The Senate is an integral part of the Friendship Centre Movement, Senators are individuals who are recognized for representing a set of values which reflect past developments of the Movement while allowing the current leadership and Membership the right to define their own direction.

Senators attend as advisors, on a rotating basis, all meetings of the Board of Directors, Annual General Meetings and other such special meetings of the membership, when invited. They are role models for the Friendship Centre Movement and help promote the Movement.

Excerpt taken from NAFC Constitution & By-Laws

Article X - The Senate

Section 1

The purpose of the Association's Senate shall be as follows:

To be formally involved, from time to time, in providing advice to the Board of Directors and the annual general meeting of members of the Association.

Section 2

Senators are individuals who are recognized for representing a set of values which reflect past developments of the Friendship Centre Movement while allowing the current leadership and membership the right to define their own direction.

Senators shall attend as advisors, on a rotating basis, all meetings of the Board of Directors. All Senators shall attend as advisors at each annual general meeting and each special meeting of the members.

Section 3

The Principles of the Senators shall be as follows:

(a) Senators shall, individually and as a group address issues from a national perspective which treats all members of the Association equally.

(b) Senators shall be sensitive to the needs of the regions they reside in but should be detached from local, provincial and regional Friendship Centres issues in order to sit as Senators for the entire Friendship Centre Movement.

(c) The Senators shall never act as the final decision makers. They may provide guidance and advise but must respect the rights of the Friendship Centres, Provincial/Territorial Associations and the Association's assembly and Board of Directors to make decisions, even when those decisions contradict the wishes of the Senators individually or as a group.

(d) The Senators shall respect the decisions of the Association and its membership and support those decisions at all times.

(e) The Senators shall not influence the membership but will be available upon request of the Friendship Centres, the Provincial/Territorial Associations and the Association Board of Directors for providing guidance and advice.

(f) The Senate shall respond, as appropriate, on contentious policy issues which may affect the future direction of the Friendship Centre Movement. They may, from time to time, be requested to provide formal reports to the Association and its membership on contentious issues.

(g) All Senators shall act as role models for the Friendship Centre Movement and shall help promote the Friendship Centre Movement.

(h) The Senators' first priority is the membership as a whole.

Section 4

The responsibilities of the Senators shall be as follows:

(a) The Senate is directly responsible and accountable to the general assembly of Friendship Centres.

(b) The Senate may be called upon to provide formal, or informal, comments or reports to the membership, the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, the Provincial/Territorial Associations and regionally based unrepresented Friendship Centres.

(c) The Senate shall be called upon to establish a process for resolving disputes at the request of the membership. The Senate may establish a resolution panel comprised of a minimum of two (2) Senate members, a Youth representative and an Elder.

(d) The dispute resolution panel shall ensure that all parties in dispute are heard and, where feasible, convene a talking circle for the purpose of hearing all sides.

(e) Senators shall make themselves available to the Provincial/Territorial Associations and/or regional gatherings to provide guidance and support at the request of the Provincial/Territorial Association and/or regional grouping of friendship centers.

(f) Senators shall not be seen to coerce those they provide counsel to into accepting their advice.

(g) Senators may be called upon to provide information, guidance or advice to individuals within the movement. This advice should not be construed by those individuals or others as formal direction to the individuals.

Section 5

To be eligible as a Senate member the following criteria shall be considered for appointment:

(a) Must be a person of Aboriginal descent.

(b) The individual must be able to demonstrate that he/she has contributed to the Friendship Centre movement at a local, provincial/territorial and national level.

(c) Paid staff of Friendship Centres, Provincial/Territorial Associations and/or the Association shall not be eligible. Senators cannot represent individual friendship centers, provincial/territorial associations or the Association.

(d) Senators must be in reasonably good health which allows them to travel and to contribute to the discussion on issues.

(e) There shall be two (2) categories of Senators: Active and Non-Active. Non-Active Senators are those who are unable to fulfill their obligations due to health or other reasons.

(f) Active Senate members shall comprise a senate of not more than twelve (12) members.

(g) Active Senate members shall be appointed with a view to ensuring fair geographical balance.

(h) As vacancies occur, replacement shall be reflective of the geographical balance through the application of appropriate guidelines.

Section 6

The process for selecting members of the Senate shall be as follows:

(a) Nominations to the Senate can be made at any time vacancies occur either by:

(i) nomination from a Provincial/Territorial Association;

(ii) nomination from a minimum of five (5) Friendship Centres.

(b) The nomination shall be tabled with the Board of Directors.

(c) Once a nomination is made the following process will take place:

(i) The Board of Directors will ensure that all eligibility criteria are met and that a vacancy exists;

(ii) The Board of Directors will consult with the province or territory from which the nominated person is situate in order to receive their recommendation (if not nominated by a Provincial/Territorial Association);

(iii) The nomination with recommendations shall be forwarded to the Senate for review and approval. The Senate shall consult with the Elders of the Association for their recommendations;

(iv) Upon approval by the Senate and Elders, the nomination shall be returned to the Board of Directors to be tabled for ratification at the next annual general meeting;

(v) Once an appointment has been ratified, the Senate member immediately assumes responsibility for the position.

Section 7

The term of appointment shall be as follows:

(a) Senate members shall serve a life term as active or non-active members.

(b) An active Senator will serve as a Senate member for as long as he/she is able and available to carry out the duties as previously outlined and, continue to support the objectives of the Friendship Centres and/or Provincial/Territorial Associations.

The NAFC Senate continues to be our biggest advocate. They are committed to help in the process of our visioning and ensuring a bright future for the Friendship Centre Movement and the people we serve.