Ne-Chee Friendship Centre

What Ne-Chee Friendship Centre does

Ne-Chee Friendship Centre is a non-profit community services organization incorporated on May 31, 1976, in Kenora, Ontario, serving Indigenous individuals and families across the Treaty #3 region. Operating under Ontario law and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, the Centre delivers approximately 19 programs organized into four service lines: Children & Youth (Healthy Babies, Aboriginal Family Support, EarlyON sites in Kenora and Sioux Narrows, Akwe:go, Wasa-Nabin, Youth Life Promotions), Employment & Education (Indigenous Student Success, Employment & Training Services), Health (Healing & Wellness, Cultural Resource, Life Long Care, Urban Aboriginal Healthy Living, Mental Health & Addictions), and Justice (Community Circle of Care Case Management, Indigenous Community Justice Program, Restorative Justice Liaison, Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin, Indigenous Courtworkers, Wewena Ngiiwewinaa). All services are grounded in the Anishinaabe Seven Grandfather Teachings (Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility, Truth) and provided free of charge to community members.

The organization's delivery model is direct in-person service at its headquarters at 326 2nd St. S., Kenora (with a second facility acquired in 2023 from the former Kenora Legion Building) and a satellite Indigenous EarlyON site in Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls. Programs are accessed via community outreach, referrals from justice-system partners (Ontario Provincial Police–Kenora Detachment, Treaty #3 Police Service, Ministry of Attorney General–Indigenous Justice Division), school-board partnerships, and word-of-mouth within the Indigenous community. There is no technology product, app, or digital platform; the contact channel list includes program-specific email addresses and phone extensions but no customer-facing software.

Ne-Chee is funded primarily through government grants supporting Indigenous services, with a nominal community membership structure ($1 individual, $3 family annually). The organization is privately held as a non-profit with no parent company, no funding rounds, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed revenue. Governance is led by Board Chair Ramona Sawatzky and Vice Chair Diane Iriam, with operational leads including Circle of Care Case Manager Jessica Doner and Community Training Lead Elizabeth Wilson.

Name

Ne-Chee Friendship Centre

Legal name

Ne-Chee Friendship Centre

Website

https://nechee.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ne-Chee Friendship Centre is a non-profit organization in Kenora, Ontario, delivering approximately 19 culturally grounded programs for Indigenous individuals and families across children/youth, employment, health, and justice service lines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK), Cultural, Multilingual & Immigrant Family Engagement Programs (EDACALAL), Family Engagement & Caregiver Support Programs (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAK)

Keywords

• Indigenous community services
• Youth justice programs
• Employment training services
• Community health programs
• Cultural support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kenora

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Non-profit organization likely funded through government grants and Indigenous services funding programs. Services are provided free to community members.
2. Membership Fees: Minimal membership fees collected: $1.00 for individuals and $3.00 for families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ne-Chee Friendship Centre delivers approximately 19 free community support programs for Indigenous individuals and families across four areas: Children & Youth, Employment & Education, Health, and Justice. Programs include early childhood development (Healthy Babies, EarlyON), youth support (Akwe:go, Wasa-Nabin, Youth Life Promotions), employment counseling, healing and wellness services, courtworker support, and restorative justice diversion, all grounded in Anishinaabe cultural traditions and the Seven Grandfather Teachings.

