Photo of: Leanne Redman and her interactive mini museum display
Photo by: Danielle Dufour
The Regina Open Door Society (RODS) hosted their first Indigenous Art Exhibition on Monday for newcomers in the community to meet Indigenous artists, explore cultural displays and connect with community vendors. This event was sponsored by SaskCulture.
With support of Indigenous community members, artists and Knowledge Keepers, RODS goal is to create meaningful opportunities for newcomers to learn about Indigenous histories, cultures and traditions while building connections and mutual understanding.
“All of us are living in Treaty land 4, so it’s really essential to learn about this Treaty and the people who own these lands,” said Zohreh Fakhraei, coordinator of the event. “We give our newcomers opportunity to learn about the Treaty people and to have really good communication with them.”
Nine vendors showcased a variety of Indigenous art and services, while attendees also enjoyed a traditional Indigenous soup and Bannock lunch.
“We have people (here) who are making Indigenous jewelry and really beautiful art paintings,” said Fakhraei.
Leanne Redman, a member of the Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation owns her own interactive mini mobile museum, called Leanne Redman’s First Nation Cultural Sharing.
“I raised five children, and any time I took them to the museum, they weren’t allowed to touch or feel,” said Redman. “In my years of collecting, I now have an interactive mini museum that I can take to organizations and set up and kids can touch and feel items like a Buffalo skull, some sage, tobacco, a Buffalo hide and they can smell a smoke hide pair of moccasins.”
She displays First nation artifacts and items from nature. “I have willow, silver, red antlers,” said Redman.
“When you see a Buffalo hide, you don’t know what it is, you don’t know how it feels,” said Redman. “The Buffalo is how First nations survived for so long. You could feel how it feels. It’s very warm. That’s what covered our teepees and clothing, right down to using the bone for tools and utensils, regalia, bowls.”
Redman is a Sixties-Scoop survivor.
“I was adopted out when I was a baby, forcefully,” said Redman. “I was raised by a Royal Mounted Canadian Police (RCMP) family, so I’ve been all over Canada. I got to learn about the provinces, the people, the resources used.”
She earned a bachelor’s degree in Indian studies.
“I can connect to my areas of where I’ve lived and what I’ve learned,” said Redman. “I’ve come to appreciate everything across Canada. I believe that all cultures, all people all over the world, we all have the base of similar traditions and cultures, like ceremonies that involve animals and the resources we had on our land. Even our customs of dance, drums, bells, ribbons, cloth. Once you get people talking about their pride in their culture, you’ll realize that there’s similarities.”
Photo of: Homebase Team Regina with Chanel Daniels
Photo by: Danielle Dufour
Chanel Daniels, the assistant director of youth programs at Homebase, located at the YWCA in Regina, was in attendance with some of her volunteers.
Homebase is a drop-in space for youth ages 12 to 25. They offer a wide range of programming and support, such as primary health, educational programs, a life-skills program, peer-support and on-site counselling.
“It’s really just a wraparound support space for youth,” said Daniels.
Jacob Lane, a youth volunteer at Homebase, has been involved with the program since its inception.
“I run the Dungeon and Dragons program,” said Lane. “It’s completely free and anything that youth need to be able to play, I will provide it myself.”