28, 2000. He went to school at the Kamloops Indian Residential School until he and his younger brother, and only sibling, Richard were old enough to work. They both excelled in school and were soon working with their parents, Charlie and Cecelia Parker, in a variety of… Read More >
Bill Messenger
May 4, 1941 – February 17, 2009. “Uncle Bill” as he was affectionately known in the Ontario Friendship Centre Movement was only 67 years young when he completed his walk journey and passed away into the Spirit World on February 17, 2009. He was a member of the Turtle Clan from Alderville First Nations near Peterborough, Ontario. Senator William (Bill) Messenger was appointed to the NAFC Senate at the 32nd Annual General Meeting held on July 8-11, 2003 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He was an active member of the Board of Directors for the Can-Am Indian Friendship Centre in Windsor, Ontario since the early 1980’s. He also served three consecutive… Read More >
Tom Eagle
June 6, 1932 - September 29, 2009. Norbert Thomas (Tom) Eagle was born on June 6, 1932 at Ohskaning (Waterhen) Ojibway First Nation in Manitoba and passed into the Spirit World on September 29, 2009. Tom is survived by his loving wife Muriel of 54 years; his daughters Bertha of Edmonton, Eleanor (Robert) of Lucca, Italy and Margaret (Terry) of Peace River; his sons Brian and Raymond of Yellowknife. Tom is also remembered by his brother Jim (Cecilia) and Gilbert as well as his sister Rita and many nieces, nephews and cousins from across Canada. He is lovingly remembered by his 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. At the age of… Read More >
Margaret Mary Richard
Akokaochise “Groundhog” from the Mahkwa (Bear) Clan. June 7, 1940 – September 9, 2010. Born in the community of Camperville located on Lake Winnipegosis in Manitoba, Mary was predeceased by her husband Damas, sons Joseph and Robert, parents John and Virginia McLeod and six siblings. She is survived by her son Gerry, granddaughter Ashley, three sisters, three brothers and numerous nephews, nieces and long time friend Joan Spencer. Mary was a natural storyteller, often sharing stories about growing up in a traditional Métis community that she lovingly referred to as the Métis Capital of the World. Her stories left everyone with vivid images of horse drawn wagons, berry picking, fishing, fiddling… Read More >
Elbert Chartrand
September 1, 1952 - September 24, 2012 Born on September 1, 1952, Elbert passed away on Monday, September 24, 2012 at the St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, MB surrounded by his family. He was a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle, grandpa, great-grandpa and friend. Elbert is survived by his wife Bernice; children Darrel (Karen), Dennis (Eileen), Tammy, Julie (Rob), Wendi, Thomas (Marlene), Curtis (Tiffany) and Stephanie; his mother, Martha Chartrand; siblings Pauline (Robert), David (Glorian), Nancy, Frances (Charles), Rita (Al), and Walter (Lyn); along with his grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many, many friends. He was predeceased by his brother Daniel Chartrand, Grandfather Joseph Chartrand and two granddaughters Madison and… Read More >