Regina’s Muslim community organized an educational and friendly event in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. In collaboration with elders and Indigenous people in the community, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community invited everyone to attend a program at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosque Regina on Sunday. “Especially after the discovery of so many of the mass graves, we really wanted to make sure that we were offering a hand of friendship to our neighbors here,” said Madeeh Rehman, who is responsible for public relations at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. “We’ve held this program not only to educate our members, but also to offer our friendship to the Indigenous communities here in Regina and show that we’re supporting them in their struggle and their reconciliation process.” Cadmus Delorme, chancellor for the University of Regina and former Chief of the Cowessess First Nation, and Elder Lorna Standingready spoke at the event. Rehman said he wants people in the city to know they are welcomed by the community. “It’s also just a way for us to invite people into our home and show them that we’re appreciating them as our neighbors,” he said. “We want to make sure that everyone is feeling welcome, no matter where they come from and what their background is.” Aside from bringing youth and adults together, Rehman said the purpose of the event is to help educate people. “We’ve tried to teach everyone who comes something more about the horrors of residential school, what happened through colonization and things like that,” Rehman explained. “I’m hoping that everyone here comes in and learning something new about what happened to the Indigenous people, especially here in Saskatchewan. It’s fairly recent history and we can all learn and grow together as friends and neighbors.” “We can help each other through the dark times and hopefully get to brighter days.”
