Learning designed for community, by community

The Centre’s learning programs are designed in response to the needs identified by Greater Victoria Indigenous community members and have been co-designed through in-depth collaboration with our community.

Who we are

The Victoria Native Friendship Centre (VNFC) is the largest provider of programming for Indigenous communities in South Vancouver Island. 

Founded and led by Indigenous community members since 1969, the VNFC now offers over 75 culturally appropriate, wrap-around social services from pre-natal care to Elderhood. 

We are located on the traditional lands of the Lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking people of the Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations and are grateful for our ongoing relationships with our host Nations. 


Be welcomed as a guest in a community-led space

Our programs are designed to help you build genuine, long-term relationships with the local urban Indigenous community. Program graduates often continue their relationship with VNFC by participating in our community activities, volunteering, and staying connected with fellow learners—some even becoming program facilitators.

Your learning supports our community

When you pay for a program, you aren’t just a learner—you are a partner in our work. 100% of your fees stay within the VNFC to cover program costs and fund the next generation of innovative, Indigenous-led learning.

Why our community members choose VNFC learning programs:

  • Locally Grounded: Guided by local Indigenous community voices, experiences and stories

  • Skills-Based: Walk away with concrete tools you can use to build relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in more meaningful and lasting ways

  • Hands-on: Experience dialogue, reflection, and hands-on learning delivered through a culturally-grounded approach

  • Reciprocal Impact: 100% of your fees support the sustainability of Indigenous-led programming and help ensure more people can access these learning experiences

  • Warm community welcome: Be hosted with acceptance, loving care and generosity that demonstrates cultural safety in action

Core values that guide our work

  • Cultural wisdom:

    We ground our work in the wisdom of diverse Indigenous cultures and teachings

  • Humility:

    We acknowledge we can all be learners and teachers at any point and that making mistakes is an opportunity for learning and growth

  • Safety:

    We create safer spaces for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people

  • Belonging:

    We nurture relationships of belonging among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people

What are people saying about the VNFC Learning Programs?

"The best training I’ve ever had."

"A deep, profound and transformative learning opportunity."

"This was the most impactful workshop I have ever taken."

"The Community Learning Program is a transformative, challenging, and incredibly uplifting experience. I am profoundly moved by the power of being in circle with people who are choosing to walk this path together. It fills my heart with so much hope."

"Indigenous Safety in Healthcare guided me on a profound journey with a community of people I felt safe with. I am so grateful for this safe space to learn, grow, and actually embody what practicing culturally safe care looks like."

Frequently Asked Questions

Registration and Fees

  • How much do learning programs cost?

    The Indigenous Safety in Healthcare (ISH) and Community Learning Program (CLP) each cost $1,500. Program costs are based on the Victoria Native Friendship Centre’s (VNFC’s) cost for delivery.

  • Do you offer discounts?

    We do not offer discounts to individual registrants but understand that financial barriers may discourage individuals from attending learning programs. We encourage anyone who finds the registration costs challenging to fill out our Sponsorship Request Form. For group registrations (10 or more participants), please contact us at [email protected].

  • What payment methods are available?

    We accept payments from all major credit cards through our registration site. For group registrations, please contact us at [email protected].

  • What do the registration fees include?

    This cost for our Community Action and Learning (CAL) programming includes: Registration fees for the full program, printed materials for participants to keep, access to online learning materials, a full lunch and two snacks per day (dietary restrictions are accommodated as best as possible), locally trained, culturally informed facilitators, program coordinators who work with participants to optimize their personal experience, Elder cultural inclusion, invitation into an ongoing relationship with the VNFC and invaluable knowledge for ongoing learning.

  • Are there age restrictions for participants?

    Yes, participants must be 18 years of age and older.

  • The learning programs used to be free. Why is the VNFC now charging?

    Our learning programs have never been free. They have been sponsored by a variety of funders, including the British Columbia Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, the McConnell Foundation and the Department of Canadian Heritage. The previous funding model proved unsustainable and uncertain, and placed the burden on the VNFC, a non-profit Indigenous organization, to fund learning that is mandated (by the TRC and DRIPA) for most employers. To ensure long-term stability and recuperate costs, the VNFC is transitioning into a social enterprise operating model. This means that registration fees will cover program costs and any additional proceeds will be reinvested in VNFC to support the sustainability of our learning programs. If cost is a barrier to participation, the VNFC provides the opportunity for full or partial sponsorships of program costs. These sponsorships are funded through donations and grants and are dependent on available funding.

  • What happened to the waitlist?

    The VNFC is transitioning away from its previous “waitlist” structure and switching to an active email notification system to fill open learning program seats and reduce administrative costs. Current waitlist participants will be notified of registration opportunities one week in advance of the general public until January 2027, so they can register early for upcoming learning program dates.

Sponsorship

  • I’m interested in the learning program but have a limited budget. What are my options?

    The VNFC recognizes that financial barriers may impact an individual’s ability to participate in our learning programs. Please fill out our Sponsorship Request Form below. Individuals who can cover a portion of the learning program cost are eligible to apply for a partial sponsorship through the same form.

  • What are sponsored seats?

    The VNFC provides the opportunity for full or partial sponsorships of program costs. These sponsorships are funded through donations and grants and are dependent on available funding. For those employed and whose organizations are mandated to provide Indigenous cultural safety training, the professional development funds of the employer should be used to cover CAL Program costs. An employer information package to support a request for professional development funding can be found at the following address: https://vnfc.thinkific.com/pages/review-of-training-mandates Sponsorship may be requested by completing and submitting the Sponsorship Request Form.

