Lunch & Learn: Friendship Centre Movement

Date: Wednesday, October 4
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Cost: FREE, Registration required

Samantha Kinoshameg, Executive Director of the Barrie Native Friendship Centre for the last seven years, will cover the history of the Friendship Centre movement in Canada, the unique and important role that Friendship Centres have in building and strengthening communities, and the relationships and connections that grow from these community centres.

Samantha Kinoshameg, Anishinaabekwe Turtle Clan from the Odawa, Ojibway and Potawatomi Nations and the communities of Wiikwemkoong and M’Chigeeng on Manitoulin Island and raised in Sudbury. Primarily living in urban communities (Sudbury, North Bay, Toronto and Barrie), she and her family have chosen to make Barrie their home for the past 11 years. Her passion stems from the desire to understand Ojibway Cultural Teachings and how they provide guidance and direction for her family, community, and future generations. Her real name Southwind describes how a gently summer breeze can cool or mixed with a north wind can wreak havoc on our environment. She prefers the story of the Southwind carrying the seeds to be sprinkled around in preparation for the next season as a metaphor for the work she does.

Educated in the Western Traditions, Samantha holds a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, a Master of Science in Biology, Diploma in Naturopathic Medicine. Samantha has worked in the urban Indigenous communities for more than fifteen years and continues to seek out the next adventure.