For Immediate Release
The Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society is pleased to announce a ground blessing ceremony for the new Houston Friendship Centre building, marking an important milestone in the journey to enhance services and create a lasting legacy for the community. The event took place on March 7th at the site of the new building, located at 3383 11th Street, Houston.
The event included acknowledgements of the territory and heartfelt speeches from N’ek (Stanley Namox) Vice President of the Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society, the project team leads and community members who spoke about the significance of the building for families over the years as well as the excitement about the new building.
The new Houston Friendship Centre will replace the existing facility, offering expanded, accessible, and functional space to meet the growing needs of Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members. After years of dedicated fundraising, this long-anticipated project is set to become a reality, ensuring continuity of services and increasing capacity to support children, families, youth, and elders in a culturally safe and welcoming environment.
The ceremony included Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre’s alcohol and drug counsellor and cultural advisor leading the youth in brushing the building with juniper bushes harvested from the territory, a practice which simultaneously acknowledges and retains the positive energy of the existing building while clearing away any trauma or negative energy in preparation for the new construction to beg
in. The ceremony concluded with drumming and the sharing of coffee, tea and Bannock.
This significant development is made possible through the collaboration of a wider range of valued partners, including the District of Houston, Studio 9 Architecture + Planning, Westwind Enterprises, Lu’ma Development Management, and BV Engineering. The project has received critical funding support from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT), and the Federal Accessibility Grant. Construction is set to begin in April 2025, with completion expected in the summer of 2026.
“We’re not just building a building here; We’re building connections. We’re building a place that will support the growth of our youth, that will be there for families, and that will help bring us all closer to the culture and traditions that will shape who we are. It’s a place for all of us- whether you’re new to our community or have been here for generations. There is room for everyone here, and that’s what makes this so exciting,” said Emma Bowen, AECD Coordinator and Team lead for the Houston Friendship Centre.
Designed to be a warm and welcoming space that reflects the culture and values of the community, the new Houston Friendship Centre will offer thoughtfully planned areas for cultural ceremonies and activities. The facility will improve safety and accessibility, ensuring that people of all ages and abilities can engage in programs and services. With a focus on intergenerational connection, the centre will provide essential spaces for workshops, food programs, and community gatherings. Dedicated areas for youth and family programming will help strengthen community ties and provide ongoing and expansion of services. The inclusion of a kitchen and dining area will support food security initiatives, cooking programs and communal meals, while private offices and a conference room will allow for enhanced service delivery.
The Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society gratefully acknowledges that our building is located on traditional ancestral Wet’suwet’en territory on Laksilyu clan territory. We thank the District of Houston for their ongoing support for this project, and the many community members, partners, and stakeholders who joined us in the ground blessing ceremony to celebrate this momentous occasion.
For more information, please contact:
Lydia Howard
Housing and Economic Development Advisor
housing.advisor@dzelkant.com