  • Who is eligible for sponsored seats?

    Sponsored seats are available to interested individuals: • Aged 18 years or older • Who have requested and been denied professional development funds OR do not have access to professional development funds • For whom cost is a barrier In the spirit of supporting Indigenous communities’ own healing and learning journeys, individuals who self-identify as Indigenous and do not have access to professional development funds are prioritized for sponsored seats. An applicant who is not approved for a sponsored seat may reapply for sponsorship in a future cohort.

  • How do I get a sponsored seat?

    Our sponsored seats are offered on a case-by-case basis and are dependent on available funding through grants and donations to the VNFC. Those who are eligible may fill out our Sponsorship Request Form:

Learning program participation

  • Do I need to have any prior learning or experience with Indigenous Peoples to take The Community Learning Program?

    If you have just moved to Canada and know nothing about Indigenous Peoples, CLP is for you. If you have worked alongside Indigenous Peoples in culturally respectful relationships for decades, CLP is for you. No matter where you are in your learning journey, you will have something to gain.

  • I am an Indigenous person. Will I benefit from taking the Community Learning Program?

    All self-identified Indigenous Peoples are welcome. Regardless of whether you have grown up in your culture and identity or only recently became aware of your Indigenous ancestry, you will be welcomed. There is no expectation that Indigenous Peoples come into our programs with any prior knowledge, nor will they be called upon to share their lived experiences. This is a safe place for Indigenous Peoples to explore what they know and how they feel about colonization in Canada. CLP was intentionally designed to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together, and the online portion of the program prepares each group for respectful interaction. This preparation, plus strong culturally-safe and trauma-informed facilitation, creates a safe, anti-racist, caring and productive space for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to learn together and build stronger relationships.

  • What do I need to prepare and bring for the learning program?

    Full meals will be provided for lunch, as well as refreshments and light snacks during break periods. Dietary restrictions are accommodated as best as possible. Please provide details with your registration. You are welcome to bring your own snacks, but please be mindful of allergies of others and refrain from bringing nuts. You are also welcome to bring things to keep your hands busy, such as fidgets or crafts. You may also want to bring your own headphones for some of the listening activities. Our learning programs are held in a gymnasium / large gathering space that has fluctuating temperatures. We recommend you dress in layers and bring a pillow and/or blanket to make your experience as comfortable as possible. The VNFC building is located just off a busy road in the Tillicum area of Victoria, and only street parking is available. There is street parking directly in front of the VNFC and on neighbouring streets. We highly recommend arriving 20–30 minutes early to secure a parking spot. Accessible parking spots are available in the VNFC lot for those with a permit. Most importantly, we ask that you bring your best self!

  • How do I prepare for the learning program?

    There is an online learning component that must be completed before your first day of in-person learning. It will take 3-6 hours, depending on your pace of learning. Many people choose to rewatch videos and dedicate extra time to reflection activities. The online learning is foundational to the work you will engage with during the in-person programming and provides important information that contributes to safety in the space for all participants. Participants must complete 100% of the online learning to receive their completion certificate.

  • Do the learning programs accommodate accessibility requirements?

    Yes! We seek to make the experience as comfortable and safe as possible for everyone. Our facilities include: accessible parking spaces in our lot (please call the VNFC reception to reserve a spot), wheelchair accessible ramps throughout the building, accessible and non-gendered bathroom facilities, flexible seating arrangements in our program spaces Our programs accommodate diverse learning needs with a variety of activities. Please make note of any accessibility accommodation requests during the registration process. If you have suggestions to improve our accessibility, we happily welcome all feedback. Please email the CAL Program coordinator with your comments at [email protected].

Cancellations or missed sessions

  • Do you offer refunds?

    a) For a full refund, participants must provide notice of cancellation a minimum of five business days before the learning program begins. b) A partial refund (80%) is provided for notice given four business days or fewer before the learning program begins. c) No refund will be given for participants who cancel on the day of the learning program or do not show up on the program date. In this case, the VNFC retains the full registration payment

  • What if I miss parts of the learning program?

    Once the program has started, participants are expected to complete the learning program in its entirety to receive the certificate of completion. Missed days may result in cancellation fees or being rescheduled for a future cohort. Missed time greater than one hour may result in a rescheduling of the learning program day and/or future program days. Any disruption to your participation can greatly impact the rapport with your co-participants and facilitating team alike. Moreover, course materials, exercises and food are prepared in advance for the number of registered participants, and any deviation from these numbers impacts the VNFC’s costs and administrative efforts.

  • What happens if the VNFC cancels my learning program?

    While this is exceptionally rare, in the event the VNFC cancels a learning program date, the VNFC commits to rescheduling the impacted participants into an upcoming cohort within six months. If the participant is unable to attend a rescheduled program date, the participant may request and will be granted a full refund. We will use the participant’s email on file to notify of cancellations.

Facilitator Opportunities

  • Is VNFC looking for people to facilitate programming?

    We are always looking to develop new facilitators for programming through our Learning Facilitators Hub (LFH). Prospective facilitators should hold these skills/experiences prior to reaching out: at least one year of experience working with/in Indigenous communities, completion of the learning program you are interested in facilitating, teaching, facilitating or cultural leadership experience an asset. Priority access to the LFH is given to VNFC staff and/or people of Indigenous identity. Contact us at [email protected] to inquire about intake processes.

Questions?

  Contact us at [email protected]