What does it mean to be an Indigenous ally?

To be an ally is to:

1. Take on the struggle as your own.
2. Transfer the benefits of your privilege to those who lack it.
3. Amplify voices of the oppressed before your own.
4. Acknowledge that even though you feel pain, the conversation is not about you.
5. Stand up, even when you feel scared.
6. Own your mistakes and de-center yourself.
7. Understand that your education is up to you and no one else.

– from The Guide to Allyship

How to be an Indigenous ally

The Indigenous Ally Toolkit is a concise guide to becoming an ally. Find more information in:

• 10 Ways to be a Genuine Ally to Indigenous Communities – Amnesty International
• Ally Bill of Responsibilities – Lynn Gehl
• Allyship 101: A Handout for Participants – from a Federation of Community Social Services of BC conference
• Being an Ally – from Pulling Together: A Guide for Curriculum Developers
• Building Trust Before Truth: How Non-Indigenous Canadians Become Allies – Indigenous Innovation

Good intentions are not enough. Read about 10 Common Things Well-Intentioned Allies Do That Are Actually Counterproductive.

Research

Did you know there is research being conducted on Indigenous allyship? Read about it in Indigenous researchers put allyship under the microscope.

Learning

A key component of being an ally is learning. Find some resources to learn about Indigenous history in History of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and History of Residential Schools in Canada. Indigenous Corporate Training offers a number of free ebooks that are informative and practical.