Rwanda genocide victims honoured

Walk and service called part of `healing process'

Members of Regina's Rwandan community gathered Saturday to commemorate the lives lost during a horrific 100 days of violence against the Tutsi minority, during the Rwandan civil war in 1994.

The Rwandan Genocide took place from April 7 to July 18, led by extremists in the Hutu population of the east-african country. The violence was widespread and primarily targeted Tutsi, but also moderate Hutu who were against the movement.

Over 800,000 lives were lost, which is why Rwandan communities across the world gather annually to remember loved ones and spread awareness.

“We need to unite around the theme of remembering,” said Rwandan Community of Canada vice-president Francois Regis Kabahizi.

Regina residents, including members of the Rwandese Community of Regina organization, gathered in front of City Hall this year. Carrying signs, the group embarked on a remembrance walk to the legislative building in honour of those who perished and who survived the genocide.

A service at Wells Spring Victory Church followed the walk, welcoming speakers to share their stories.

For Kabahizi, holding public events each year remains extremely important, especially in the face of humanitarian crises still occurring around the globe.

Many don't know much about the Rwandan Genocide, said Kabahizi. Holding events so open to the public eye has big educational value.

“What happened in our country can happen anywhere in the world,” said Kabahizi. “My hope is that people learn. My hope is that people understand, and my hope is that we all take this message to teach our communities, our children, so we all understand.”

Yves Ikobe, who helped organize the event, also emphasized the importance of continuing to spread the history, especially to younger generations.

“People still have to be aware of what happened and understand the root causes,” said Ikobe. “The theme of this year is `remember, unite and renew,' so we need to move on from it, but make sure we don't forget.”

But the event, at its heart, is mostly about healing for the community, said Kabahizi.

“It's a healing process,” said Kabahizi. “It's painful, to keep coming back again to the same situation, (but) even a wound, you need to touch it sometimes to clean it properly.

“Talking about this is a way of remembering, but at the same time, it's a way of moving on and renewing as people.”

KAYLE NEIS Participants in a Walk to Remember, honouring victims of the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, gathered outside Regina City Hall on Saturday for a march to the Saskatchewan Legislature Building and then a Wells Spring Victor Church for a service.