Miyo-wîcîwitowin Day to be held at Mosaic Stadium

Mosaic Stadium seats will be filled with people wearing orange rather than the usual green late this fall.

Regina Exhibition Association Limited and Mosaic Stadium are hosting a new event to educate and celebrate truth and reconciliation called Miyo-wîcîwitowin Day.

The event was announced Monday at Mosaic Stadium and concluded with dancing from two Indigenous hoop dancers.

Miyo-wîcîwitowin Day will feature survivor stories, music, dance and presentations by Indigenous peoples. The event will bring together more than 10,000 high school students, business leaders and anyone else who wants a seat to celebrate Indigenous culture.

The event is meant to promote education and reconciliation for future generations. Miyo-wîcîwitowin means “walking together in a good way” in Cree.

Cowessess First Nation Chief Cadmus Delorme, a co-chair of the event, said reconciliation is the responsibility of everyone.

“Today in 2022, nobody created residential schools, nobody created the ’60s Scoop, nobody created the Indian Act,” Delorme said. “But as Canadians, as Saskatchewanians and as Indigenous people, we inherited this. When you inherit something, you have a responsibility to do something about it.”

In June of 2021, 751 mass graves were uncovered on the site of the Marieval Indian Residential School on Cowessess First Nation.

“The validation of unmarked graves at Cowessess, Kamloops and many others has sparked a conversation that Canada wants to have,” said Delorme. “How we have this conversation is what Miyo-wîcîwitowin Day is all about.

“We want to bring people into the most well-known stadium in Saskatchewan and have a conversation. From this conversation, there will be action plans. From those action plans, Saskatchewan will become a stronger nation for years to come.”

Tim Reid, the president and CEO of the REAL District, said the idea first blossomed when Delorme approached Reid with the idea.

“About 20 minutes into our conversation, (Delorme’s) small idea turned into filling Mosaic Stadium for a National Day of Truth and Reconciliation,” said Reid. “So this small idea turned into a really magical and inspirational idea.”

The two are co-chairing the event to be held on Sept. 29.

Reid explained the education around Indigenous issues was not present when he was younger.

“I think that there is an opportunity for all of us to learn … I think for those of us who have not seen this truth or fortunate enough to share in this conversation,” said Reid. “This will be an ability for us to learn, to be educated, and to be inspired to walk away with a Call to Action.

“For young people in attendance, this is something I was not able to have as a kid. This is an opportunity to be surrounded by my community in a conversation about reconciliation.”

Chief RoseAnne Archibald, the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, is to speak at the event. Other Indigenous artists who are to be performing are DJ Kookum and the Snotty Nose Rez Kids.

Regina Mayor Sandra Masters got emotional on stage while talking about the significance of the day.

“We need to make space to learn the truth, but also to celebrate culture,” said Masters. “Also (we’ll be) signalling to Indigenous youth that their culture was important to us and something to celebrated.”

While the event will be entertaining, the main pillar of the day will be education.

“Because of what we inherited, truth must come before reconciliation,” said Delorme. “What the hope is of Year 1 is that let’s identify truth.

“Let’s identify these uncomfortable conversations, the misconceptions, the accidental racism that sometimes have existed. Then reconciliation will have more opportunity for all of us and proud Saskatchewan and Canadian people.”

In addition to the event, there will be a contest for youth to create artwork, poems or videos on what the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation means to them.

Admission to the event is free with registration.