Photo: Michelle Brooks at the Indigenous Students Business Dinner 2026 in Regina
By: Danielle Dufour
A networking event hosted by The Brooks HR Group held at The Hotel Saskatchewan on Tuesday brought together Indigenous Students from the University of Regina, The First Nations University of Canada (FNU) and Saskatchewan Polytechnic together with 27 companies in attendance and special dignitaries.
“We are meeting with a lot of Indigenous students around our community, it’s a great networking event, businesses and students coming together, and looking at opportunities that we have in and around Regina,” said Mayor Chad Bachynski.
Students were encouraged to introduce themselves to company representatives and talk about their educational focus and career goals.
“Groups include an amazing group of companies who work closely together all throughout the month to advance the Call-to-Action number 92 within their companies,” said Michelle Brooks.
Call to Action 92 includes that Aboriginal peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities in the corporate sector.
Before 1951 First Nations people who educated past Grade 8 lost their First Nations status.
Joshua Bear, a finance student attending FNU from Ochapowace First Nation, made opening remarks on behalf of the students.
“When employers show up, it signals that they value student potential, are willing to build real relationships, and want to be part of shaping a stronger more connected business community,” said Bear. “They create real opportunities to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the professional world … help shape our confidence and our futures.”
Indigenous hoop dancer Terrance Littletent performed for the crowd with fluorescent hoops as the lights in the ballroom dimmed.
Hoopdancer Terrance Littletent, 2026 Indigenous Student Business Dinner in Regina
“When we come together as Indigenous people, we become strong, we become one nation” said Littletent. “You can see there is a gap between the two worlds today, under the heavens, we are all found. Our old people say one day these worlds are going to come together.”
The evening ended with a humorous and emotional speech by Cadmus Delorme, a former Chief of Cowessess First Nation and the 10th Chancellor of the University of Regina.
Cadmus Delorme, University of Regina’s 10th Chancellor, at the Indigenous Student Business Dinner in Regina
“Every one of us in this room here is going to hit your glass ceiling in life, there’s nothing wrong with that,” said Delorme. “You’re either content with it, or you want to go back and get more training or more schooling … to think bigger.”
He talked about the three layers people have.
“In order to succeed, your outer layer is what everybody sees,” said Delorme. “The second layer only your immediate family and best friends see. That third layer only your rear-view mirror sees it.”
He suggested that if all those layers do not agree with who you are, it is difficult to walk this way in life, but that each person controls that.
“You belong in every room in this province and country, and have the talent to be in every room, but sometimes lack the resources, and we shouldn’t be shy about that,” said Delorme.
“As you lift your glass ceiling to my Indigenous brothers and sisters in this room, you are going to bring barriers,” said Delorme. “They have the heaviness that we carry, and what we inherited, you carry that as well and you got to carry it with grace,” said Delorme. “To my Canadian friends in the room, you inherited a history too.”
Delorme stressed the importance of support, belonging and having purpose while be goal-focussed.
“As First Nations, Metis and Inuit in this room, we’re rights holders on this land, not shareholders or stakeholders,” said Delorme. “Remember that our nations are trying to heal, and we’re getting educated and ready to help out nations and our people.”
He reflected how Indigenous students that graduate are healing the prior generations who never got the chance to.
“Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution, that’s why I say we live in two worlds,” said Delorme. “You have to learn to walk in that Indigenous world and that Canadian world … know that you belong in both.”
Delorme reminded the audience that we are all the implementors of the 94 Calls to Action by saying, “Reconciliation is foundational and everyone in this room, you are the hummingbirds in this journey.”