Students from Scott Collegiate in Regina listen to Mayor Michael Fougere’s speech in the commons area Tuesday morning prior to the flag raising. (Photos: Moises Canales/CKRM)
The mâmawêyatitân centre was the site of a flag raising ceremony in Regina late this morning. Both the Métis and Treaty Four flags were raised on their own post next to the Canadian and Saskatchewan flags outside of the centre.
Enough of a wind was present on a sunny Tuesday morning to give life to the flags when they were raised. Scott Collegiate students, faculty, dignitaries and members of the public were in attendance for the ceremony.
The event began in the centre’s commons area where Scott Collegiate vice-principal Danette Exner brought on a number of speakers to the podium to share their thoughts regarding the flag raising. For Exner, she said this was a moment she has been waiting for for a long time. To see people gathering together for the celebration made it a memorable day for her.
“These flags represent who I am, who our students are, what our school is; it’s important to us,” she said. “I’m really proud to be a part of it here today.”
Her first two guests gave stories and historic background for each of the flags; Larry Oakes, the son of the late Gordon Oakes who created the Treaty Four flag, and Calvin Racette, who discussed the historical significance of the Métis flag.
Regina Mayor Michael Fougere also took to the podium, commenting on the importance of the day and thanked the public for taking part in the ceremony.
He discussed a little more about why this day was of significance not only for the school and centre, but the city as a whole.
“We have students who I hope will understand the impact of today, a real concrete way of saying there are current opportunities for them in our city,” mentioned Fougere. “This is about providing opportunities for Indigenous youth and we needed to be able to do it.”
The newly added flags flap in the wind shortly after being raised.
Olivia Isnana, a grade 11 student at Scott Collegiate, was both nervous and excited to speak at the gathering. During her speech, she noted how special of a day it was at her school and her community, something she was proud to be a part of since she learned about it last week.
“This is the first time I’ve done a flag raising ceremony. It was a really good opportunity for me,”
Other speakers included Regina Board of Education Trustee Tanya Foster, and President and CEO of Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL) Tim Reid.
The ceremony also celebrated the collaboration of the mâmawêyatitân centre and REAL as they’ve joined to support each other as neighbouring businesses and service providers in the community.