Several dignitaries from different Saskatoon organizations gathered Tuesday afternoon to officially launch a month long series of events to promote reconciliation.
Over 30 organizations are involved in the cause including the City of Saskatoon, the FSIN, the Central Urban Metis Federation, the Office of the Treaty Commisioner and the Saskatoon Tribal Council.
In June of last year The City of Saskatoon officially declared 2015/2016 the year of reconciliation in the city.
Dignitaries from several of the different involved organizations gathered at the CUMFI building to officially kick off the series of events leading up to National Aboriginal Day on June 21st.
The events and activities will aim to engage and inspire citizens on what reconciliation means and to help people find their own personal call to action.
All of the dignitaries at the kick-off event spoke on the importance of these activities and what reconciliation means to them.
“The next month of events is an excellent example of how Saskatoon can work together to keep reconciliation moving forward to future generations,” says Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Felix Thomas.
Chief Thomas says he hopes the events will help foster a lifetime of reconciliation for everyone involved.
“These events will be so important for Saskatoon,” says CUMFI President Shirley Isbister. “We can go out and talk to talk, but to walk the walk starts with you and you have to figure that out and then you can involve your families and go out into the community and impart change.”
FSIN Vice-Chief Robert Merasty says reconciliation goes beyond the history of the Residential Schools and in the end it is all about inclusion
“So let us commit to working together on inclusivity on this generation today, so my children and your children can grow up to be equals,” says Vice-Chief Merasty.
The month long schedule will culminate with a two-day celebration on June 21st and 22nd.
A list of the reconciliation events can be found at Office of the Treaty Commissioner website.