• National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
• Truth and Reconciliation Report

• Urban Aboriginal Voices Society
• Red Deer Native Friendship Society
• Indian Residential School Crisis Line (24/7): 1-866-925-4419
• 211 Alberta: Dial 211
• Remembering the Children graphic (pdf)
• Reconciliation Canada Toolkits
• Native-Land map: Learn about Indigenous territories, treaties and languages in your area.
• Alberta Recreation & Parks Association: Indigenous Awareness & Engagement Toolkit
• Alberta Recreation & Parks Association: June is Recreation & Parks Month: National Indigenous History Month web pages
• Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples - A Holistic Approach: Toolkit for Inclusive Municipalities in Canada and Beyond

• Safe Harbour Society’s Annual Community Spring Feast
• Waskasoo SeePee Traditional Pow-wow
• Red Deer International Pow-wow

The City of Red Deer is located in an area with a rich history as a cultural meeting place. In an effort to celebrate this multicultural history and to provide an opportunity for Truth and Reconciliation, The City of Red Deer is sharing a series of conversations between local Indigenous Knowledge Keepers and Deirdre Ashenhurst, a Community Facilitator with Community Development.

• Conversation #1 with Elder Maggie Loney - topics of conversation include protocol, how to begin engaging with an Elder or Knowledge Keeper and hugs 
• Conversation #2 with Métis Knowledge Keeper Raye St. Denys - topics of conversation include sashes, jigs and what it means to be Métis 

• Finding David Lightning: The decades-long quest to locate an unmarked grave, MacLean's Magazine
• The Failure of the Red Deer Industrial School by Uta H. Fox, MA, CRM (pdf)
• Red Deer Industrial School Monument Unveiled (2017)
• Debunking the Myth’s - Peacekeepers Project - from Shining Mountains LCS
• How a tipi in the middle of Red Deer is furthering truth and reconciliation
• Red Deer International Powwow Raised Spirits and connected Peoples
• Community Spring Feast at Fort Normandeau to focus on healing from COVID loss
• Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day in Red Deer  
• Remembering the children….
• First-annual Red Deer International Powwow will run next week at Westerner Park
• Red Deer museum wins international acclaim for original exhibit of powwow regalia

• Coloring Pages by Hawlii Pichette

• The University of Alberta free, online Indigenous Canada course
• Four Seasons of Reconciliation - a self-paced online course 

June 11, 2022, is officially proclaimed Remembering the Children Day. For more than a century, residential schools separated aboriginal children from their families and communities. Thousands of those children never returned home, and these actions have contributed to a legacy of trauma for First Nations, Métis, Inuit and non-indigenous people that requires healing, reconciliation and restoration. Today, and every day, we must remember the children.

Remembering the Children Day Proclamation (pdf)

National Indigenous Peoples Day takes place on the summer solstice, June 21. It’s a special occasion to learn more about the rich and diverse cultures, voices, experiences and histories of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

Learning about Indigenous Peoples, places and experiences is a step forward each Canadian can take on the path to reconciliation.

September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. It is a day that we take time to learn, reflect and acknowledge our history of Residential Schools and the impact it has had on the survivors, families and communities. For more than 100 years, Indigenous children were taken from their homes and sent to Residential Schools; so many never made it back home. Today, we are turning our pages orange and encouraging our community to find ways to observe this day, whether it be through reflection, education or participation in an activity or event.

Ideas to recognize Truth and Reconciliation Day (pdf)

Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family, and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

On September 30, all Canadians are encouraged to wear orange to honour the thousands of Survivors of residential schools.

Where to get an orange shirt:

RD Native Friendship Society

• Red Deer Native Friendship Society Orange Shirt Sales Poster (pdf)
• Red Deer Native Friendship Society Orange Shirt - Remote Locations (pdf)
• Red Deer Native Friendship Society Orange Shirt - Every Child Matters shirt option (pdf)

Shining Mountains Living Community Services

The Orange Ribbon Campaign held in September is intended to engage Red Deer in community reconciliation efforts. Orange ribbons are a symbolic gesture to express solidarity with our Indigenous community and act as an expression of grief for Canada and Red Deer’s residential school history.

Orange ribbons are blessed by a Knowledge Keeper and residents are encouraged to tie the ribbons to trees or plants in a place that is meaningful to them.

Learn more and pick up your orange ribbon.