Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre promotes justice, fairness and equality for Aboriginal people through a holistic approach to programming and services. Our philosophy is one that encompasses all people in the community who request our assistance.

Our Goals

Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre strives to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal people living in an urban environment. Our Friendship Centre uses Aboriginal teachings as a guideline in our work as Helpers. Our goal is to provide services which are holistic in nature and address the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being of not only our clients, but also our employees. We work together as a team both internally and externally with other community partners. At Tillicum Lelum we also believe that through modeling healthy lifestyles and creating balance, we can establish an environment of trust and respect for those who access our services.

Our Services

TLAFC delivers Cross Cultural Training workshops for the community, businesses and organizations as needed. Our Health Centre offers community health programs and is a growing holistic health service in our community. The Sservice offers health promotion and health prevention through education on an individual consultation basis or within group settings. This service is open to all people.

We also offer ways to strengthen relationships within families through promoting healing, personal growth, and community interaction. Some of the services offered are:

  • Traditional Healing Elders Support
  • Healing Circles
  • Sweats and Smudges
  • Adult and Child Immunization
  • Well Baby Clinic (Immunization)
  • Breast Feeding Clinic
  • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Fetal Alcohol Effects Support and Education
  • Diabetes Support
  • Nutrition Counselling
  • Birth Control Education
  • Self Care Education
  • STI/HIV & TB Testing

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Mandate

Within a network of 117 Friendship Centres across Canada, Tillicum Lelum has a Federal Government mandate to provide essential services to the urban (off-reserve) Aboriginal population of Nanaimo and the Regional District. 

Our History

The Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre was incorporated in 1968. TLAFC provides services to Native secondary and post-secondary students residing in the City of Nanaimo. Over the years TLAFC has grown from a coffee drop-in to a centre offering Educational and Training Programs, Health & Counselling Services, Social Service Programs as well as a wide variety of special events and activities for children and youth, men and women, families, Elder’s and the Community.

TLAFC uses First Nations teachings as a guideline. The teachings are that we must learn balance in all things. Each person is an emotional, mental, physical & spiritual being and all aspects must be cared for and kept in balance. This understanding guides our work as “helpers”. We help others to see themselves in this holistic way we structure our program so that healing can take place in each of these areas of a person’s life.