Youth Group Visits Indigenous Family Centre

Earlier this year the youth group of New Life Christian Reformed Church in Guelph, Ont., embarked on a trip to Winnipeg, Man., where they engaged in service and learning in and around the Indigenous Family Centre (IFC). The group consisted of seven youths and four adult leaders.

Located in the heart of Winnipeg, the IFC is a CRC ministry that serves as a welcoming hub for the local Indigenous community, offering various programs and events. Shannon Perez, the IFC director, expressed appreciation that the New Life group was able to come. 

“Their presence brought a lot of fresh energy to the Centre,” said Perez. “The youths were open, curious, and respectful, which made for a really enriching exchange. We emphasize the importance of relationships, and it was wonderful to see these young people embody that spirit.”

The youth group immersed themselves into the life of the Centre through hands-on participation. As sometimes happens on trips like this, a highlight can develop from something that was unplanned. When a scheduled beach day had to be canceled because of rain, Perez and the staff at the Centre pivoted and hosted a community day at the Centre. Everyone participated in games, shared meals, and craft workshops. This provided the youths from Guelph with a lot of meaningful interaction with IFC community members. Jake DeBruyn, one of the youth leaders, reflected on this and said, “Having the day at the Centre allowed us to really spend time with people, which was even better than what we had planned. We were present to simply be with people, share stories, and experience life together.”

During their visit, the youth also supported IFC's Harvest program, a food bank initiative serving the neighborhood. DeBruyn said they emphasized the importance of approaching their work with a posture of humility, noting, “We were there to listen and learn, and our service was to walk alongside and support the great work that is already under way at the Centre.” 

The youths’ visit also provided opportunities to deepen their understanding of Indigenous history and culture, reinforced by interactive experiences like the Kairos Blanket Exercise, which walks people through Indigenous history in Canada. “One of the beautiful parts was that some community members participated with us and shared openly about their experiences,” DeBruyn shared. “It was a powerful moment that moved many of us deeply.”

Throughout the week, the group was invited to share meals with community members, enhancing their experience of connection and inclusion. “Sharing food, the breaking of bread, is a key part of community, both in Indigenous traditions and in Western Christian traditions,” DeBruyn noted. “Our experience at the Centre was that we were welcomed, we were cared for, we could contribute and serve, and we could learn. It was a really positive experience for all of us.”