MOU to support cultural program to reduce violence

By Dale Johnson Posted: June 20, 2017 6:00 a.m.

U of R President Dr. Vianne Timmons (l) and Touchwood File Hills Qu'Appelle tribal council Shelter Board Chair Chief Marie Anne Daywalker-Pelletier sign an MOU. Photo courtesy of File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council

The University of Regina is looking at delivering a program developed to address intergenerational cycles of violence experienced by First Nations peoples.

The Touchwood File Hills Qu’Appelle tribal council has developed the “Walk the Good Road” program with the goal to reduce incidents of violence through awareness and cultural programming.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by University of Regina President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Vianne Timmons and the Touchwood File Hills Qu’Appelle tribal council Shelter Board Chair Chief Marie Anne Daywalker-Pelletier.

Under the terms of the agreement, the U of R Man Up Against Violence movement may deliver the Walk the Good Road program at the University for educational purposes. The U of R recognizes that there are sacred teachings shared through the knowledge and guidance of elders, and will ensure culturally sensitive practices will be in place to support the program. The program will be maintained in its original form as written and designed.

“This is not just for the Indigenous community alone; this has potential to advise and educate all of our students, faculty and staff about healthy relationships, traditional ways of knowing, and how that may influence how we understand healthy masculinities,” says Roz Kelsey, Director of the Office of Gendered Violence Prevention Strategies at the U of R.

“Everyone understands how to be a man differently, and I think this will add to the ways of understanding what healthy masculinity looks like. We need to have patience with this program as it unfolds. It is essential that we are guided and listen to the wise ones and elders that have gifted us with this knowledge,” she adds.