Last reviewed: September 14, 2026.
Content notice: This guide discusses planning programs about the residential school system and its continuing effects. The 24-hour National Indian Residential School Crisis Line supports former residential school students, Survivors and their families at 1-866-925-4419. The Hope for Wellness Helpline offers immediate support to Indigenous people across Canada at 1-855-242-3310 or by online chat.
Quick answer: To plan an in-person September 30 program in Alberta, begin with the learning purpose and the Indigenous people who will shape and deliver it. Then confirm compensation, cultural scope, a trauma-aware participation plan, venue accessibility, production, separate media permissions and a concrete follow-up action. Treat the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a day of remembrance, learning and responsibility, not as a themed celebration.
This guide is for Alberta workplaces, public agencies, municipalities, conferences, colleges and universities that need a practical in-person program brief. It focuses on decisions a host must make before requesting a keynote, facilitated discussion, powwow performance, workshop or consent-based Survivor presentation. For history, Orange Shirt Day resources and current national programming, use the Powwow Times National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day guide.
What makes a September 30 program different?
September 30 is both Orange Shirt Day and Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The federal day responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 80 and honours Survivors, their families and communities while remembering the children who never returned home. The Government of Alberta describes the day as a time to learn, recognize and reflect on the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools.
That purpose changes the event-planning brief. Attendance, applause, social reach and photographs are not enough to define success. A useful program gives people accurate context, protects the agency of speakers and participants, makes room for reflection and points the organization toward work that continues after the event.
Alberta employers should also confirm their own operating schedule. Under Alberta employment standards, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is listed as an optional general holiday rather than one of the province’s standard general holidays. Federal workplaces and individual organizations may follow different requirements or policies. Do not assume every Alberta office, campus, supplier or audience member has the same day off.
Choose the outcome before the format
Write one sentence describing what participants should understand or do after the program. A clear outcome might be to prepare leaders for a year-round learning plan, help staff understand why September 30 is observed, or connect a public audience with Indigenous-led learning and a specific organizational commitment.
Then choose a format that fits that outcome and the people available to lead it:
| Format | Best suited to | Confirm before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Keynote or educational talk | Shared foundational learning for a large audience | Topic, audience knowledge, speaker-approved description, questions and access needs |
| Facilitated discussion | Smaller groups that need reflection connected to their work | Facilitator authority, group size, participation expectations, boundaries and follow-up |
| Powwow dance or singing with context | Programs that connect learning with living Indigenous cultures | Who is participating, what they choose to explain, stage and audio needs, and all media permissions |
| Consent-based Survivor presentation | First-person learning when a willing speaker chooses to participate | Chosen topics, compensation, care, moderation, travel, support and separate media uses |
| Appropriately led workshop | Active learning in a defined group and setting | Facilitator, cultural scope, materials, time, accessibility, venue requirements and accurate program name |
| Combined program | A longer event with complementary learning and cultural components | One coherent purpose, realistic transitions, responsibilities and enough time for each contributor |
No format is automatically appropriate because it appears on a September calendar. The speaker, performer, facilitator, Elder or Knowledge Keeper decides what they can share and under what conditions. No one person represents all First Nations, Inuit or Métis peoples, and protocols are not interchangeable across Nations and communities.
Eight decisions for an in-person Alberta program
1. Name an accountable host
Assign one person with authority over the budget, schedule, venue and internal approvals. That host should coordinate with the Indigenous contributors or coordinator, keep the scope accurate and ensure agreed conditions reach communications, facilities, security, audiovisual and executive teams.
Define the audience precisely: staff, leaders, students, clients or the public; expected attendance; age range; current knowledge; required participation; and the decisions those people can influence. Do not ask Indigenous employees or students to plan, teach, disclose or represent their communities unless they have freely chosen a paid or formally supported role.
2. Send a complete invitation
An initial inquiry should include the organization, Alberta city or community, venue, date and alternate dates, audience, learning goal, preferred format, approximate length, accessibility needs, budget process and decision deadline. Describe the opportunity without pre-writing another person’s story, teachings or cultural role.
