Red Deerians learn how to be an ally during National Day for Truth and Reconciliation event
Published 1:49 pm Tuesday, September 29, 2026
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Red Deerians learned how they can be better allies for Indigenous people during an event hosted one day before the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Lianne Hazell led a workshop titled “So You Wanna Be an Ally” during a Red Deer Native Friendship Society event at Festival Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
“My workshop is really about understanding ourselves as allies. Allies are not members of the population they’re supporting,” said Hazell.
“When you are being an ally and you are supporting a group that you do not belong to, you need to get permission to support them. You need to remember that you don’t speak for that group, you speak with them.”
Hazell’s workshop also focused on what a land acknowledgement is and who should be giving it.
“We’ve had many people from the community phone the (Red Deer Native Friendship Society) and ask if we had an Elder or Indigenous person come and do the land acknowledgement,” said Hazell.
“Land acknowledgements … should be done by non-Indigenous, mainly white people, who have a colonizer history. During the interactive workshop, people will be taking a look at their own social background and socialization upbringing. They’ll also start writing their own land acknowledgment.”
The Red Deer Native Friendship Society’s event also featured a presentation by Terry Lakey and Brian St. Germain on treaties in Canada.
Each year, Sept. 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.
“Essentially, (National Truth and Reconciliation Day) is about honouring residential school survivors and the children who didn’t come home, talking about colonial harm, learning the truth and trying to repair relationships,” said Nadette Agecoutay, Red Deer Native Friendship Society executive director.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established in response to Call to Action 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Federal legislation establishing Sept. 30 as a statutory holiday received Royal Assent in 2021.