Interior Indian Friendship Society

The Interior Indian Friendship Society in Kamloops, British Columbia is a community-based organization providing free, confidential, and culturally appropriate services to Indigenous people in the Thompson-Nicola region. Located at 125 Palm Street, the society offers outpatient addiction counselling and health services alongside a broader range of programs spanning child and family services, Elder and cultural programming, and youth and education support. All services are delivered in a positive, safe environment grounded in Indigenous cultural values.

Outpatient Addiction Counselling

The society’s addiction counselling services support individuals dealing with alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, and opioid dependence through outpatient programming. Individual counselling sessions provide a safe, confidential space for clients to explore their substance use, understand its impact on their health and relationships, and develop strategies for lasting recovery. The outpatient model allows community members to access professional support without leaving their families, communities, and cultural connections — factors that are essential to sustainable Indigenous wellness.

Culturally Grounded and Holistic Services

What distinguishes the Interior Indian Friendship Society is the depth of cultural integration across all its programs. Elder and cultural services connect clients with traditional knowledge and ceremony as part of the healing process. The organization recognizes that addiction in Indigenous communities is often rooted in historical trauma, cultural disconnection, and systemic inequity — and that effective healing must address these dimensions alongside the clinical. Services are designed to be inclusive and welcoming to all Indigenous people regardless of status, band affiliation, or background.

Free, Confidential, and Community-Centred

All services at the Interior Indian Friendship Society are provided free of charge and with full confidentiality — removing the financial and social barriers that often prevent Indigenous people from seeking help. The organization serves as a safe gathering place in the heart of Kamloops, connecting clients not just to addiction support but to a wider web of community resources including child and family services, youth programming, and cultural events. For Indigenous people in the Kamloops region navigating addiction, the Friendship Society offers both the professional support and the community belonging that recovery requires.