Smudge Walk brings awareness to Regina
- Jeanelle Mandes | June 04, 2014
Dianne Bigeagle walked the Smudge Walk in Regina's North Central carrying a picture of her daughter, Danita Bigeagle, who has been missing since 2007.
She said it's a good opportunity to raise awareness on various issues such as missing and murdered Aboriginal women.
"We're not going to quit till they find all our girls that are missing from Regina. Sure, they need a national inquiry, but we need one for our own province of Saskatchewan," said Bigeagle.
The Smudge Walk is an event that kicks off National Aboriginal history month. Its purpose is to gain attention and spread awareness on First Nations and Métis issues. It initially started in 2007 in response of the MacLean's article that indicated North Central was Canada's worst neighborhood to live in.
Cherish Deegan, president of the Regina Aboriginal Professional Association (RAPA) and also a part of the Smudge Walk planning committee, said this event is bringing back the historic ceremony of the Smudge Walk.
"This is why we wanted to bring it back to show Regina, show Canada and show the world that there is a community here and it is thriving. There are community organizations, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal that are committed to making Regina a great place to work and to live," she said.
RAPA was one of the community partners that organized this event, along with Qu'Appelle Beardy's Okemasis Child & Family Services, Worker's Compensation Board, Regina Police Service and the Regina Chamber of Commerce.
John Hopkins, CEO of the Regina & District Chamber of Commerce, said this event is important for everyone in order to work together and to grow North Central for all people.
"This is an important event for the city of Regina. When the treaties were originally signed, the true and intent from what I understand, was to grow this place together."
The Smudge Walk demonstrated how North Central is already starting to grow by bridging the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to come together.
The event started with a few of Saskatchewan's MLA's speaking along with FSIN Vice-Chief Kimberly Jonathan. After the 3.4-kilometer smudge walk was completed, everyone met back at Scott Collegiate in North Central to join in one big round dance and a barbeque.
There were many performances from local jiggers, pow-wow dancers, and even a new emerging artist, Christian Parrish, also known as 'Supaman.'
From the Crow Agency in Montana, Supaman says the gift of prayer that we use can make an impact and change.
"There's power in prayer no matter what were going through," he said. "It's my first time doing an event here in Regina, Canada. I'm happy, the turnout is amazing," he added.