Walking together: STM community continues journey toward reconciliation
Annual Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation sees young and old commit to healing
By Paul Sinkewicz
St. Thomas More College (STM) has been walking for more than 10 years – walking the path of reconciliation.
It was 2012 when STM faculty and staff attended Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings. A year later, Indigenous Engagement was integrated into STM’s Strategic Plan and a year after that, the first pipe ceremony was held at the College.
Since those early steps along the path, STM has worked to take a leadership role in reconciliation with sincerity and humility.
Saskatoon’s annual Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation began in 2016, the year of the first meeting of the STM Aboriginal Advisory Circle to discuss the proposed Chair in Indigenous Spirituality and Reconciliation.
Organized by Reconciliation Saskatoon, Rock Your Roots 2025 took place on Friday, June 20 and saw thousands of participants set off from Victoria Park and followed a route along the South Saskatchewan River.
The walk brings the community together to honour Residential school survivors, as well as demonstrate a collective commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.
Sherry Richert, STM Indigenous Initiatives & College Plan Administrator, and member of the STM Authentic Indigenization action group, is excited about the opportunity the annual walk affords the community, and the way it encompasses participants from all backgrounds and walks of life.
“Everyone’s reconciliation journey is different,” Richert said. “For me, this year, I was called to the invitation from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops to reflect upon Pope Francis’ legacy, particularly his penitential pilgrimage to Canada. I am proud that at STM we can walk together in a spirit of hope and solidarity and toward reconciliation.”
STM again had a diverse group of supporters out for the walk, with members of faculty, staff, the board of directors, alumni, and senior leadership walking together dressed in orange to show support for Truth and Reconciliation.
The Rock Your Roots Walk is usually held on National Indigenous Peoples Day, which was on a Saturday this year. Holding the walk a day early allowed schoolchildren to participate.
Cornelia Laliberte, Manager of Reconciliation Saskatoon, was proud to say it included more than 4,500 Saskatoon schoolchildren this year.
The theme of the 2025 walk was “waniskâk” which means “everyone rise up, or wake up.”
After the walkers arrived back at the park there were festivities and stage program from noon to about 3 pm.
Cameron Choquette, College Secretary & Director of Strategic Initiatives at STM, joined the College team in his new role in 2025, and was glad for the chance to take part.
“This is my first Rock Your Roots walk and it was a great opportunity to mark Indigenous Peoples Day with my colleagues in a way that I never have before,” Choquette said, adding he is excited for future opportunities to keep learning about Indigenous history and culture, and make meaningful contributions to reconciliation.
Also among the STM group was Hongbin Zhang, a STM lecturer in the Department of Economics.
"This is my second time walking Rock Your Roots,” she said. “It was a wonderful experience to be with the College colleagues and friends to demonstrate our reconciliation efforts. Witnessing so many people from different backgrounds and places gather for the same meaningful purpose is amazing. Our participation through the work of the STM Authentic Indigenization Action Group sends a positive message to our society and the next generation."
Find out more about Reconciliation Saskatoon:
RECONCILIATION SASKATOON
