Goals

Mission Statement

Friends United is a collective of Indigenous artists, leaders, and allies advancing reconciliation through art. We provide welcoming spaces, galleries, studios, a cultural centre, and learning environments where Indigenous artists can create, share their stories, and flourish as self-sufficient leaders and mentors. We honour artistic legacies, help preserve cultural teachings, and equip artists with resources, mentorship, and business knowledge so their voices endure and thrive. Together with our projects and programming, we can facilitate education, dialogue, and partnerships across communities; we can build trust, strengthen relationships, and amplify Indigenous knowledge to meet the shared challenges of our time. Guided by the Seven Sacred Teachings, wisdom, love, courage, respect, honesty, humility, and truth, Friends United nurtures belonging, restorative reconciliation, and pride for today and for generations to come.

Vision Statement

Friends United envisions a future where Indigenous art and wisdom open hearts, heal divisions, and restore our shared humanity. We see a world where every artist is expressing their voice, every community can advocate their culture and spirit, and every generation understands that we are a human family — living with balance, respect, and responsibility to each other, to the land, and to future generations.

Strategic objectives

  • Friends United is an internationally recognized centre of excellence – an example of reconciliation in action.
  • We have developed a robust and sustainable business model, based on our not-for-profit foundation that supports artists in providing an even better livelihood for themselves and creating art full-time, should they choose to do so.
  • ⁠We operate in a community-sharing model, in which Indigenous artists are essential collaborators and communities can engage with the artists.
  • We foster deep, grassroots relationships with Indigenous artists, peoples and communities, particularly in Mi’kmaki; we are an avenue of friendship and trust.
  • Indigenous artists are economically even more successful, prospering from flourishing and sustainable careers in art. They are mentoring and inspiring the next generation to participate, creating a wheel of change in facilitating and assisting young and upcoming artists.

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