Reconciliation Regina holds ‘pivotal’ first public event

The Queen City took its first metaphorical step towards reconciliation Tuesday.

At Regina’s Mâmawêyatitân centre, Mayor Michael Fougere, along with other local leaders from the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community, gathered with residents to discuss how the city can move forward in understanding.

“If we don’t hear what they have to say, we don’t know where we’re coming from, we don’t know what their education is — or what their awareness is,” said Saskatchewan Treaty Commissioner Mary Culbertson, who spoke at the Reconciliation Regina launch.

Charging Bear drum group opens Reconciliation Regina’s official launch event at the @Mamaweyatitan Centre. The event is meant to promote and increase honest, non-judgemental dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in #YQR. pic.twitter.com/0OToU33eGY

— Jessie Anton (@jessieanton_) March 20, 2018

Fougere agreed, saying it’s “pivotal” the City of Regina sits down and has those difficult conversations.

“It’s a very important step in actually making decisions and doing things — an action plan, not just talking,” Fougere explained.

Since last April, about 80 different organizations have sat down with the city and its Indigenous residents to discuss what it takes to build a healthy, inclusive community.

Reconciliation Regina is now working on two main goals.

First, a public awareness campaign aimed at helping people understand the meaning of reconciliation and what they can do to participate in the healing process. Second, helping people work to fulfill the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s “calls to action” via a community action plan.