Indigenous Ally Toolkit for Children and Youth
A Resource for Parents/Caregivers
As parents and caregivers, you want to raise children who are kind, thoughtful, and brave - young people who stand up for what is right and treat others with dignity and respect.
Being a good ally to Indigenous Peoples is a part of that journey.
This toolkit is an adaptation of the Indigenous Ally Toolkit created by the Montreal Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy Network. That resource was created to help non-Indigenous individuals and groups learn how to use their privilege to listen, shift power dynamics, and take concrete steps toward reconciliation.
We have adapted it here for children and youth, with parents and caregivers in mind.
Why this matters for your family:
Children notice difference. They ask questions. They absorb messages from the world around them—about who matters, who belongs, and who is respected.
As a parent or caregiver, you have the opportunity to shape those messages. You can teach your child that Indigenous Peoples are not just characters in history books—they are leaders, artists, scientists, knowledge keepers, and neighbours. They are resilient, thriving, and deserving of respect.
You can also teach your child that being an ally is not about guilt or a badge of honour. It is about listening, learning, and taking small, intentional actions every day.
This toolkit is divided into four parts:
1. How Can I Be a Good Ally?
2.Words to Use and to Avoid
3. Action with Intention
4. Indigenous Ways of Knowing
Each section includes explanations, examples, and reflection questions you can explore with your child. Our hope is that this toolkit starts conversations in your home—conversations that lead to understanding, respect, and real change.
Thank you for being willing to learn. Thank you for being willing to act. And thank you for walking this path with your child.
Together, we can build a world where Indigenous Peoples are honoured, respected, and safe. A world where every child knows that they belong.
Nya:weh | Chi Miigwetch | Thank you
