REGINA — Regina’s International airport welcomes thousands to the Queen City every single day as the 16th busiest airport in the country. Wednesday, arrivals were treated to Indigenous song, dance, and a market with Indigenous artists. The market in its second year is an amazing way to support local business and uplift the indigenous community just ahead of National Indigenous People’s Day.
“This is about economic growth for the Indigenous community – and being given an opportunity to make some money here at YQR.” said James Bogusz, president and CEO of the Regina airport authority at the opening of the market yesterday morning.
It is a significant step that brings visibility to the Indigenous community, a crucial early move in the journey towards reconciliation.
“We can not advance truth and reconciliation alone. We need groups like the airport and the Canadian border services to help us provide high quality Indigenous education to the community,” said Teresa Innis the executive director of the Newo Yotina Friendship Centre, who were onsite collecting donations for the centre Wednesday.
Shaena Montgrand is an artisan who began exploring her cultural roots with her mom during her mother’s battle with cancer. This was the second year Montgrand participated in the event. Without visibility, she says, it’s hard to move towards reconciliation.
“There is so much we never got to work on – cause she got sick. After she passed away I made it my goal to make ribbon skirts and learn about the beading work I do now. Visibility is vital to reconciliation. We can’t get there without it,” she said. Montgrand said it was wonderful to receive support from people coming into Regina, many of them from other cultures.
The journey she said – to create her pieces which include bead work, jingle earrings, and ribbon skirts – has been an education for herself. Learning from Elders, including her own Kokum Margaret Bear. Now, Montgrand says she loves sharing pieces of Indigenous culture and teachings with others.
Beadwork pieces adorned her display at the market. “I love creating pieces for others. It might not be something I personally like. But I know it’s meant for someone out there.”
The hand that fate and the will of the creator play in her work, she says, is showcased in the presence of spirit beads. When a bead worker creates a piece and there is a bead of a different colour seemingly out of place, it’s said that the bead was meant to be there.
“There is significant spiritualism in the colors we use in beaded pieces. The spirit bead is usually something in a piece that seems out of place. When you make something there is always one bead that’s different. That’s the spirit bead. It’s meant to be there. You just leave it. You don’t put it there purposely, but it’s there to represent spirit.”
Montgrad says she hopes the market brings awareness of Indigenous customs and art.
“I want to have people bring the culture back home, and be aware of it.’
Friday marks National Indigenous People’s Day across Canada.