Confirm the fee or honorarium, preparation time, payment date, travel, accommodation, meals, local transportation, companion or support costs when requested, and cancellation terms. There is no universal protocol or honorarium amount. Ask the person or their coordinator what applies.
3. Build a run of show with breathing room
A September 30 program should not feel like a stack of ceremonial elements. Give contributors enough time to speak or perform without rushing, and include breaks when the subject matter or access needs call for them. A 75-minute working model could include a brief host welcome, a 40-minute presentation, a pause, 15 minutes of moderated questions and a short close naming support resources and the organization’s next action. That is an example, not a required cultural sequence.
Use only a locally accurate land acknowledgement that has been reviewed through appropriate relationships or reliable local sources. Acknowledgement language should not be used as a substitute for those relationships, compensation or action. Do not add prayer, ceremony, medicines, songs or cultural items to the agenda unless the person with authority has proposed or approved them and defined what the venue must provide.
4. Make participation trauma-aware
Tell attendees in advance which sensitive topics may be addressed. Provide a specific content notice, a way to step out without explaining why, a quiet space and support information. The Government of Canada’s trauma-informed education guidance recommends advance information, no-explanation opt-outs, clear warnings, group guidelines, support resources and a safety plan. It also advises against activities that expect learners to share their own lived experience.
Questions should be optional for the speaker and moderated through an approved process. Stop questions that demand trauma details, deny documented history, ask one person to speak for all Indigenous peoples, seek private knowledge or turn the session toward reassurance for the questioner.
5. Design access into the room and budget
Ask participants and presenters what accommodations they need, then verify the venue in person. Canada’s Guide to Planning Inclusive Meetings recommends an early site assessment and advance arrangements for services such as sign-language interpretation, real-time captioning, assistive listening and alternative-format materials.
Check the full route, not only the entrance: parking or transit, doors, elevators, registration, seating, stage access, washrooms, quiet space and emergency egress. Reserve flexible seating locations throughout the room. Provide agendas, contributor bios and presentation materials early enough for captioners, interpreters and participants to prepare. State available access features and an accommodation contact in the invitation.
6. Protect clear audio and sightlines
Give every speaker a suitable microphone and confirm whether they prefer a lectern, seated conversation or open stage. Test speech, music, video, captions and assistive listening from the room, not only at the mixing console. Keep interpreters, caption displays and presenters visible from the intended seating areas.
If powwow dance or singing is part of the approved program, confirm the number of participants, floor area, surface, ceiling height, change space, arrival path, sound inputs and rehearsal time with the performers or coordinator. Do not infer production needs from a generic event template.
Planning an Alberta September 30 program?
Powwow Times can discuss in-person talks, keynotes, facilitated learning, powwow dance and singing, workshops, and a willing Survivor speaker when the individual approves the engagement and is available. Send your city, date and alternatives, audience, program goal, format, access needs and decision deadline.
7. Separate attendance from media consent
Do not assume a speaking or performance agreement includes photography, audio, video, screenshots, livestreaming, transcription, clips, archives or promotional reuse. List each proposed use, audience, platform, access period and review process. Obtain approval separately from each contributor with authority over their own participation and material.
Participant registration does not solve every consent question. Provide clearly identified no-photo seating or another practical process when audience images may be captured, brief staff and contractors, and announce the agreed rules. If recording is not approved, remove or disable recording tools and make that decision visible to the room.
8. End with an action the organization owns
The host should not summarize a speaker’s story for them or use the program as proof that reconciliation work is complete. Close by restating support resources, thanking contributors in the agreed way and naming the next organizational step. That step might be further Indigenous-led learning, a review of a relevant policy, progress on a sector-specific Call to Action, or continued relationship-building with appropriate communities.
Invite feedback without requiring emotional disclosure. After the event, process payment and expenses promptly, complete only the approved media work, share agreed materials and report internally on the action that follows.
