Hundreds attend empowering speech on Truth and Reconciliation in P.A.

Since then, Chief Cadmus Delorme has been speaking at many events, sharing the stories and truth, and leading the way on the path to reconciliation. One of those talks was held in Regina, where Police Chief Jonathan Bergen was in the audience.

“I was really impacted by the message and such an important message and one that I still remember today,” he said, “On my return back to Prince Albert, I felt that it was really important to have Chief Delorme come and present and spend time and deliver a message to the police service.”

Unfortunately, shutdowns because of COVID-19 prevented that meeting from happening. Nonetheless, Bergen is grateful that Chief Delorme was finally able to come to the city.

As Deputy Prince Farica Prince explained, the idea for having Chief Delorme speak in Prince Albert came when local business owner Malcolm Jenkins watched the 60 Minutes special on residential schools.

“Malcolm was basically taken aback and demonstrated a commitment to learning and asked the questions… ‘What can we do? What can we do here in Prince Albert? How do we advance truth and reconciliation?,” she recalled.

That eventually led to Wednesday’s big talk which was held at a sold out EA Rawlinson Centre.

Before the event, Chief Delorme spoke to reporters about what led him here and what he hopes to accomplish by bringing his message to the community.

“Prince Albert is a city that like many in the province is addressing the truth and finding a way for reconciliation for a better today and tomorrow,” he said. “The hope is that when I leave that conversation will continue on what reconciliation means and a stronger relationship with Indigenous peoples and Canadians.”

Delorme added the city has a special place in his heart, having family and friends in the area. As an avid golfer, he has spent plenty of time teeing it up at Cooke Municipal Golf Course and Waskesiu.

He touched on the international attention his First Nation has received, adding he hopes it inspires other countries to make their own journeys.

“The unmarked graves validation at residential schools impacted everybody in this country, Indigenous and not. It is eye-opening when international countries are reaching out to Cowessess, reaching out to myself,” he said. “My comment to them always is, Canada is going to get this right. When we get TRC right, international countries that have a similar history are going to come here and ask us how we did it and I truly am optimistic that we’re going to get there.”

He hopes that those who heard his message and joined the conversation will understand more about how they can chart their own paths toward reconciliation.

“This is a journey. It’s a means to an end. It’s up to each individual in this country to know what role they play in reconciliation: social group, political group, organizations, everybody plays a role.”

As for himself, he said he will continue to share his message across the province and the world – not to condemn but to make sure the future is bright for coming generations.

“I’m a proud Indigenous person. I’m a proud Saskatchewanian. I’m a proud Canadian and I’m playing my role. I have little kids. I have survivors of residential school that look for hope and I’ll continue doing that one day at a time.”

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock

by Derek Craddock

Hundreds attend empowering speech on Truth and Reconciliation in P.A.

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