Tristen Durocher is coming to Humboldt Sept, 29 and 30, playing at a concert and speaking at a walk for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Photo courtesy of City of Humboldt Cultural Services Department. Photo courtesy of City of Humboldt Cultural Services Department
By: Nicole Goldsworthy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SASKTODAY.ca
An acclaimed fiddle player, who walked from Air Ronge to the Legislature in Regina to raise awareness about the high suicide rate among Northern and Indigenous peoples, recently played and spoke in Humboldt.
Tristen Durocher played a concert at the Humboldt and District Gallery on Friday, Sept. 29. The next day, he was the guest speaker at the Walk for Reconciliation.
“Durocher knows that even small positive changes can lead to great things – and he has been instrumental in creating those changes,” said a short biography from Indspire, a national Indigenous registered charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.
“Inspired by the defeat of a suicide prevention bill in the Saskatchewan Legislature, Tristen created the ‘Walking with Our Angels’ campaign to raise awareness of the disproportionately high rate of suicide among Northern and Indigenous peoples, walking 635 km from his home in Air Ronge, SK, to the Legislative grounds in Regina, SK. He set up a teepee and started a 44-day ceremonial fast to convince the provincial government to adopt the bill it had recently voted down.
“The bill ultimately passed in April 2021.”