Indigenous community centre needed in downtown Kitchener – The Record
Waterloo Region’s Indigenous community has been waiting for up to 20 years and they are frustrated, says region’s Truth and Reconciliation director
Nov. 25, 2022
WATERLOO REGION — An Indigenous community centre or friendship centre is needed in Waterloo Region, says the region’s Truth and Reconciliation director.
But finding a location will take time, says Paula Whitlow. She is focused now on speaking to local Indigenous people and finding out what they want the centre to look like and what services and programs it should provide.
“What we’ve been hearing so far is that it’s still definitely a need and that they’re a bit frustrated because they’ve been saying this for 10, 15, 20 years,” Whitlow said in an interview Thursday.
She understands the frustration and wants to make sure all consultations are documented, because the input that many people have already provided over the years has not always been properly recorded.
