Recently Rebuilt Little Tree Family Centre is Building Stronger Communities in Labrador

Funding provided through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

Replacing the Little Tree Family Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, became a community priority as the building fell into poor condition and began to pose a threat to the health of its users. Funding from the Government of Canada, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the NunatuaKuvut Community Council made it possible to demolish the old building and construct a new 3,930-square-foot building and perform all the works required to make it fully safe, reliable, and functional for the Upper Lake Melville region.

The family centre, run by a not-for-profit organization – the Labrador Friendship Centre – provides a variety of programs and services to enrich the lives of the Indigenous Peoples of Labrador and non-Indigenous local residents.

The Little Tree Family Centre aims to promote social cultural, educational, physical, emotional, and nutritional growth with Indigenous children, from infancy to 6 years of age, and their parents or caregivers. Through the Aboriginal Head Start and the Healthy Baby Club, along with the many services that each of those programs provides, Little Tree strives to address the needs of children and families in the Happy Valley-Goose Bay area. Transportation and hot breakfasts or nutritious snacks, depending on what session is attended, are provided to attendees and languages are reflected in the centre with parents/elders in Inuktitut, Innu-Aimun, and English through songs, stories, and activities.

While programming is primarily offered to Indigenous families, families of other heritage are welcome to participate in certain programs, as the centre believes that we all have something to learn from our diverse lived experiences.

The Labrador Friendship Centre is doing more…

In addition to the essential family services provided by the Little Tree Family Centre, the Labrador Friendship Centre also provides support to the Inuit, Innu, and Mi’kmaq peoples of the Upper Lake Melville Region through:

• A community food bank and soup kitchen
• A medical hostel
• An independent living program that improves access to low-income housing
• Seniors programming and transportation services
• Justice navigation program
• S.H.I.E.L.D. (Sexual Health Information Exchange Labrador District), a youth-led initiative that promotes positive sexual health, personal wellness, and healthy relationships through art, culture, and technology
• An assisted living program
• The administration of the federal Reaching Home Indigenous NL fund

Quick facts:

• Funding for this project was delivered through the Community, Culture, and Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Program.
• The province of Newfoundland and Labrador is home to three distinct Indigenous groups: the Inuit, the Innu, and the Mi’kmaq. The Inuit exist in two groups, the Southern Inuit of Nunatukavut and the Labrador Inuit of Nunatsiuvut.

For more information, visit:

• News Release: New building for the Aboriginal Family Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay will benefit Indigenous communities of Labrador and local residents
• Labrador Friendship Centre