Indigenous Regina: Treaty 4, Nations and Community
An introduction to Regina: its history, the Nations whose lands it sits on, and Indigenous community life today, with sources.
About Regina
Regina, the capital of Saskatchewan, was founded in 1882 where the Canadian Pacific Railway crossed Wascana Creek and was named for Queen Victoria. The Plains Cree and Saulteaux signed Treaty 4 at nearby Fort Qu’Appelle in 1874, and the city sits on that territory. Wascana Centre, an urban park of about 930 hectares around Wascana Lake, surrounds the Legislative Building. Regina is home to the University of Regina and First Nations University of Canada, which hosts the annual Spring Celebration Powwow and marked its 50th year in 2026. The RCMP trains its cadets here, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders play at Mosaic Stadium. The File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council represents 11 Cree, Nakoda, Saulteaux, Dakota and Lakota nations in the region, and Regina Treaty/Status Indian Services supports First Nations people in the city. Government, agriculture and grain handling shape the local economy.
Regina history
Long before the railway, Cree and Métis hunters came to this creek for buffalo. They stacked the bones of the animals into piles. The Cree name for the place, oskana kâ-asastêki, means where the bones are piled. Settlers later turned that into Pile O' Bones Creek. The city sits within Treaty 4 lands, a treaty made with 35 First Nations across southern Saskatchewan and parts of Alberta and Manitoba. The city names Cree, Saulteaux, Dakota, Nakota and Lakota peoples on these lands, which are also the homeland of the Métis. Lieutenant-Governor Edgar Dewdney chose the railway's path in 1882. That same year, the North-West Mounted Police made the new town its headquarters. Regina became a town on December 1, 1883, and capital of the North-West Territories. Louis Riel was tried for treason here and executed, swiftly and controversially, on November 16, 1885. The Regina Indian Industrial School operated here until 1910. On June 30, 1912, Canada's deadliest tornado killed 28 people and left 2,500 homeless. In 1935, a trek of unemployed men bound for Ottawa led to the Regina Riot, in which a policeman died.
Treaty and territory
Regina, oskana kâ-asastêki in Cree, is on Treaty 4 territory and the homeland of the Métis.
Nearby: Piapot First Nation · Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation · Pasqua First Nation · Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation · Fort Qu’Appelle · White City
Indigenous Regina today
Remembrance and reconciliation shape part of Indigenous life in Regina today. About 35 First Nations and Métis children from Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba are buried at the former Regina Indian Industrial School cemetery. The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and a local commemorative association pressed for its protection. The province named it a heritage property on July 26, 2017. In North Central Regina, the mâmawêyatitân centre opened on September 12, 2017. Its Cree name means let's be all together. The 108,000-square-foot building brings together the new Scott Collegiate, a 33-space child care centre, the Albert library branch and a recreation complex. It also holds a community policing centre and a First Nations Elders' ceremonial room. The province called it the first centre of its kind in Canada. At the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, the First Nations Gallery traces about 10,000 years of Indigenous relationships with the land. It also presents Treaty 4 from the viewpoint of the Indigenous peoples who signed it. The museum has held National Indigenous Peoples Day activities, including beading, atlatl throwing and flint knapping demonstrations. Its Traditional Knowledge Keepers workshops have featured Néhiyaw and Métis floral art.
Life in Regina
Regina is a government town at heart, and the provincial government is its biggest employer. Industry sits alongside it. EVRAZ Regina runs a steel mill and pipe plant, and the Co-op Refinery Complex upgrades and refines heavy oil. The city grew in bursts. It had 2,250 people in 1901 and more than 30,000 by 1911. The 1920s took it from 34,400 to 53,200, and the 1950s added another 57 per cent. The 2021 census counted 226,404 residents across about 182 square kilometres. Culture has deep roots in the capital. The Royal Saskatchewan Museum, the MacKenzie Art Gallery, the Globe Theatre and the Conexus Arts Centre all call Regina home. In winter, hockey fans follow the Regina Pats, the city's junior team.
Regina seasons and weather
Regina is flat, open and windy, so winter wind chills bite hard and summer days are hot and bright. A hooded layer and a warm hat make a big difference on the open prairie.
More on the region: Indigenous Saskatchewan · all of Canada.
Keep learning in the XUSI Journal
- Treaty 4 Explained: The 1874 Qu'Appelle Treaty
- The Numbered Treaties, Explained
- Métis History in Saskatchewan: Places to Learn and Visit
- Residential Schools in Saskatchewan: Where to Start Learning
- All Journal articles
Regina questions
Can I order a gift for someone graduating from First Nations University in Regina?
Of course. Ship it straight to their Regina address; the cost is calculated at checkout and orders of $90 or more ship free within Canada. If the size is wrong, a return can be requested within 30 days.
Is there pickup in Regina?
No, local pickup is only available in Saskatoon. Regina orders ship from Saskatoon and leave within 1 to 3 business days.
Do any XUSI designs connect to Treaty 4 or the Regina area?
We are based in Saskatoon, on Treaty 6 territory, and we do not make Treaty 4 designs. Many of our pieces carry a Cree word and its story, and Cree is one of the languages of the peoples who signed Treaty 4. Groups in Regina can work with us on a custom design, with design help included.
Could a North Central Regina school or youth program order custom shirts?
Yes. Custom screen printing starts at 10 garments, with up to 4 colours per design, and every order is quoted before printing. We help shape the design, print it in Saskatoon and ship the finished order to your Regina address.
Last reviewed . Facts on this page come from the sources listed below.
Sources for this page
- Regina – The Canadian Encyclopedia
- Regina – The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan, University of Regina
- Regina History & Facts – City of Regina
- North Central Regina Celebrates the Grand Opening of Mâmawêyatitân Centre – Government of Saskatchewan
- Regina Indian Industrial School Cemetery Designated a Provincial Heritage Property – Government of Saskatchewan
- First Nations Gallery – Royal Saskatchewan Museum
- Celebrating National Indigenous History Month at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum – Government of Saskatchewan
Indigenous clothing from XUSI
People in Regina can get Indigenous-designed hoodies, tees and caps from XUSI. We are Indigenous-owned, we print in Saskatoon, and we ship down Highway 11 to Regina and the Treaty 4 communities that surround it.
Regina life runs from Riders tailgates to Pats games, and we have pieces for both seasons. In August, a Golden Era ringer tee and an A-frame snapback handle a long, bright afternoon in the stands. When January wind sweeps across the flat land around the city, a heavyweight hoodie under your parka makes the walk from the car bearable. The Black Oni long sleeve suits an evening at the Globe Theatre or a walk through the MacKenzie Art Gallery. For students heading to class in North Central or on campus, our women's baby rib tee layers easily under a jacket.
