Membership

The primary membership for the ANFCA are the twenty Friendship Centres within the province of Alberta and their representatives that form part of the ANFCA Board of Directors and who also participate on the Alberta Elders’ Wisdom Circle and the Alberta Aboriginal Youth Council. Secondary clients include those individuals who access Alberta Friendship Centres and who benefit indirectly from the work done by the ANFCA. There are twenty Friendship Centres within the province of Alberta, each of which works with the ANFCA office to access supports and services.

Board of Directors

The Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association’s Provincial Board of Directors is made up of representatives from each of the 20 Alberta-based member Friendship Centres. During the ANFCA’s Annual General Meeting each member Friendship Centre sends two (2) voting delegates and during quarterly meetings, each member friendship centre sends one (1) voting delegate to each board meeting. The ANFCA’s Board of Directors is therefore made up of interested individuals that have been appointed by their home community to represent the interests of their region and to bring a voice and a vote to the Provincial Board of Directors.

Executive Committee

The ANFCA operates with the direction of an elected Executive Committee. The President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and National Board Representative are elected by their peers from the Provincial Board of Directors. To provide balance and equality the Alberta Aboriginal Youth Council and the Alberta Aboriginal Elders’ Wisdom Circle each appoints a representative from provide input on issues and to ensure a strong commitment to culture is maintained.

Elders' Wisdom Circle

Formed in 2000, the Elders’ Wisdom Circle provides a format for Aboriginal Elders of all Alberta-based cultures to join together in fellowship, to make recommendations to the ANFCA Board of Directors on issues as they relate to culture, programming and organizational direction, to increase opportunities for Elders to engage and interact with youth, to access training and educational opportunities as they relate to current and emerging issues, and perhaps most importantly to honour and infuse the ongoing value of traditional culture in daily life. Elders represent each member Friendship Centre from throughout Alberta and represent the diversity of Aboriginal cultures found in the province.

Alberta Aboriginal Youth Council

Originally formed as the Provincial Aboriginal Youth Council (PAYC) in 1997 this group was renamed the Alberta Aboriginal Youth Council in 2003. This energetic group of Aboriginal youth representatives ranging in age from 14-24 years comes together from across the province of Alberta to partake in cultural events and activities, to develop leadership skills and to participate in provincial scope training and projects such as the Aboriginal Youth Multi-Media project of Family Violence and Bullying. Each Alberta-based Friendship Centre can appoint a youth representative to attend quarterly ANFCA meetings and to partake in other provincial events and activities.