Cultural Teachings

AFDS Cultural Program

Aboriginal Front Door Society is located on the corner of Main and Hastings in Downtown Vancouver.  We provide a housing case manager, Aboriginal Resource Worker, Transitions Worker, and an Aboriginal Cultural Worker. 

Aboriginal Cultural Worker provides basic cultural teachings for those individuals who are interested in learning more about our culture.  Every day we see the effects of possible colonization on the residents of the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.  We see poverty, homelessness and addiction to drugs and alcohol.  We witness violence, overdoses, and public drug use and intoxication every day.  The cultural program offers individuals who want to learn more about basic Indigenous culture as the first step toward their healing journey out of poverty, homelessness and addiction.

We provide an introduction to talking circles, drumming and singing, bead work, cedar weaving, drum making and Wellbriety Talking Circles.  Our goal is to introduce the Downtown Eastside residents to various cultural teachings and practices as the first step off the streets.

We offer these programs at various locations in the Lower Mainland, but most programs are held in our office at 384 Main Street.

Starting June 2, 2020 we will offer a limited amount of space and seating for a weekly talking circle and weekly drumming and singing workshop.  We will also offer Powwow Drum Singing starting on Friday June 5 at 10:30 AM and hand drumming and singing at 1:00 PM.  We are reserving Wednesday afternoons from 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM for other cultural activities including beading, cedar weaving, and medallion and earring making.  If you are interested in registering for these programs please contact us at (604) 697-5662 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The residents of the Downtown Eastside seem to be lost or forgotten.  We have lost and have forgotten who we are as Indigenous People.  We believe offering these basic cultural traditions will be the beginning of the residents journey back home to their own culture and traditions.  We offer an opportunity and the first step to reconnecting with their cultural roots.  All our relations.

THE SACRED TREE 

Cultural Teachings

Wisdom is gained through experience and knowledge. To have wisdom is to know the difference between right and wrong, and to apply these qualities to your daily life. 

• Talking Circle, Drumming and Singing, Beading, Cedar Bark Weaving, Bannock making