Regina City Hall’s min floor is the new home of a Truth and Reconciliation wall.
The 43 foot long installment, centred by a medicine wheel and star, is a constant reminder of the importance of reconciliation and holds historical information on treaties, residential school and written commitments by city staff on reconciliation.
Happening now: @MayorFougere at city hall to unveil a truth and reconciliation project near city halls cafeteria #yqr #sask #yqrcc pic.twitter.com/Dn7v6owkbM
— Ryan McNally (@RyanE_McNally) October 30, 2019
Mayor Michael Fougere says it’s important to make this kind of statement. “This is a tangible expression that is part of our daily lives. What’s important about this is that we had many staff write down what reconciliation means to them and why it’s important, so it makes it personalized and real for many people. When you see it everyday you think about what you wrote down, what the staff wrote down and your colleges.”
Diversity and Inclusion Consultant Debbie Brotheridge says this is a living and changing wall meaning the information will rotate, keeping it fresh. “If you leave something up that has a message on it, people will read it for a while and probably every time they go by for a while, then they will so what else is there, what else are we going to do with this. It’s an opportunity to provide new information and help people learn about the past.”
Brotheridge says the hope is that people think about reconciliation and what it means to them when they see it. “I hope they think about why we are even doing this. I hope if there is one little bit of awareness, then I think all of the energy and resources we have put into this will be well worth it.”
The reconciliation installment is set up on the main floor, next to the Courtyard Cafe.
