‘Never 51’: Protesters gather at Regina German Club against Buffalo Party event

Red and black hand-painted buffalo signs saying “You’re on stolen land” stood tall in front of Regina’s German Club Saturday.

Dozens of people gathered in front of the club protesting a fundraising event hosted by the Buffalo Party, where speakers discussed the idea of the province becoming America’s 51st state.

Joely BigEagle-Kequahtooway, who is Nakota/Cree/Saulteaux from the White Bear First Nations, said even entertaining the idea is dangerous.

“It’s a slap in the face to the community, to our LGBTQ2S+ community, to our Indigenous community,” she said.

“I’m here supporting some of my friends and family that don’t feel safe to be here.”

Joely BigEagle-Kequahtooway made the hand-painted buffalo signs. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

She said it’s unsettling to see discussions like this being held in Regina.

“Just because we have that border doesn’t mean that it stops there. Things that happen in the States will affect us here in Canada,” BigEagle-Kequahtooway said.

“If we don’t at least address it then they’ll continue.”

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She’s also upset with the Buffalo Party’s use of the buffalo. She reached out to the party offering a presentation on the importance of the buffalo but didn’t hear back.

She calls their use of the buffalo a mockery of the word.

“They want to represent the buffalo as this bull in a china shop, or this symbol of power and strength. They don’t seem to understand what the buffalo means to Indigenous people, or what the buffalo means in terms of the genocide that happened on this land,” BigEagle-Kequahtooway said.

Two protesters holding signs that read “Never 51” in front of the German Club on March 1, 2025. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

As other protesters started to arrive, she offered smudging. A ceremonial drum was also close by.

“I’m really glad that there are people who also are considering the impacts and the consequences of events like this and wanting to stand up and say, ‘that isn’t right,'” she said.

BigEagle-Kequahtooway briefly spoke with Buffalo Party leader Phillip Zajac before the event started.

“Let it be known that there are people who don’t agree with it, and they’re not going to continue to have these whimsical events, thinking that there’s no consequences. There are consequences,” she said, following the conversation.

Protester Kaitly Abel echoed the words of BigEagle-Kequahtooway, saying there needs to be accountability.

“I want to hold the German Club to account for allowing them (Buffalo Party) to have their event here,” she said. “I understand that maybe they’re a bit desperate for money, but it’s really disappointing to see that they’re putting profits above the wellbeing of their community.

“I hope that us being here today shows other organizations and businesses that decisions they may make may have consequences in the support that they receive.”

Abel joined the protest to support her community.

“I’m very concerned about the rise of far-right politics we’re seeing in Saskatchewan, in Canada and across the world,” she said.

“I feel like they’ve been able to spread their messaging without going unchecked for far too long. So I’m just here to show support for my community and people who might find themselves the targets of them and the rhetoric.”

She encourages others to stand up for what they believe in and get involved in politics.

People gathered throughout the day at the Regina German Club in protest of the Buffalo Party’s event, that ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

During the protest, Lesley Farley got emotional watching children enter the building.

She teared up when she saw a boy walk through the crowd of protesters.

“I’m worried about kids… and I feel he’s getting the wrong message,” Farley said.

On the flip side, a mother brought her two children to the protest.

The mother said as a Treaty person, educating her children about Indigenous people is important to her.

“I talk a lot with my kids about the history of the Buffalo and how the genocide of the buffalo here parallels the genocide of Indigenous peoples and our responsibility to restore buffalo on these lands,” she said.

The cold and icy roads didn’t stop protesters from gathering throughout the day on Saturday, and community members brought food and coffee. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)