Planning on a compressed timeline
September 30 is a high-demand date. When only a few weeks remain, do not compress consent, cultural authority, accessibility or speaker care to preserve a preferred agenda. Instead:
- send one complete brief and name a decision-maker;
- offer alternate September dates or Truth and Reconciliation Week;
- reduce the number of program elements;
- use an in-person format only when travel, venue and support can be confirmed;
- consider a live digital Truth and Reconciliation program when it better serves distributed audiences;
- use official, Survivor-informed resources from the Orange Shirt Society and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation when a live contributor is unavailable; and
- start next year’s planning earlier rather than presenting an unapproved substitute as Indigenous-led programming.
Organizations comparing active-learning formats can use the Truth and Reconciliation workshop options guide. Hosts considering a first-person presentation should read how to host a residential school Survivor speaker respectfully before making the invitation.
Quote-ready scope checklist
- Organization, accountable lead and decision deadline
- Alberta city or community, venue and room
- Preferred date, alternate dates and program time
- Audience, age range, expected attendance and current knowledge
- One learning outcome and one follow-up action
- Requested format, duration and contributors
- Fee or honorarium, travel, accommodation, meals and payment timing
- Contributor-selected topic, biography, introduction and boundaries
- Venue accessibility, accommodations, quiet space and emergency plan
- Stage, floor, microphones, playback, captions, interpreters and rehearsal
- Moderated question process and participant guidelines
- Separate photography, recording, livestream, transcript, clip and archive permissions
- Content notice, opt-out process and support resources
- Approved promotion, arrival, departure and post-event contact
Discuss an in-person program with Powwow Times
Powwow Times is an Indigenous-owned company based in Sylvan Lake, Alberta. Programs are scoped around the audience, location, purpose, available contributors and the conditions those contributors approve. Options may include Indigenous keynotes and speaking, powwow dance performances, facilitated learning, workshops, singing and consent-based Survivor participation. No particular person, cultural component or date is confirmed until the relevant people agree to the scope.
Request availability and start the program conversation. Include your organization, Alberta city, audience, date and alternatives, approximate length, access needs, learning goal and decision deadline.
Frequently asked questions
What should an Alberta workplace do for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation?
Choose an action connected to the workplace’s responsibilities and relationships. An Indigenous-led talk, facilitated discussion, powwow performance with context, appropriately led workshop or consent-based Survivor presentation may support that work when properly scoped. Prepare participants, compensate contributors, provide access and support, and commit to a follow-up action beyond September 30.
Is September 30 a statutory holiday in Alberta?
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a federal statutory day. Alberta employment standards list it as an optional general holiday, so provincial workplaces should verify their own policy and legal obligations. Federal workplaces and other organizations may operate under different requirements.
How long should an in-person September 30 program be?
There is no universal length. A focused keynote may fit within an hour, while a combined presentation, performance or workshop needs more time. Let the learning goal, contributor’s format, audience, access requirements, breaks and moderated questions determine the schedule.
Can we include powwow dancers in a Truth and Reconciliation program?
Yes, when the dancers or coordinator agree that the setting, framing and purpose are appropriate. Confirm who is participating, what context they choose to share, stage and audio needs, compensation, and separate permissions for photography, recording, livestreaming and reuse.
Should we invite an Elder or Knowledge Keeper to open the event?
Only through an appropriate relationship and with the person’s agreement. Elder and Knowledge Keeper are not generic titles or interchangeable roles. Ask what protocol, compensation, time, space and support apply rather than copying a practice from another Nation or event.
Can we photograph or record the program?
Only when the relevant contributors and participants have approved the specific use. Photography, audio, video, livestreaming, transcripts, clips, archives and promotion are separate decisions. Document each approved use and brief the room and production team.
What if no Indigenous speaker is available for September 30?
Do not ask an unqualified person to stand in for Indigenous voices. Offer another date, use verified Survivor-informed resources from the Orange Shirt Society or National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, and schedule Indigenous-led learning when a suitable contributor is available.
Sources
- Government of Alberta, Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Government of Alberta, Alberta general holidays
- Government of Canada, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Government of Canada, Trauma-informed approach to training and education
- Government of Canada, Guide to Planning Inclusive Meetings
- Orange Shirt Society, Survivor-informed resources
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, Truth and Reconciliation Week
