REGINA, Sask. — Mayor Chad Bachynski said the foundation for truth and reconciliation is about the relationships created.
In an interview with SaskToday, Bachynski said relationships with Indigenous people are critical.
“I don't think that we can actually solve any of these problems without relationships.”
Those issues, including poverty, health inequalities and the impacts of historical and ongoing discrimination, have contributed to a high proportion of Regina’s unhoused population being Indigenous.
“The only way that we're gonna be able to navigate that is with relationships, which build trust. If we have the trust and we can have the right representation and the right approach with those communities, then we will be able to try and help someone navigate from a place where they're living in an encampment to somewhere where they can receive help, shelter, treatment, whatever it is that they need.”
But that trust comes with leaders who are educated and willing to listen to ensure Indigenous people feel safe.
“If we can eliminate judgment and discrimination and really come from a place of understanding, we build a safe community where everybody feels welcome, everybody feels like they belong, and everybody feels like their culture and their beliefs matter just as much as everybody else’s. That’s the community that I want to see in our city.”
Along with Bachynski’s efforts, the city has also outlined an Indigenous framework (kâ-nâsihcikêwin) that focuses on seven commitments, including economic reconciliation.
“We have a policy where we are aiming to increase our Indigenous procurement by 20 per cent.”
With that procurement comes “great potential” with Indigenous organizations.
“As policymakers, our role is to create the conditions that make it easier to build those relationships, sit at a table and look at how we can think differently and make sure that we incorporate everybody into that picture.”
On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Bachynski is scheduled to participate in a reconciliation panel on Sept. 30 alongside Regina police Chief Lorilee Davies and other community representatives.
