October 3, 2023

Title: Building Trust Before Truth: How Non-Indigenous Canadians Become Allies

Description: Allies need to build a relationship on trust because trust is the source of all good relationships. Implementing Brené Brown’s Anatomy of Trust (2018), I want to discuss the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Brené describes the core foundations in building and maintaining trust in relationships. Elements of this framework can apply to how non-Indigenous allies can rebuild centuries of broken trust. Brene Brown’s common catchphrase is that “you share with people who’ve earned the right to hear your story. “Let’s explore how allies earn the right by building trust. Respecting boundaries, being reliable and accountable, respecting knowledge shared, integrity and being generous with your assumptions is the anatomy of building trust.

Speaker: Robyn Ward


Robyn Ward is a Certified Executive Coach (ICF/ACC) Certified Cultivating Safe Spaces Facilitator (CSS), volunteer counsellor (ENH), creative artist, activist and change-maker. She has mixed European heritage (Ukrainian, English, German) and is the proud mother of two Indigenous boys. Her life and her family's life is rooted in the Anishinaabe 7 Sacred Teachings: Respect, Courage, Wisdom, Humility, Truth, Honesty and Love. These values guide her daily and hold her personally and professionally accountable throughout her life. For 20 years she has focused her professional development on four fields: psychology, business, coaching and technology. When she’s not supporting clients or facilitating workshops, Robyn is a Board Member and consultant at Animikii. She is an ally and social justice disrupter to all spaces lacking inclusion and human rights. Her focus is healing, connecting, nurturing and supporting healthy relationships internally and externally.