By David Klassen
Winnipeg survivors of Rwandan genocide are speaking out to commemorate the events that occurred 20 years ago.
Monday, April 7 marks the milestone of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, the country where University of Manitoba social work professor and survivor Régine Uwibereyeho King was born. She survived the genocide and later worked in a trauma-healing program before moving to Canada in 2000.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Dr. King, U of M students and members of the Rwandan community in Winnipeg have organized a series of public events as part of an international movement around the theme Kwibuka20 — Remember, Unite, Renew.
Event schedule for Monday:
A survivor’s story: 12:15 p.m., Anhang Room, Millennium Library, 251 Donald St. King will share her story of survival and her ongoing work in genocide prevention.
Testimonies, panel discussion and vigil: 5:30 p.m., starting in Room 217, University Centre and moving outside to the Duckworth Quad south of the administration building. Two U of M Rwandan students and Dr. King will share their stories of the genocide experience, followed by a panel discussion and candlelight vigil.
Photo display: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 14-18, Gallery of Student Art, First Floor, University Centre, Fort Garry campus.
“This year is particularly important for understanding genocide because the University of Manitoba will host the 11th International Association of Genocide Scholars conference in July and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights opens in September,” King said.
