Photo: The ribbon cutting at Yorkton Indigenous Friendship Centre’s new location on 107 Myrtle Ave. / Andrea Moss, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SaskToday.ca
By: Andrea Moss
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
SASKTODAY.ca
After years without a Friendship Centre in the city, community members, Indigenous leaders and local officials gathered July 21 to celebrate the grand opening of the Yorkton Indigenous Friendship Centre’s new home at 107 Myrtle Ave.
The opening marks the latest step in a community-led effort to re-establish the organization following the closure of Yorkton’s previous Friendship Centre in 2018.
The celebration featured an opening prayer, honour song, ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours of the facility and a community barbecue, bringing together supporters from across the region.
Executive director Mary Musqua-Culbertson said the organization is intended to be a welcoming hub for anyone seeking community, support and connection.
“It is a community service organization that is status blind,” Musqua-Culbertson said in an interview following the ceremony.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, First Nations, non-First Nations, Métis, non-status, newcomers and allies. It’s a community hub meant to support community people and programs.”
She said the centre’s long-term goal is to address social challenges through programming and collaboration.
“We all got to work together and put programs in place to serve our community,” she said. “That’s what Yorkton Indigenous Friendship Centre is.”
The reopening follows several years of planning and community engagement.
During the ceremony, organizers outlined the process that led to the centre’s return. After the previous Friendship Centre closed, the Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan passed a motion in 2020 supporting efforts to explore future programming in Yorkton. A community needs assessment followed in 2021, partnerships were established in 2022, a task force was formed in 2023 and the new Yorkton Friendship Centre was officially incorporated in 2024.
Board chair Darcy Lepowick said the project required the work of numerous volunteers and community partners over several years.
“It was a lot of work over the last three years,” Lepowick said. “But I’m very proud of where it’s come to now. We’ve got a building and we’ve got a lot of community supports.”
Lepowick stressed the project was not the work of one person.
“It wasn’t just a one-person thing. It was all the board members and community stakeholders that were identified, and a lot of them volunteers,” he said.
The new location may be modest in size, but organizers say it gives the centre a permanent home from which to expand services.
Musqua-Culbertson credited volunteers for helping transform the building through painting, renovations and cleanup efforts in advance of the opening.
“We made it happen really quickly,” she told attendees.
Yorkton Mayor Aaron Kienle said he was pleased to see the Friendship Centre established once again in the city.
“The Friendship Centre was always inclusive and always kind to us,” Kienle said during remarks at the ceremony, reflecting on attending events there as a teenager.
“I think that form of inclusion and support and community building that happened many years ago is continuing again now.”
Kienle said the centre’s return will strengthen the community and provide an important gathering place for residents.
“This is truly what builds and grows and helps grow this community,” he said.
Yorkton Tribal Council Chief Isabella O’Soup also welcomed the reopening, noting the impact the previous Friendship Centre had on generations of residents.
“You hear the parents that grew up going to the Friendship Centre talking about how it impacted their lives,” O’Soup said.
“It’s great to see it’s coming back.”
O’Soup said she hopes to explore closer collaboration between the Yorkton Tribal Council, the City of Yorkton and the Friendship Centre through a future memorandum of understanding.
Federal MP Cathy Wagantall, who is preparing to retire later this year, also offered congratulations to organizers.
“This welcoming space will provide valuable programs, services and opportunities, strengthen connections, support families and enrich our entire community,” Wagantall said.
The Friendship Centre currently operates with federal funding flowing through the National Association of Friendship Centres and the Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan, while additional projects rely on grants and community support.
Musqua-Culbertson said Painted Hand Casino’s Community Development Corporation has been among the organization’s strongest supporters during its first year of operation.
Looking ahead, she hopes the centre can eventually expand into a larger facility capable of hosting major gatherings, meetings and community events.
“I would love it if we had a huge big gathering place again where we could have gym nights, tribal council assemblies, Métis meetings and big community dinners,” she said.
For now, however, organizers are focused on growing programming, increasing youth engagement and improving accessibility at the new building, including plans for a fully accessible washroom.
Musqua-Culbertson is also encouraging community members to contribute through volunteering or donating items such as kitchenware, decor and cultural artifacts.
“If you’re coming in the door, you’re welcome,” she said. “That’s what our Friendship Centre does.”
The organization plans to continue expanding programs this fall and will hold its annual general meeting in September, when several board positions will be open.
Community members, Indigenous leaders and local officials gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Yorkton Indigenous Friendship Centre at 107 Myrtle Ave.