Hundreds walk in Regina to honour victims, survivors of residential schools

The First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) held its annual smudge walk in Regina on Friday in honour of residential school survivors, and children who did not make it home.

Jackie Ottmann, President of FNUniv, was one of the hundreds of people who took part in the walk.

Ottmann said that it is important to walk in unity for a very important cause.

“It’s a memorial of what happened in residential schools and for over 100 years, we had children that were taken from their home and forced into residential schooling, and many of them didn’t come home.”

A smudging walk is taking place at the First Nations University of Canada in Regina.

Hundreds of people are taking place ahead of National Truth and Reconciliation Day @CJMENews @CKOMNews pic.twitter.com/ttombVQPzw

— Abby Zieverink (@ZieverinkAbby) September 27, 2024

The walk also honours those who did make it home and have to live with the trauma.

“It’s because of the survivors that we have the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, and so they have left us with an amazing legacy,” Ottmann said.

The walk is part of the university’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation and healing and is held in recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day) on Sept. 30.

Drumming and ceremonial songs could be heard throughout the FNUniv campus in Regina on Sept. 27, 2024. (Abby Zieverink/980 CJME)

In addition to members of FNUniv and the community, 200 students from northern Saskatchewan also took part in the smudge walk.

“They provided an amazing energy to the smudge walk today,” Ottmann said.

The students will also attend the Saskatchewan Roughrider game Saturday afternoon. The kisiskâciwan game, presented by the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, is in celebration of Indigenous culture.

Around 200 students from northern Saskatchewan came to the FNUniv campus in Regina on Sept. 27, 2024 for the annual Smudge Walk. They will also be attending the Truth and Reconciliation Roughrider kisiskâciwan game on Sept. 28. (Abby Zieverink/980 CJME)

For Ottmann, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is meant to not only remember the children of the past, but also think of the next seven generation of children to come.

“We all have a collective responsibility to to reform, to change our school systems, to be more supportive of the diversity of Indigenous peoples,” she said. “And to be inclusive in as many ways as as we can be.”

More photos and video from the Smudging Walk taking place in Regina

Drumming can be heard throughout the University campus as well as hundreds of orange shirts @CJMENews pic.twitter.com/PvvXEbEfoh

— Abby Zieverink (@ZieverinkAbby) September 27, 2024

New Career Centre at FNUniv

After the smudge walk, Ottmann announced a new work-integrated learning initiative for the school.

FNUniv is partnering with Co-operators to bring the Career Centre to life. Co-operators has pledged $390,000 over a period of three years, plus a commitment to hire two graduates from FNUniv each year from 2024-2027.

“This centre will create pathways to employment,” Ottmann said. “But also prior to that there will be mentorships, co-ops, internships and opportunities for summer employment. There’s also the readiness and preparing of those students to step into the workforce.”

What makes the centre unique is that it will be designed, used and managed by Indigenous students and staff.

“We have this collective responsibility,” Ottmann said. “These students and youth are going to be a force within the province.”

FNUniv is aiming to open the centre by January 2025.

— with files from 980 CJME’s Abby Zieverink

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