Rock Your Roots celebrates 10 years in Saskatoon

Friday marked a special day for many with the annual Rock Your Roots walk gathering thousands of people at Victoria Park. Keenan Sorokan reports.

Residential school survivor Harry Lafond feels the importance and impact Rock Your Roots has on Saskatoon.

“It’s encouraging people to acknowledge each other’s existence and to do it in a positive and enjoyable way,” Lafond said. “That’s what our country is about. If we don’t work at it, it won’t happen.”

Friday marked the 10th annual Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation. The event started with hundreds of people and has now grown to include more than 7,000 people at Victoria Park.

Local advocate David Fineday organized “Smudge On” at Rock Your Roots six years ago. Each year he sets up an area and invites people to come smudge and pray. Seeing people line up and join him for smudge before the walk gave him pause and understanding of his intention of bringing people together.

“There are so many people that are lost out there, and I just want to try and bring back that belief. Something to believe in,” Fineday said.

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People left Victoria Park and walked along Spadina Crescent and eventually made their way back to the park to hear drummers and have survivors and dignitaries share stories. For many, it was not their first time taking part in the walk.

More than 5,000 students were in attendance, wearing orange shirts. Mayor Cynthia Block says Rock Your Roots making it to 10 years and now firmly establishing itself as an annual event on the community calendar means it can have a lasting impact on the next generation who have been educated about residential schools and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action, unlike previous generations.

“Children really do lead us if we are, supporting those kinds of efforts,” she said. “And I know that those children are learning things that many of their parents didn’t. And how does that help to shape the future?”

Passing events like this on to children is what Block says the event is all about. If reconciliation is to continue as a shared commitment by the greater community, she says working on it is as easy as getting acquainted.

“People just have to get to know each other,” she said. “People need to talk at the soccer pitch, at the hockey rink. Just listen and just get to know each other,” she said.

While many people at the walk grew up unaware of the impact of residential schools on Indigenous people, many children walking are increasingly aware of residential schools and Indigenous culture.

Fineday’s goal of bringing people together with a smudge has helped him learn a lot about his neighbours. Now, after 10 years of Rock Your Roots continually growing, organizers hope the event empowering people to connect, share stories and learn from one another will continue well beyond the next decade.

“It’s awesome. To celebrate being First Nations,” Fineday said. “To open it up and to let people see the real truth about First Nations people.”