Ally Is a Verb: A Guide to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples by Rose LeMay Redefines What It Means to Be an Active Ally

Ally Is a Verb: A Guide to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples by Rose LeMay Redefines What It Means to Be an Active Ally

Vancouver, BC (DATE TBD) — Rose LeMay’s debut book, Ally Is a Verb, is an inspiring call to action for those that wish to elevate their allyship in the support of Indigenous peoples in Canada. The book will be released April 22, 2025.

For Rose LeMay, allyship means community, neighbours protecting neighbours. Ally Is a Verb asks: How do we build community and country that includes and celebrates Indigenous Peoples? The book supports Canadians of all backgrounds in adopting inclusion and reconciliation practices for Indigenous neighbours through actionable steps.

LeMay wants her readers to know that being a good ally can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be—it just needs to be actionable. The book reimagines reconciliation as leaning into a future that emboldens Indigenous youth to have similar hopes and opportunities as others within the country.

“Canadians have the power to make things happen for reconciliation. We need to raise an army of concerned Canadians leading change in their networks and workplaces and communities,” says Rose LeMay. “I wrote this book to support Canadians to stand up and stand beside Indigenous Peoples for a stronger future.”

This potent, practical book is an essential manual for allies for Indigenous Peoples. It presents a roadmap to creating better relationships, equity, and true reconciliation. It offers concrete steps individuals can take, in the organizations they work for and in their personal lives, to become powerful allies.

LeMay’s writing is emblematic of Canada’s belief in unity and the culture of hope that drives Canadians to pursue a better future for all, one that is Canada strong.

“I hope my book inspires Canadians to talk about what they are doing for Indigenous inclusion in their workplaces, over coffee with friends, and with neighbours,” says LeMay. “We know we can do better as a country, and we are on the path to do so.”

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Rose LeMay is a speaker, trainer, and coach on reconciliation—and an unrelenting champion for the inclusion and well-being of Indigenous Peoples. As a keynote speaker and facilitator in cultural competence and anti-racism, she has supported thousands of Canadians from coast to coast to

deepen their understanding and capacity for reconciliation. LeMay has over twenty years of experience in policy and program development in health and mental health systems in government and the non-proft sector. She is an alumnus of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference, a Certifed First Nations Health Manager, certifed in Prosci Change Management, and a 2021 Global Pluralism fnalist. LeMay is from Taku River Tlingit First Nation in northern British Columbia. LeMay currently resides in Ottawa. Learn more about Rose’s work at the-irg.ca.

Book Tour:

Toronto, April 29, 2025: In Conversation with Tanya Talaga, OISE (6–8 pm EST)
Vancouver, May 1, 2025: In Conversation with Ginger Gosnell-Myers, Native Education College (7–9 pm PST)
Ottawa, May 4, 2025: Ottawa International Writers Festival, Library and Archives Canada (4 pm EST)