I am a fourth-year undergraduate student, double-majoring in art history and religious studies. These areas of study reflect my interest in the cultural realms of human experience, focusing on both material and immaterial realities. I am greatly captivated by the universal tendencies of creating art and practicing religion present in the many nations around the world. In the so-called country of Canada, the indigenous nations have diverse artistic practices and religious understandings that play large roles in their respective cultures and ways of life. By interning at the Native Friendship Centre of Montreal, I was provided with an opportunity to attain experience in understanding the cultural life of the Native community in Tio'tia:ke (Montreal). In addition, my internship allowed me to gain insight towards the immediate issues they face.
Ìý
The Native Friendship Centre of Montreal is an organization which for over 40 years has provided services to the urban Aboriginal community of Montreal. It is a non-profit agency with the primary mission of promoting, developing, and improving the quality of life for the urban Aboriginal population of Montreal. The Centre aims to help those transitioning through, migrating to, or already living long-term in the urban community. Its programs, activities, and services aim to help the Native people regarding their social, health, and legal conditions.
Ìý
As an intern, I was responsible for coordinating and supervising Centre activities while ensuring the safety and security of participants. I worked primarily on the main floor of the Centre, welcoming visitors and/or members and providing access to services as required. I assisted in preparing a self-serve breakfast and coffee each morning followed by serving daily lunch meals. I monitored inventory levels in the Centre’s food depot and helped distribute food baskets to clients. I also completed duties at the Centre’s reception desk, such as coordinating incoming calls and distributing client mail. In addition to these responsibilities, I regularly socialized with the visitors and members who frequented the Centre.
Ìý
There were a multitude of highlights during my internship. I greatly appreciated getting to personally know some of the Centre members over the three-month period, and to hear their stories and experiences. I gained understanding regarding their current circumstances and struggles in life both in Montreal and on their Native reserves. I also valued the experience of joining the Centre’s Street Patrol workers in distributing sandwich bags to the homeless population in the surrounding vicinities of several downtown Montreal metro stations. Through this opportunity I was able to witness more clearly the situations of those in need of help in our society, as well as the positive impact that the Centre’s programs have on those in the Montreal community. Another highlight in the internship was taking part in the Centre’s cultural activities such as singing during drum circles, beading, and soapstone carving.
The experiences I had during my time at the Native Friendship Centre will undoubtably contribute to shaping my education path. I plan on continuing my study of Indigenous art and culture this upcoming academic year. I interestingly witnessed a popular embrace of Christianity by the Native people at my internship; a topic for potential future academic research. I was also inspired to research into the conditions which are contributing to the issues faced by the Native population in so called Canada.
Critical problems such as homelessness, lack of affordable housing, abuse, and discrimination from the police and healthcare system have motivated me to consider a future career in social services or law. This internship gave me insight into several ways how we could help Indigenous communities. These include a strengthening and reviving of their cultural lives, so greatly constituted by their traditional artistic practices; an approach of healing from a deeply religious/spiritual standpoint; increased aid in social and medical services; and action to bring justice through legal means.
I gratefully received funding for this internship through the Faculty of Arts Internship Awards. I would like to extend my many thanks to the Morris and Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation. The funds I received allowed me to gain invaluable firsthand experience in my related field of study. In addition, I was able to continue the work I was doing at my internship outside its hours, by providing necessities when I saw best fit for the homeless population that I forged a relationship with at the Centre. The funds allowed me to further contribute to the mission of my internship organization as well as independently continue to develop connections with the people I met.
