Land Acknowledgement

YFC Winnipeg acknowledges that our main facility at 333 King Street is located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.

Winnipeg Indigenous Accord

In 2017 YFC Winnipeg received an invitation from the Mayor’s office to participate in the accord, we were encouraged by the accords vision to “inspire indigenous and non-indigenous peoples to transform Canadian society” and saw how that aligned with our own desire to “see the hope and potential in every young person”.

Prior to signing on to the accord, YFC Winnipeg had taken steps to recognize and act on recommendations of the TRC. Signing onto the accord was a tangible way that we were able to show our commitment in the community with hope to inspire other organizations to also participate.

Our first self-identified goal is to ensure that all our staff have opportunity to participate in appropriate educations experiences to learn about the history of colonization, the history and legacy of residential school and why apologies to former residential school students, their families, and communities were necessary (TRC Commitment #59).

We believe this is important to ensuring every person from every background will continue to be treated with kindness, decency, and respect as we work to meet the needs of young people in Winnipeg.

Statement of Intent

YFC Winnipeg recognizes that there is a long, complicated, and very often tragic history between the Indigenous and settler communities in what we call Canada. We are intentionally pursuing a deeper understanding of this history, the need for reconciliation, and what our role in reconciliation may be. We are working with members of Indigenous communities in an effort to pursue this in a most respectful manner. As things progress, our understanding increases and new actions are taken – this page will be periodically updated.

Response to online complaint campaign that Colonization exists at YFC Winnipeg

December 7, 2021

Youth For Christ Winnipeg (“YFC Winnipeg”) is a chapter of Youth For Christ Canada – a faith-based, inter-denominational ministry.

YFC Winnipeg operates a variety of recreational programming and resource services to serve youth across a wide variety of interests and needs, including skateboarding, dance, counselling, sports, drop-in, summer camps, and more.  YFC Winnipeg has operated in Winnipeg and the surrounding communities for more than 65 years, and has existed to love and care for youth in the diverse and dynamic communities in which it serves.

We have recently received concerns from some members of the Indigenous and the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and we would like to respond by providing clarity around our mission, values, and posture.

We believe every person is given life by Creator God and therefore has an intrinsic value and purpose, and is loved by God. We believe that God has demonstrated this love most fully in the person, work, and values of Jesus. We see the hope and potential in every young person, and want youth to experience that hope and potential themselves. All young people are welcomed and valued at YFC regardless of religious belief, people group, or sexual orientation. At YFC Winnipeg, our mission is to make an opportunity available for every youth to be living fully in Christ.  It is that love of Creator God we endeavour to share with young people by creating a welcoming environment where all youth can feel safe and valued. All opportunities to learn about Christianity and faith in Jesus are voluntary and optional.

As people of faith, we believe we have been called to the holy work of justice. Jesus taught us that our treatment of the most vulnerable reflects our relationship with Jesus. And we acknowledge that generational atrocities have been grotesquely committed in the name of God and church.

In 2017, YFC Winnipeg joined with other businesses, churches, and individuals to sign the Winnipeg Indigenous Accord, symbolising our commitment to learn and share in the continual work of reconciliation. As required by the Accord, YFC Winnipeg regularly submits reports demonstrating our efforts towards reconciliation. Some of this work has included hosting the Blanket Exercise, participating in Circles of Reconciliation, receiving training around Indigenous and Settler relations, as well as collaborating with other local Indigenous organizations. YFC Winnipeg also has an Indigenous Priorities Committee, which is composed of Indigenous and Non Indigenous YFC Winnipeg Staff, as well as an Indigenous Elder, who work together to recognize and act on recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (specifically TRC Commitment #59).

YFC Canada is committed to reconciliation and is working towards tangible steps as part of its national strategic plan to engage the TRC calls to action #58-61.  YFC Canada has a group of indigenous leaders across Canada it engages as they work towards their goals around reconciliation.  YFC Canada regularly promotes a variety of Indigenous-led learning opportunities, and encourages staff across Canada to engage fully in the process of learning and understanding so that movement toward reconciliation may be truthful and authentic.

As one of the long-serving youth ministries in Canada, we emphatically commit to, “walking in a good way,” and raising a generation of young people that are passionate about caring for one another.

We are committed to keeping an open posture that willingly listens to the concerns of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and other interest groups in our city, and will strive to respond in compassionate and appropriate ways. We value mutually respectful conversation. We are concerned that online and social media can easily be misunderstood.  In our observation, social media does not generally promote dialogue, common understanding, and a constructive path forward, thus, we choose not to reply over social media. We invite any concerns to be brought to us through email at info@yfcwinnipeg.ca

or nationaldirector@yfc.ca and we will respond in a timely manner.

Thank you

Youth For Christ Winnipeg, Cliff Heide & Teresa Galashan (Lakota, Standing Rock)

Youth For Christ Winnipeg – Board of Directors, Larry Wilson (Peguis, First Nation)

Youth For Christ Canada, Tim Coles – National Director