Regina Circle Supports Tatanga Day 2024

As the rest of Canada celebrated its 157th year of colonial existence on July 1, another group in Regina celebrated the day another way. Tatanga Day – formerly Buffalo Day – is hosted each year on July 1st by the Buffalo People Arts Institute.

This is the 4th year of the festival, and Righting Relations Regina Circle were there to support. Activities included face-painting by Prairie Sky School, a puppet show performed by Kokum Brenda Dubois, and a meal of bison with other food donations from the community.

Regina Circle coordinator Lisa Odle says the festival is important because, “it highlights the importance of the Buffalo — a symbol of energy, strength, power, and provision. The Buffalo provided nutrition, shelter, clothing and kept the microdiversity of the soil.”

“This year was particularly beautiful as many young children enjoyed painting on the street. Painting the street is an act of resistance. Speaking through art for what is desired for the future. One child said that he was making a river. It was beautiful.”

Tatanga Day was held at the Buffalo Meadows Park on Dewdney Avenue. Speaking of Dewdney Avenue, the Regina Circle has been supporting efforts to change the name to Tatanga Boulevard.

On June 26, the Regina City Council meeting was supposed to discuss the name change. The nine-hour meeting included presentations supporting the renaming. Dewdney was the lieutenant governor of the western territories and his policies included starvation of Indigenous people and assimilation via residential schools, the generational effects which can be witnessed to this day. The city council members will vote on the name change in August.