Miyo-wîcîwitowin Day coming to Mosaic Stadium

Mosaic Stadium is to be filled with orange Thursday instead of the normal Saskatchewan Roughrider green.

The inaugural Miyo-wîcîwitowin Day will celebrate and recognize the harm done to Indigenous people through residential schools and colonialism. Organizers say Mosaic Stadium will be packed with 18,000 people settling in to hear stories from Indigenous elders and residential school survivors.

Chief Cadmus Delorme of the Cowessess First Nation, a co-chair of the event, said the day will be all about addressing some uncomfortable truths so that reconciliation can follow.

“Miyo-wîcîwitowin Day is about truth,” Delorme said. “Once we understand truth, we can understand what reconciliation means.”

Acknowledging that Indigenous people are still directly affected by causes of colonialism and intergenerational trauma will be a part of uncovering those truths according to Delorme.

He said a day of performances and speeches will encourage people to “walk together in a good way.”

“The people in the stadium will remind them that we all walk and share this journey together,” Delorme said, “and that’s what Miyo-wîcîwitowin Day means, is that ‘we all walk and share this day together’ in Cree.”

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon is to be among the speakers at the event, which is to run from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Delorme said he wants Truth and Reconciliation to be a common discussion at the kitchen table at dinnertime, and he hopes this event will ignite those conversations.

“Residential school survivors are on a journey,” said Delorme. “Sometimes they feel really alone on their journey because it can be tough to talk about it.”

Delorme said making sure residential school survivors feel like VIP guests throughout the event is a top priority.

“We want to make sure they are comfortable because reconciliation only happens with uncomfortable conversations,” said Delorme. “The truth is really hard to conceive and sometimes believe for some.”

Along with elders and residential school survivors, federal, provincial and municipal government members will attend so they can bring a focus on Truth and Reconciliation in their workplace.

In addition to speeches, DJ Kookum, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, and the Regina Symphony Orchestra are to perform.

Delorme didn’t know if this event would occur again in the future.

Truth and Reconciliation Day

The Saskatchewan government has proclaimed Friday as Truth and Reconciliation Day in the province.

“Our province remains committed to our partnership with First Nations and Métis people and communities as we move forward together on the continuous path of reconciliation,” Don McMorris — the province’s minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs — said in a release.

“September 30 is an important day for reflection, and I encourage all Saskatchewan people to use this as an opportunity to commemorate the tragic legacy of residential schools in our province.”

On Friday, flags at all provincial government buildings in Saskatchewan — including the Legislative Building and Government House — will be lowered to half-mast.

As well, the Provincial Capital Commission will be turning certain lights orange in some locations of Wascana Centre, including at the bandstand on the north shore of Wascana Lake, at the area in front of the Queen Elizabeth II Gardens and at the steps of the Legislative Building.

The province encouraged everyone to wear orange to recognize Orange Shirt Day and honours the survivors of residential schools.

Roughriders, Bombers paying tribute

The Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers are to acknowledge Truth and Reconciliation Day prior to Friday’s CFL game in Winnipeg.

Players from both teams will wear orange jerseys and sideline staff will don orange shirts to mark the day.

“As we reflect on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we hope that these jerseys will serve as a small symbol of our commitment to reconciliation and the work we’ve done and will continue to do moving forward as allies of the Indigenous community,” Craig Reynolds, the Roughriders’ president and CEO, said in a release.

The release said the team and the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation have been focusing on Calls to Action Nos. 87-92 that were included in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Report. Those focus on Sports and Reconciliation and Business and Reconciliation.

The Roughriders are to raffle off the orange jerseys to raise funds for Indigenous sports programs in the province and special events in Indigenous communities.

The team said the “chase the ace” style raffle will be streamed live from the team’s locker room and will feature 50 autographed jerseys as well as bonus prizes such as gift cards and community suite tickets for the 2023 season.

More information on the raffle is to be released after Friday’s game.