About

Our Mission

Indian Family Centre seeks to be a Christian Healing community which honours and respects Aboriginal understanding of life with its gifts expressed through culture, teachings, governance structures, and other aspects of life.

It integrates work and worship in its daily activities. We create opportunities for and encourage leadership in ministry, enabling individuals and communities to become self-directing and self-sufficient. It deals in freeing ways with issues affecting people in an inner-city neighbourhood. It creates opportunities for Aboriginal people and Christian Reformed people to develop a partnership with each other.

Our History

The Indian Family Centre (IFC) was established in 1974 under the direction of Rev. Henk DeBruyn. The IFC is located in the inner city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, an area of the city that is well known for poverty, violence, poor housing, gang activity, high unemployment, and racial tension. Aboriginal Canadians make up a high percentage of the population in this neighbourhood. In the midst of what many would consider to be an undesirable neighbourhood is a place of refuge, a spiritual place of healing - Indian Family Centre.

For the past 32 years staff and community people have worked at creating a Centre that promotes healing, spiritual growth, cultural renewal and rediscovery, leadership development, family support, and an environment in which people are accepted aand empowered. Many different projects and programs were initiated at the Indian Family Centre - employment train programs (i.e. Anishinabe RESPECT), community development initiatives, networking and development initiatives, networking and development of Aboriginal coalations, spiritual and cultural renewal, activities promoting social justice, individual healing, growth and development. During the years many different staff participated in the ministry of IFC, contributing their gifts and talents to the development of a working and worshipping community. God’s Spirit has been, and continues to be at work in our Centre. It is a place where people can experience God’s unconditional love and acceptance, a place where promise and healing and wholeness can be embraced.

Henk DeBruyn remained director and pastor of the Centre for 26 years and retired in January 2000. After a process of discernment and planning for the transition, I (Jeanet Sybenga) was chosen to be the new director of ministry at IFC. I began this position in November 1999

The Sharing Circle

The main focus of the Indian Family Centre is to be a spiritual place of healing. Each Thursday morning at 11:00, our community gathers for worship and prayer. In this circle, people participate in a smudge, reading of scripture, discussion, reflection and personal sharing. It is a time to receive teachings and knowledge that may help in growth of each individual.

The Women’s Group

Who: Women that want to talk, women who need other women’s support and to do that from an Aboriginal woman’s way of healing
What: Getting together in a non-threatening setting
Where: TV room at the Indian Family Centre 
When: Once a week between 4:30-7:30p.m.
Why: To grow/and or heal in healthy ways

Please call Dee @ 586-8393 if you have any questions. Meegwetch (Thank-you)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who funds you? 
A: The Christian Reformed Church

Q: What kinds of programs do you currently run? 
A: The children’s summer program

Q: Do you give out free bus tickets? 
A: No, but we can help you find the resources needed to help yourself