Friendship center given Chief David Crowchild award

Page 20

Members of the Calgary Indian Friendship Center received the Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award during Calgary's 1990 Native Awareness Week.

The city's top political officials turned out to present the annual award to the newly-appointed board of directors now chaired by Morley businessman Bob Lickers.

Calgary Mayor Al Duerr lauded the center for its long history of providing southern Alberta Natives with a safe haven when they come to the city from their reserves. But he also have praise to the award's namesake, the late Sarcee Chief David Crowchild, for his efforts to promote aboriginal culture within the non-Native community.

"We should never forget Crowchild for what he did for all Canada to promote cultural diversity and understanding and, at the same time, to encourage co-operation," he told a gathering of 100 people at the city hall atrium May 16.

"We sometimes forget what's important to the community."

Duerr said the award is a reminder of the role Native people play in the city's development.

Monique McKay, chairman of Calgary's aboriginal affairs' committee, said the friendship center has been a vital source of information for her group and has helped non-Native society in Calgary overcome much of its resentment of having an integrated community.

"This city has certainly gone a long way to bridge the gap," she said.

The committee, which has both Native and non-Native members, is a liaison group set up by Calgary city council to address Native concerns like housing and social services. It was established in 1979 after city officials realized the Native population was growing rapidly.

The award is an indication the city is recognizing the efforts of the friendship center to help Native people adjust to urban life, Lickers said.

"The award reflects (our) efforts to promote goodwill," he said.

"The Calgary Indian Friendship Center takes its responsibility very seriously."

The friendship center, celebrating its 25th anniversary, was a leading venue for events during Calgary Native Awareness Week May 12-19.

The center was established in 1964 to act as a stopping off point of information for Natives moving to Calgary or looking for work.