Truth & Reconciliation

The City of Red Deer acknowledges the Indigenous Communities governed by Treaty No. 6 and Treaty No. 7 as the Land we are situated on. The Land is also recognized by The City of Red Deer and its members as a Métis gathering site. The commitment of The City of Red Deer is to work alongside Indigenous Peoples in building a welcoming and inclusive community.
City-Hall-Park-flags-photo credit: rdnewsNOW staff

photo credit: rdnewsNOW staff

Central Alberta is a significant historical landscape of the ancestral territories of the Cree, Blackfoot and Métis people. It was a place to meet in peace and trade, hold ceremonies and co-exist. This area marked the crossing of the province from north to south, and was a place for traders to venture into the mountains in the west. East of Red Deer was the largest Métis Settlement west of Red River.

Red Deer’s Reconciliation Journey

The City of Red Deer honours the culture, heritage, and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people that have been a part of this landscape long before colonial settlement occurred. We stand with the Indigenous community in remembering the past, and look forward to affirming our relationship and partnership in actioning our local commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.

We recognize with humility that the process of Truth and Reconciliation is one that takes time. We will learn from our mistakes and pursue a mutually respectful relationship. Acknowledging the land on which we live and the truth about the history is an important beginning to this relationship.

Protocol Agreement

On June 21, 2017, Red Deer City Council and Urban Aboriginal Voices Society signed a Protocol Agreement during a ceremony in Council Chambers.

Red Deer City Council and Urban Aboriginal Voices Society Protocol Agreement (pdf)

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC)

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) was established in 2008. Truth and Reconciliation is a process of healing relationships, sharing truths, listening to the knowledge that is being shared, and doing our part to redress past harms. It is taking the time to build and maintain mutually respectful relationships. Truth and Reconciliation is about learning the history and legacy of residential schools, and the many contributions Aboriginal peoples have made, and continue to make to Canadian society. Indigenous children in Canada were removed from their families for over 100 years and sent to institutions known as residential schools. The Red Deer Indian Industrial School operated from 1893–1919, located 5 kilometres west of Red Deer. The Survivors Speak - A Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

More information and resources

A large part of Truth and Reconciliation is a commitment to respectful learning. Learning is a journey, it doesn’t happen overnight, and sometimes it’s hard to find a place to start. These resources are provided for those seeking to learn more about Canada’s Indigenous history and our journey toward reconciliation.

Special Events and Days of Remembrance

Details about local events, celebrations and ceremonies, including Pow Wows and community feasts, may be found on the Red Deer Community Events Calendar (RedDeerEvents.ca).

Resources

Kitchen Table Conversations

To celebrate Red Deer's multicultural history and support our community on the journey to Reconciliation, we produced a series of conversations between local Indigenous Knowledge Keepers and Deirdre Ashenhurst, a Community Facilitator with The City of Red Deer.

Learning opportunities