By Jon Perez, Catholic Saskatoon News

Indigenous drummer and singer Douglas Morin said he was pleased to see different members of the city’s multi-cultural community joining the 2025 “Rock Your Roots” Walk for Reconciliation on Friday, June 20, which started and ended at Victoria Park in Saskatoon.

Morin said that having non-Indigenous people eager and willing to learn about the continuous efforts for truth and reconciliation was a great thing to see. He is part of the NWA Drum Group, which regularly performs at various Indigenous events, including powwows.

“We are introducing them to our culture while we keep our roots alive. For them to experience all of this gives positive energy. It was awesome for people from different cultures to experience ours, and for us to see different races here shows the multiculturalism of Saskatoon. We get to perform, and they also get to perform in front of these people,” said Morin.

He added that seeing young kids learn about Indigenous traditions shows the community’s great respect for Indigenous culture, something that he also shares with his kids, who are learning about their Indigenous roots while also growing up to accept other cultures.

His sentiments were echoed by Mayor Cynthia Block and Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand, who during the program in the park that followed the walk, both said that all are treaty people and everyone must be proud of their roots and their respective cultures.

They both said they were pleased that many people joined the Reconciliation Walk to honour and celebrate National Indigenous Day, as together we work towards creating a better future.

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Reporter Jon Perez is a parishioner at the Cathedral of the Holy Family, Saskatoon.

Communications and Catholic Saskatoon News is supported by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal: dscf.ca/baa