Rwandan community holds walk to commemorate genocide anniversary
Group in Regina remembers victims and calls attention to attrocities around the world
The Rwandan community in Regina organized a walk on Saturday to drive home the message of "never again."
In April 1994, a plane carrying President Juvenal Habyarimana — a member of the country's Hutu ethnic majority — was shot down. This ignited pre-existing racial tensions and led to the massacre of more than 800,000 people over a period of four months. Most of the killings were of the Tutsi minority at the hands of Hutu extremists.
Francois Regis Kabahizi, president of the Rwandese Community of Regina, says that there are people from Rwanda still reeling from the wounds of this genocide 21 years later.
"There were widows, children left by themselves, people who are spiritually and emotionally affected. Some who were materially and physically touched," Kabahizi said. "The work is out there to be done."
Kabahizi said this issue also extends beyond Rwanda's borders. He said it is important for people around the world to remember such atrocities and oppose crimes against humanity today.
There were widows, children left by themselves, people who are spiritually and emotionally affected.- Francois Kabahizi, president of the Rwandese Community of Regina
"You hear things happening in neighbouring country, Kenya, you hear things happening in the Middle East. This is the same evil," Kabahizi said. "We should be standing up together as one to fight against it."
He said that between 40 and 50 people from across Regina's African communities along with people from a variety of backgrounds participated in the walk, which wound its way from the Saskatchewan Legislature to city hall.
Personal connections
Chantal Umuhoza immigrated to Canada from Rwanda in 2006 and has lived in Regina for the past few years.
She participated in the walk on Saturday and said that she lost her father in the genocide when she was just 14 years old.
"It's important for me because I remember him," Umuhoza said.
Today, Umuhoza is a mother herself and her children teach her of why it's important to remember the "Never Again" message year after year.
"It's good for the future and for our kids," she said. "It can never happen for them again."