JUNE 05, Kerry Benjoe- LeaderPost
Organizers of the File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council's second annual Smudge Walk North Central believe the incredible turnout for the event is a sign that people want change.
FHQTC Vice Tribal Chairman Myke Agecoutay said this year's theme was "Stop the Violence."
"We needed to bring it to the centre stage, to all of the community, that violence is unacceptable whether it's against your spouse, your kids, your family, against one another, your community members -- it's unacceptable," said Agecoutay
He said it's important to stop violence because far too often it can end in needless tragedy.
Last year the walk was held in response to the Macleans article that dubbed North Central "Canada's Worst Neighbourhood." This year organizers wanted to use last year's success to raise awareness about violence in the area.
The goal for this year's event was 1,000 people and Agecoutay was proud to report that goal was achieved.
Agecoutay said support for this year's walk was overwhelming from individuals, all levels of government and corporations. He and other organizers used a variety of tools to get the word out.
"We went on a massive Facebook drive," said Agecoutay, referring to an online social-networking tool. "It's amazing what technology can do today. On Facebook we created a group on there to send the message that we were gathering and we were doing our second ceremony."
The walk started on the grounds of Scott Collegiate and continued down Elphinstone Street to 5th Avenue. It then went toward Albert Street, west on Dewdney Avenue to Athol Street and back to the high school.
"When you turn the corner and you look back and you see the people just coming and coming and coming -- it's a very powerful thing," said NDP MLA Warren McCall, who was near the front of the parade.
"Any time you can bring First Nation and non-First Nations together to say, 'This is how we want to live in a good way,' it's a good thing," he said.
McCall was born and raised in North Central and chooses to remain a resident of the area.
"There have been a few times in my life when I have been able to participate in marches where people come together around a cause," said McCall.
Sinda Cathcart, a representative of CUPE, attended the event because she was sent an online Facebook invitation. She wanted to come out and support the event because her union supports community functions as an act of solidarity.
"It was awesome and very necessary in terms of raising awareness among the citizens of Regina," she said about the Smudge Walk.
She said it's equally important for people throughout Canada to know that North Central is not the worst neighbourhood.
"I appreciated what one speaker had to say that families are being raised here," said Cathcart. "We can pull together and move forward together."
Long-time area resident Agnes Kraemer agreed that when people come together they can create change. She saw the walk as an opportunity for people to see her neighbourhood in the same positive light that she does. Kraemer raised five children in the neighbourhood and is proud to call it home.
"It's been wonderful here," said Kraemer about the neighbourhood. "We've never had any problems with anybody. All my kids turned out very well."
She's a big supporter of North Central and brought her one-year-old daughter out to participate in the walk. Kraemer said the overwhelming response from the community shows that there are people who care about North Central.
for more information on the Smudge Walk, contact Solomon Cyr at scyr@fhqtc.com
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Smudge Walk 2008 REGINA SK (cbc)by muscowpetung1,236 views
HAHAHHAHA JADE I SEE U
alanis2007 2 years ago
i went... my dads on there too/ <3 u dad
jadelavallee 2 years ago
Wow... this was just so glorious!
meowkid 3 years ago
i had the opurtunity to participate in this walk,but we couldnt get a ride from fort quappelle :(
vermonofdeceit 3 years ago