Outreach & Community Connections
Friends United builds relationships with Indigenous communities, community organizations, public institutions and partners across Nova Scotia and beyond. Through visits, gatherings, workshops, shared initiatives and ongoing dialogue, these connections create opportunities for learning, cultural exchange and greater understanding.
Building Relationships Through Community Engagement
Outreach has been part of Friends United since its early years. Some relationships begin with a visit or conversation, while others grow through workshops, community gatherings, shared initiatives or long-term collaboration.
The Friends United International Convention Centre has become an important meeting place for many of these connections. Indigenous communities, organizations, service providers and invited guests have used the Centre to exchange knowledge, experience Indigenous art and create new relationships.
Together, these activities reflect a broad approach to community engagement — one based on personal relationships, mutual learning and opportunities to bring people together.
Indigenous Community Connections
Many of Friends United’s strongest relationships have grown through direct connections with Mi’kmaw communities, leaders, artists and community organizations. These connections take many forms — from visits and cultural gatherings to workshops, shared events and long-standing personal relationships.
Connecting with the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre
Friends United has developed a connection with the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre in Halifax through visits, conversations and community engagement.
Representatives of the Friendship Centre have also visited the Friends United International Convention Centre in Cape Breton, creating opportunities to exchange ideas, learn more about each other’s work and strengthen community relationships.
The relationship has also extended into community events. Friends United Foundation was recognized as a sponsor of the Wije’winen Kipuktuk Gala, where Indigenous artwork connected with Friends United was presented as part of the event.
Friends United and Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre
Friends United and Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre representatives during a community connection visit.
Friendship Centre Visit to Friends United
Representatives of the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre visiting the Friends United in Cape Breton.
Friends United Foundation – Wije’winen Kipuktuk Gala
Friends United Foundation listed among the sponsors of the Wije’winen Kipuktuk Gala.
A Peace Pipe Returns to Membertou
In September 2025, Friends United presented a peace pipe to Membertou Chief Terry Paul at the Friends United International Convention Centre. The pipe had been created for Friends United ten years earlier by the late Mi’kmaq artist Norman PeterPaul, a longtime friend of Chief Terry Paul.
Rolf Bouman and Elena Paul presented the pipe in the presence of Hereditary Chief Stephen Augustine, Mayor Brenda Chisholm-Beaton and former Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald. The pipe is intended to be displayed at Membertou, giving an object with a meaningful connection to Friends United, Norman PeterPaul and Chief Terry Paul a new home in the community.
The presentation reflects the personal relationships and trust that have grown around Friends United over many years.
Peace Pipe Presentation to Membertou Chief Terry Paul
Peace pipe presentation to Membertou Chief Terry Paul at the Friends United International Convention Centre in September 2025.
Stephen Augustine, Chief Terry Paul and Rolf Bouman with Peace Pipe
Hereditary Chief Stephen Augustine, Membertou Chief Terry Paul and Friends United founder Rolf Bouman with the peace pipe created by the late Mi’kmaq artist Norman PeterPaul.
Community Workshops with Wasoqopa’q First Nation
Friends United has also welcomed community members from Wasoqopa’q First Nation to the Convention Centre for hands-on cultural workshops. These gatherings created space for participants to learn together, share knowledge and take part in traditional creative practices in a setting surrounded by Indigenous art.
Wasoqopa’q First Nation Community Workshop at Friends United
Community workshop with participants from Wasoqopa’q First Nation at the Friends United International Convention Centre.
Wasoqopa’q First Nation Weaving Workshop
Participants from Wasoqopa’q First Nation working together during a hands-on workshop at Friends United.
Mi’kmaw Women, Elders & Grandmothers Gatherings
The Friends United International Convention Centre has also hosted intergenerational gatherings bringing Mi’kmaw women, Elders and grandmothers together to share knowledge, stories and cultural teachings.
Documented gatherings in 2021 and 2022 explored themes including women’s leadership, language, ceremony, mentoring, intergenerational knowledge and the role of grandmothers in supporting future generations. The gatherings created space for Indigenous women to learn from one another, reflect on shared experiences and strengthen community connections.
Related media:
Karen Bernard has also spoken about this work in a Friends United Reconciliation Talk on women’s leadership and reconciliation.
Watch the conversation with Brenda Chisholm-Beaton and Karen Bernard
Awake the Matriarch – Grandmothers Gathering 2022
Detail from the graphic recording created for the 3rd Annual Grandmothers Gathering, “Awake the Matriarch,” in March 2022.
Mi’kmaw Women with Drums at Friends United
Mi’kmaw women with drums during an intergenerational gathering at the Friends United International Convention Centre.
Mi’kmaw Women Gathering at Friends United
Mi’kmaw women and Elders during an intergenerational gathering at the Friends United International Convention Centre.
Community Organizations & Partnerships
Friends United also works with community organizations, service providers and other partners whose activities connect with reconciliation, education, community support and Indigenous art. Some of these relationships began through visits to the Convention Centre, while others developed into longer-term collaborations and shared initiatives.
