National Indigenous Peoples Day

Why join the LauncHER project: • Demonstrate your commitment to diversity and equity, and position your company as an inclusive and desirable employer. • LauncHER provides tailored support for all women on your team, as well as resources and assistance, allowing your apprentices to overcome barriers and create a workplace where everyone thrives. • Benefit from LauncHER advertising, at no cost to you, showcasing your company, allowing you to raise your company's visibility. 204.987.9570 launcher@fpdinc.ca ▪ Open to all women that are working in the Trades or interested in pursuing a Red Seal career in Manitoba. ▪ Grade 12 or the equivalent from a non-Canadian jurisdiction; OR register as an Access Program Trainee for Apprenticeship Manitoba. ▪ Must be a resident of Manitoba. ▪ Demonstate your commitment to diversity and equity, and position your company as an inclusive and desirable employer. ▪ LauncHER provides tailored support for all women on your team, as well as resources and assistance, allowing your apprentices to overcome barriers and create a workplace where everyone thrives. ▪ Benefit from LauncHER advertising, at no cost to you, showcasing your company, allowing you to raise your company's visibility. ▪ LauncHER is geared to promote the recruitment and retention of all Women in the Red Seal trades within Manitoba ▪ Providing mentorships, networking opportunities and other key supports for women. Funded in part by the Government of Canada's Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy Eligibility: Why join the LauncHER project: About the LauncHER project: Eligible Trades: ▪ Boilermaker ▪ Bricklayer ▪ Cabinetmaker ▪ Carpenter ▪ Concrete Finisher ▪ Construction Craft Worker ▪ Construction Electrician ▪ Floorcovering Installer ▪ Gasfitter - Class A ▪ Gasfitter - Class B ▪ Glazier ▪ Industrial Electrician ▪ Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) ▪ Instrumentation and Control Technician ▪ Insulator (Heat and Frost) ▪ Ironworker (Generalist) ▪ Landscape Horticulturalist ▪ Lather (Interior Systems Mechanic) ▪ Machinist ▪ Mobile Crane Operator ▪ Painter and Decorator ▪ Plumber ▪ Refrigeration & AC Mechanic (commercial) ▪ Roofer ▪ Sheet Metal Worker ▪ Sprinkler Fitter ▪ Steamfitter/Pipefitter ▪ Tool and Die Maker ▪ Tower Crane Operator ▪ Welder ••• ••• Are you an Employer? Empower your team and drive success by supporting Women in Trades SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024 NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY | 11 Elder Paul, whose Spirit Name is Okonace (Little Eagle Bone), is part of the Turtle Clan. With his wife, Kim, he's raised three children. He's also a grandfather of 16 and a great- grandfather of four, in addition to his other extensive professional accomplishments. He has been involved in politics for 20 years, serving on the Chief and Council in Sagkeeng and as the First Nation's elected school board chairman for 10 years. He is also a bundle carrier. "I walk with the knowledge and teachings of our ancestors," Elder Paul says. "I try to carry what I've heard and echo the history of our people." Elder Paul works with Addictions Foundation of Manitoba and Sagkeeng Child and Family Services, as well as acting as an Elder-in-Residence at Red River College (RRC) Polytechnic since 2018. Elder Paul contributes to language camps through RRC Polytechnic, empowering Indigenous youth to embrace their language. "I engage in a lot of conversations with people who are lost," Elder Paul says, noting that he didn't learn English until he was eight years old. "They don't know who they are. They don't know the history. So, I try to tell them a bit about the history that I was brought up with and help them feel good about themselves." Elder Paul is a residential school survivor who struggled to maintain his language, which is why he devotes his time to educating others on the Ojibwe language now. "Because my language was too strong and my spiritual element was intact, I was a target for people that were bringing what they called education," Elder Paul says. "There was no education there. It was about killing my language and discouraging my beliefs. The loss of language is a loss of identity. It's a loss of culture. The language is the most important component to anybody's culture." To Elder Paul, National Indigenous Peoples Day is a time to recognize the loss of language and culture and work towards restoring them. "I don't think the people decided they don't need their language anymore," says Elder Paul. "It was decided for them. And I think the people that took it away should be responsible for bringing it back. Language gives you pride, gives you a purpose—and if you don't have your language, there's still shame." He aims to erase that shame, highlighting the importance of appreciating and celebrating culture. "I think the system was designed to look at your faults rather than to look at your gifts," Elder Paul says. "Every culture needs to understand that their way is good. Everybody has a beautiful culture, so we shouldn't deny them of learning about who they are." Elder Paul's way of reconciliation is to address education around language and culture and keep communication open. "By talking about it," says Elder Paul, "we can engage in partnering and make it happen together." > continued from page 10 I WALK WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TEACHINGS OF OUR ANCESTORS, I TRY TO CARRY WHAT I'VE HEARD AND ECHO THE HISTORY OF OUR PEOPLE. " – Elder Paul Guimond "

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