Inside a tipi, Nadette Agecoutay, new executive director at the Red Deer Native Friendship Society, speaks with Canada Day attendees at Bower Ponds in Red Deer on July 1, 2024. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

awareness and connection are key

New Friendship Centre executive director talks goals, truth, and Canada Day

Jul 4, 2024 | 10:52 AM

The new executive director of the Red Deer Native Friendship Centre (RDNFS) is honoured to be taking on the role.

Nadette Agecoutay has served as director of programs at RDNFS for 13 years, and replaces Lianne Hazel, who has been ED for eight years. Hazel will remain on as finance manager.

Agecoutay assumed the role July 1, which is when rdnewsNOW caught up with her, during Canada Day celebrations at Bower Ponds.

On why the Friendship Society is so important for Red Deer, Agecoutay pointed to the organization’s name.

“It’s right in there: friendship. Sometimes people will call and say, ‘I’m not Native, but I really want to learn.’ Well the RDNFS is a place for everybody, where it’s safe to learn, and ask any questions. We’re sitting in a tipi here today so people can do that, while we approach their questions in a kind and loving way,” she said.

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“I want to continue taking on initiatives which promote cultural awareness, which is what I’ve been doing for a while now.”

Agecoutay believes it’s important to build capacity in her staff to allow them to be better community leaders.

“It’s a lot of responsibility, but this role means everything to me, the Friendship Centre is very important to me, and all the staff we have do beautiful work,” she said.

That work pertains to many things, including the tough task of tackling violence against women, as well as addictions.

Then there’s truth and reconciliation, which is apropos to speak about on a day like July 1.

“It can be hard because everybody’s celebrating Canada; Canada is a beautiful place to live, but there’s still a lot of work we have to do with regards to Indigenous people. That’s why I’m wearing my orange shirt — to bring awareness to the fact that colonization is ongoing,” she said.

“The TRC report and its Calls to Action are still there. Are people taking it seriously or are we just…?”

At the end of the day, Agecoutay said, the RDNFS’s programs are primarily meant to support Indigenous people to heal and to thrive.

“It can be tough. I don’t always want to celebrate Canada Day. It’s a good day, but it should also be a time to reflect and ask ourselves how we can make Canada better moving forward,” she said of people who share the same complicated feelings about the national holiday, and how to reconcile it between truth and reconciliation.

“We must have truth before reconciliation, so learn more. If you don’t know where to start, come talk to us. The blanket exercise will give you a 500-year glimpse into colonization,” she explained.

“Come to our programs, and meet people. Getting to know each other is most important because that’s how you learn to trust one another.”

Learn more about the Red Deer Native Friendship Society at its website and on social media.

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READ MORE

• How a tipi in the middle of Red Deer is furthering truth and reconciliation
• Int’l Women’s Day takes solemn pause at Red Deer City Hall gathering
• Red Dress Day event about building hope, says one community grandmother
• Upcoming International Powwow in Red Deer is all about giving
• Indigenous community seeking more visibility as new monument unveiled at Red Deer’s Shining Mountains

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