Commissionaires Nova Scotia
Friends United has developed an ongoing relationship with Commissionaires Nova Scotia through visits, conversations and shared initiatives. In June 2024, representatives visited the Friends United International Convention Centre, where they learned more about Friends United and the Indigenous artists whose work is represented throughout the Centre.
The connection continued later that year with another group visit, creating further opportunities to experience Indigenous art, learn about the artists and explore the work of Friends United.
Commissionaires Nova Scotia Visit to Friends United
Commissionaires Nova Scotia representatives during a visit to the Friends United International Convention Centre in June 2024.
Commissionaires Nova Scotia at Friends United
Commissionaires Nova Scotia during a group visit to the Friends United International Convention Centre in October 2024.
A Growing Partnership with EverWind
The relationship between Friends United and EverWind grew from a personal connection. Trent Vichie first connected with Friends United when he asked Salish artist Gerry Sheena to carve two hockey sticks. Over time, that connection developed into an ongoing collaboration supporting Indigenous artists, community initiatives and reconciliation.
EverWind has supported Friends United through contributions toward art supplies and on-site accommodation for artists, while Indigenous artwork connected with Friends United has also been displayed at EverWind’s Halifax office. Friends United representatives have taken part in EverWind community activities, including the Caleb’s Courage fundraiser and the christening of EverWind tugboats.
The relationship is also reflected at the Friends United International Convention Centre through the EverWind Room, providing a visible reminder of a partnership that has developed over several years.
Friends United at the Caleb’s Courage Fundraiser
Elena Paul, Rolf Bouman, Hereditary Chief Stephen Augustine and Leona Aglukkaq representing Friends United at the EverWind Caleb’s Courage fundraiser.
Trent Vichie and Rolf Bouman with Gerry Sheena Hockey Sticks
Trent Vichie and Rolf Bouman with hockey sticks carved by Salish artist Gerry Sheena.
Chief Terry Paul at EverWind Tugboat Christening
Membertou Chief Terry Paul with Indigenous artwork during an EverWind tugboat christening.
Community Connections at the Convention Centre
The Friends United International Convention Centre also provides a setting where community organizations can meet, share information and build connections. Organizations including 211 Nova Scotia and the Cape Breton Partnership have used the Centre for presentations and community engagement, including discussions around local services and the “Building Newcomer–Mi’kmaq Relationships” initiative.
Other relationships have grown beyond individual visits or meetings. Friends United’s ongoing connection with Emergency Health Services (EHS), for example, has included activities at the Convention Centre as well as support for bringing Indigenous art into paramedic stations across Nova Scotia.
211 Nova Scotia at Friends United
“211 For All: Making the Richmond County Connection” presentation at Friends United.
Emergency Health Services at Friends United
Emergency Health Services representatives during a visit to the Friends United International Convention Centre.
EHS Training at Friends United
Emergency Health Services training at the Friends United International Convention Centre.
Cape Breton Partnership at Friends United
Cape Breton Partnership presentation and community engagement at the Friends United International Convention Centre.
Building Newcomer–Mi’kmaq Relationships
Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership presentation highlighting the “Building Newcomer–Mi’kmaq Relationships” initiative.
International Connections
Friends United has also developed international connections through meetings, invitations and outreach involving representatives from outside Canada. These opportunities have included contacts with representatives of Germany and participation in Canada–China events in Halifax, providing occasions to introduce the work of Friends United, Indigenous artists and reconciliation initiatives in an international context.
In August 2025, Rolf Bouman and Elena Paul attended a reception aboard the German ship “Berlin” in Halifax with German Ambassador to Canada Matthias Lüttenberg and Suzanne Rix, Honorary Consul for the German Consulate in Halifax. Friends United has also been represented at Canada–China gatherings, including a September 2024 banquet with Chinese Ambassador to Canada H.E. Wang Di. Through these meetings, Friends United has been able to share its work and build connections beyond its immediate community in Nova Scotia.
These examples show how Friends United’s outreach has also created opportunities to share its work and build relationships beyond Canada.
Media coverage:
Friends United trio attend invite-only meeting with Chinese ambassador – The Reporter, December 22, 2022 (PDF)
Friends United with German Ambassador Matthias Lüttenberg and Honorary Consul Suzanne Rix
German Ambassador to Canada Matthias Lüttenberg and Honorary Consul Suzanne Rix with Rolf Bouman and Elena Paul at a reception aboard the German ship “Berlin” in Halifax in August 2025.
Friends United Representatives at Canada–China Event in Halifax
Chinese Ambassador Wang Di with Rolf Bouman, Elena Paul and Hon. Stephen McNeil at an event in Halifax.
A Place for Connection
From Mi’kmaw community gatherings and long-term partnerships to organizational visits and international connections, Friends United brings people together through relationships built around Indigenous art, culture, learning and reconciliation.
The Friends United International Convention Centre in Unama’ki (Cape Breton), Nova Scotia, provides an important setting for many of these connections — a place where people can meet, exchange knowledge and develop relationships that continue beyond a single visit or event.