People begin lining up for the start of the walk next to the Territorial Administration Building on Dewdney Avenue. (Photo: Moises Canales/620 CKRM)
There was a lot of hustle and bustle in North Central Regina on Friday for the annual Smudge Walk that started from Dewdney Park.
Mother Nature provided a perfect day for the community gathering – clear skies and a light breeze offered participants a chance to enjoy the cleansing event before the start of the weekend.
Tipis were set up on the green space as people huddled inside prior the start of the ceremony. Prayers and a drum circle opened the celebration at the park followed by speeches from invited guests and dignitaries on the stage.
Members from all levels of government were on hand to speak to the crowd including Regina Mayor Michael Fougere, Regina Police Chief Evan Bray and Regina-Wascana MP Ralph Goodale.
Gillis Lavally is a committee member for the Smudge Walk and was the master of ceremonies for today’s event. For him, it was incredibly important to see so many people from different backgrounds partake in the walk.
“I was looking at the audience and saw a lot of engagement and people participating,” said Lavally. “They all came together to participate and raise awareness.”
When Lavally and others on the committee created the Smudge Walk, he said people usually focused in on single issues in their lives or in their community. But it has since changed, allowing Indigenous people and others to voice multiple concerns, and find a place to heal and reach out for support.
“Whether it’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, or you might be dealing with health, education or economic issues, they are all issues directly reflecting on this community,” he explained. “It’s not about Indigenous people trying to do something specifically, it’s about a community getting together trying to make a difference.”
The group of walkers were led by drum players through the neighbourhood on their walk before noon with some streets closed off to motorists for the march. A barbecue and live music greeted everyone following their arrival back at the park.
The audience takes in speeches ahead of the walk which began from Dewdney Park on late Friday morning. (Photo: Moises Canales/620 CKRM)
