National day an opportunity to celebrate Indigenous peoples’ culture, contributions to Saskatchewan

June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day! And, in parks and community centres across Saskatchewan, thousands of people will be getting together to celebrate the histories, culture and contributions of Indigenous peoples to our province, Canada, and the world!

At Regina’s Victoria Park and City Square, a full day is planned that will include teepee raisings, First Nations dancers and drummers, Métis jiggers and fiddlers, traditional food, a story teller circle, and much more.

Fawn Redwood, a SaskTel Store employee, is looking forward to spending the day volunteering at the City of Regina event. Fawn, who grew up on the Cowessess First Nation, is a member of the SaskTel Aboriginal Employee Network (SAEN), an employee resource and networking group that supports Indigenous employees. She will be joining other SAEN members who will be volunteering throughout the day in the park.

“National Indigenous Day to me, is a celebration of sharing our pride as a Nation. A pride in our history, our dances, our languages, and resilience as a Nation,” she said. “I love seeing all the young people come out and see the pride of our peoples’ accomplishments.”

SAEN members have always been excellent ambassadors of SaskTel, promoting and encouraging SaskTel as a strong Indigenous employer while giving their time and skills to community events such as the SaskTel Indigenous Youth Awards of Excellence and youth mentorship programs. Founded in 1993, this year also marks the 25th anniversary of the employee organization.  

“I volunteer as a First Nations person because I want young people and my peers to see a positive role model in the community. I am very thankful that SaskTel is so supportive of an employee to allow me to volunteer too.”

SaskTel fully embraces diversity and fostering connections in the communities where it operates and its employees work and live. Every year, SaskTel employees proudly give countless hours to support cultural initiatives and community events that positively impact the lives of Saskatchewan people.

“Having a work culture that is diverse and inclusive is important to SaskTel and we strive to build a team that is reflective of the province we serve,” said Jennifer McLeod, SaskTel Human Resources Manager - Organizational Development. “For SaskTel and its employees, we take that support one step further and become involved, giving back to the communities we serve.”

Created in 1996 by the federal government in consultation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis organizations, National Indigenous Peoples’ Day offers all Canadians the opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of Indigenous peoples, but also on the need to further reconciliation and recognition of Indigenous rights.

The day is also part of National Indigenous History Month in Canada, which has been celebrated throughout the month of June with a variety of events in the province including film showings, workshops and family drop-in activities at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.

SaskTel is proud to support the Regina festivities as an ongoing supporter of National Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the province. For those coming down to Victoria Park, be sure to visit the SaskTel Tent.