Product overview

Ne-Chee Friendship Centre operates as a community services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of social support programs rather than a unified technology product. The organization provides approximately 19 distinct programs organized into four main categories: Children & Youth Programs (Indigenous Healthy Babies, Aboriginal Family Support, EarlyON-Kenora, EarlyON-Sioux Narrows, Akwe:go Children's, Wasa-Nabin Youth, Youth Life Promotions); Employment & Education Programs (Indigenous Student Success, Indigenous Employment & Training Services); Health Programs (Indigenous Healing & Wellness, Cultural Resource, Life Long Care, Urban Aboriginal Healthy Living); and Justice Programs (ICJP, Restorative Justice Liaison, Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin, Indigenous Courtworkers, Wewena Ngiiwewinaa, Community Circle of Care Case Management). These programs are delivered through direct service delivery with cultural grounding and community-based approaches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Indigenous Healthy Babies Program A program designed to provide Indigenous families with healthy opportunities for child development (0-6 years) through education, family home visiting, service coordination, and referrals.
• Aboriginal Family Support Program Culturally-based support program for urban Indigenous families that are prenatal and/or have children aged 0-6, offering parenting programs, nutrition workshops, community kitchen, cultural crafts, and emergency food hampers.
• Indigenous EarlyON-Kenora EarlyON Child and Family Centre providing opportunities for Indigenous children birth to six years to participate in play and inquiry-based programs while offering support to parents/caregivers in their roles.
• Indigenous EarlyON-Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls EarlyON program serving Indigenous families in Sioux Narrows and Nestor Falls, providing services for children 0-6 years in a culturally-based approach.
• Akwe:go Children's Program Comprehensive program for urban Indigenous children ages 7-12 designed to provide support, tools, and healthy activities to foster their ability to make healthy choices.
• Wasa-Nabin Youth Program Self-development program for urban Indigenous youth ages 13-18, providing one-to-one interactions, group programming, and culturally appropriate activities to encourage healthy lifestyle changes.
• Youth Life Promotions Program Program founded on principles of self-determination and cultural reclamation for at-risk urban Indigenous youth, providing land-based activities, traditional knowledge, and holistic development support for youth aged 13-24.
• Indigenous Student Success Program (ISSP) Program partnering with local school boards to support Indigenous students with high school curriculum, cultural supports, life skills, and assistance in graduating with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
• Indigenous Employment & Training Services Employment services program assisting individuals to overcome employment and training barriers through job readiness, resume support, training opportunities, apprenticeship programs, and a resource centre.
• Indigenous Healing & Wellness Program Program providing support through education, advocacy, and referrals for family violence support, individual healing needs, and access to traditional services on a one-to-one or group basis.
• Cultural Resource Program Program providing increased access to culture and culture-based services for urban Indigenous children, youth, and families to foster a strong sense of well-being and positive Indigenous identity.
• Life Long Care Program Program open to Indigenous people with physical/emotional disabilities, serious health issues, frailty, or isolation, offering advocacy, social programs, transportation, and nutritional support.
• Urban Aboriginal Healthy Living Program Program promoting healthier lifestyles through fitness classes, nutrition workshops, cooking classes, smoking cessation support, sports, and recreational activities for urban Indigenous people.
• Community Circle of Care Case Management Trauma-informed case management program supporting youth and young adults aged 12-24 navigating the Ontario Court of Justice, with a focus on restoration, healing, and cultural connection.
• Wewena Ngiiwewinaa (Taking Her Home Safely) Program meaning 'Taking Her Home Safely' supporting reintegration of Indigenous women from the provincial correctional system through discharge planning, cultural-based programming, and mentoring.
• Indigenous Community Justice Program (ICJP) Culturally-based pre- and post-charge diversion program for Indigenous adults and youth using a community-driven wellness model to restore balance through healing plans.
• Restorative Justice Liaison Program Program developed in partnership with OPP-Kenora and Ministry of Attorney General providing pre-charge diversion options to reduce overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system.
• Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin (I am a Kind Man) Program Program encouraging Indigenous men and boys to speak out against violence toward women, providing cultural-specific healing, peer counselling, men's support circles, and traditional teachings.
• Indigenous Courtworkers Program Program guiding Indigenous adults and youth charged with criminal offenses to better understand their rights, options, and responsibilities when appearing before courts.

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Ontario Provincial Police-Kenora DetachmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Restorative Justice Liaison Program, developed in collaboration with OPP-Kenora Detachment to provide pre-charge diversion options and reduce overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system. The RJ Liaison works as part of the Kenora Restorative Justice Committee network.
• Ministry of Attorney General-Indigenous Justice DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for the Restorative Justice Liaison Program, providing Indigenous justice programming and supporting diversion initiatives for Indigenous individuals in the Ontario court system.
• Kenora Restorative Justice CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of local service providers established in 2019 that offer pre-charge diversion programs for Kenora and Treaty #3 Communities. Ne-Chee Friendship Centre provides the RJ Liaison as first point of contact for referred individuals.
• Treaty #3 Police ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Treaty #3 Police Service to address overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system and reduce court attendance for minor offences through diversion programs.
• Local District School BoardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local school boards to deliver the Indigenous Student Success Program (ISSP), providing high school curriculum support, cultural guidance, life skills, and connecting Indigenous students to the Friendship Centre community.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Tungasuvvingat Inuit: Ottawa-based Inuit-specific service organization providing comparable wraparound community services including health, justice, employment, and cultural programs for Indigenous peoples. Similar non-profit Indigenous service model in Ontario.

Direct peers

• Indian Friendship Centre of Saskatoon: Saskatoon-based Friendship Centre offering comparable urban Indigenous programs across children/youth, health, justice, and employment domains. Direct peer operating under the National Association of Friendship Centres network.
• Anishnawbe Mushkiki Aboriginal Health Access Centre: Thunder Bay-based Indigenous health and wellness organization offering comparable wraparound services including primary care, mental wellness, traditional healing, and community programs. Directly comparable Indigenous-led service delivery model in Northern Ontario.
• Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre: Winnipeg-based Indigenous organization offering wraparound services for children, youth, and families including child welfare, education support, and cultural programming. Comparable multi-program Indigenous community services model.
• N'Amerind Friendship Centre: London, Ontario Indigenous Friendship Centre providing similar children/youth, health, justice, and cultural programs to urban Indigenous community. Directly comparable Friendship Centre model in different Ontario region.

Broad incumbents

• Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC): The provincial umbrella organization representing 30+ Friendship Centres across Ontario, including Ne-Chee. Directly comparable governance and service model; provides coordination, advocacy, and funding support that Ne-Chee participates in as a member centre.
• Ontario Native Women's Association (ONWA): Provincial Indigenous women's organization delivering comparable cultural, healing, employment, and justice programs across Ontario. Similar governance structure and government funding model.

Regional players

• Anishinaabe Abinoojii Family Services: Indigenous child welfare agency serving Anishinaabe communities in Treaty #3 region. Comparable culturally-grounded service model for Indigenous children and families in overlapping Northwestern Ontario geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/necheefriendshipcentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nechee-friendship-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ne-Chee Friendship Centre