Organizers of an Indigenous conference in Saskatoon say they have been shocked by the growth of the event over the years.
The seventh Wicihitowin Indigenous Engagement Conference got underway Tuesday afternoon in Saskatoon. The event was moved to a virtual platform due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the province.
Emcee, Neil Kewistep, says with the event going virtual this year over 2500 people have registered. A 150 percent increase from last year.
“So to me I think that is really shocking,” said Kewistep. “I have been pleasantly surprised by the appetite for what we talk about here…and what we talk about here is truth.”
The theme of this year’s conference is The Seven Sacred Teachings: love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility and truth.
Speakers at the conference will include Dr. Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, Chief Cadmus Delorme, Cowessess First Nation, and other Residential School and Sixties Scoop survivors.
(PHOTO – A screenshot of the conference, Emcees April Sora and Neil Kewistep)