The concept of a "Friendship Centre" originated in the mid-1950's. A noticeable number of Aboriginal people were moving to the larger urban areas of Canada, primarily to seek an improved quality of life. In an effort to address the needs expressed by their communities, concerned individuals began to push for the establishment of specialized agencies.

These agencies would provide referrals and offer counselling on matters of employment, housing, education, health and liaison with other community organizations.

Until 1972, Friendship Centres were dependant, to a large degree, on individual volunteers and their ability to raise operating funds though various fund raising events, private donations and small grants from foundations and provincial and federal governments. Centres also began to evolve from the provision of referrals to the "front line" delivery of social services.

In the late sixties, Friendship Centres began to organize into Provinacial and Territorial Association's (PTA's). In 1969, a steering committee of Friendship Centres was struck to examine the feasibility of establishing a national body to represent the growing number of Centres.

In 1972 the government of Canada formally recognized the viability of Friendship Centres and implemented the Migrating Native Peoples Progam (MNPP). In 1976, the government conducted an evaluation of the MNPP which revealed the vital role that Friendship Centres played in the communities they served and the wide base of the community support they had established.

Centres were also able to utilize limited resources in a creative and flexible manner while remaining accountable to their communities. In spite of the many obstacles, the Centres have continued to expand the programs and services offered to urban Aboriginal People.

In 1983, the NAFC and the Department of the Secretary of State (DSOS) successfully negotiated the evolution of the MNPP to an enriched Native Friendship Centre Program (NFCP). This program , with a five year mandate, formally recognized "Friendship Centres as legitimate urban Native institutions responding to the needs of Native people." In 1988, the NFCP became the Aboriginal Friendship Centres Program (AFCP), which secured the status of permanent funding from DSOS.

1951 - Toronto - North American Indian Club

1952 - Vancouver - Coqualeetza Fellowship Club

1959 - Winnipeg - Indina and Metis Friendship Centre

1968 - 26 Friendship Centres across Canada

1972 - National Association of Firendship Centres
incorporated

1972 - 43 Friendship Centres across Canada

1983 - 80 "core funded" Friendship Centres across Canada

1996 - 113 Friendship Centres across Canada

1996 - March - Administrative transfer of AFCP from Department of Canadian Heritage to the NAFC

1997 - 114 Friendship Centres and 7 Provincial Territorial Association across Canada

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