RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS

Memorial to be `place of reflection'

The provincial government

REGINA has revealed plans to move forward with the creation of a residential school memorial site in Regina, one year after the idea was first proposed.

The decision was announced at an official dedication Monday morning, National Indigenous Peoples Day, on the grounds of Government House, the proposed location of the monument. A group of Indigenous representatives paid homage to residential school victims and acknowledged the land in a teepee ceremony.

“We follow proper protocols and bring to life the ground that this monument will sit on eventually” Lt.-gov. Russ Mirasty said at the event. “...To make sure that the ground that this memorial will sit on has been blessed in the right way. That's it's been recognized and accepted by the elders.”

The proposed design for the memorial, which remains subject to change, will be circular with four benches made from reclaimed

wood, garden beds and trees surrounding a central monument. The benches will be painted in traditional colours and plants will be collaboratively chosen by Indigenous elders, traditional knowledge keepers and community members,

to ensure cultural relevance. Trees considered important to First Nations and Métis culture and ceremony, such as birch, spruce and poplar will feature prominently.

Premier Scott Moe, who spoke at the event, said the memorial

will serve as a place where survivors can heal past wounds and visitors can learn about Canada's history, “creating that quiet place of reflection, for people to sit and reflect on how residential schools have affected and impacted their family themselves.”

But Government House is also symbolic to the issue, he explained, representative of the historic relationship between Indigenous people and the Crown.

Built in 1891, it served as the official residence and office of the lieutenant-governor, the Queen's representative for Saskatchewan, for 54 years.

Plans for the memorial site are already a year in the making, but discussions with Indigenous community members, elders and stakeholders continue in an effort to make plans to make the final vision as collaborative as possible.

Funding for the project will come from the federal government.

Mirasty said the memorial announcement was timely, considering the discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children at a formal residential school site in Kamloops last month.

He added that renewed discussion of reconciliation will foster important discussion and support that will help make the memorial site a reality.

PHOTOS: TROY FLEECE Premier Scott Moe exits a teepee during a visit to Government House on Monday. He was there to observe as Lt.-gov. Russ Mirasty presided over the dedication of the Saskatchewan Residential Schools memorial site that will be built on the grounds.

Mirasty says protocols were followed to ensure site where the memorial will be built has been “blessed in the right way.”