National Indigenous Peoples Day | 2020

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NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY JUNE 21,2020

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We are proud to have one of the highest participation rates in Canada for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students. They honour the University with their many gifts and strengths, which we seek to ensure are engaged and celebrated in a meaningful way.

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University College of the North celebrates the heritage, cultures, and achievements of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. UCN works hard to advance its agenda for reconciliation to do its part in helping to create a better society.

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Today we celebrate the valuable contribution Indigenous Peoples make to the fabric of our community.

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NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY HIGHLIGHTS THE INNOVATION AND

CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND ACKNOWLEDGES THE DIVERSITY OF KNOWLEDGE THAT RESIDES IN THE HISTORY OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND COMMUNITIES. – Carla Kematch

“And at the same time, we know that this day was born at a time where there was strong conflict between Indigenous and non-

“

BY JENNIFER MCFEE

NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY CELEBRATES FIRST NATIONS, INUIT AND MÉTIS HERITAGE — AND THIS YEAR, MOST FESTIVITIES WILL BE ENJOYED FROM THE COMFORT OF HOME. On June 21, coinciding with the summer solstice, celebrations will focus on the cultures and contributions of Indigenous people across the country. For Carla Kematch, Red River College’s manager of Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement, the annual event has become a much-anticipated celebratory experience. “National Indigenous Peoples Day highlights the innovation and contributions of Indigenous people and acknowledges the diversity of knowledge that resides in the history of Indigenous peoples and communities,” she said.

Indigenous heritage Honouring

Red River College’s manager of Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement

Indigenous peoples. All these things we get to partake in this

day was once hidden in the shadows, close to being extinct —and now it’s all coming to the light, so it’s also a day to reflect on where we came from and where we want to go next.” It’s also a day to shed light on issues that still need attention, such as the need to continue conversations about missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, she added. “If Canadians take the time to learn the true history of our country, and the current issues from the perspective of Indigenous people, we can work together to solve issues,” she said. “Working together to find solutions is reconciliation.”

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MITT is committed to helping build a strong, inclusive workforce in Manitoba.

We are working with partners in the Indigenous community and industry to develop learning pathways that ensure our First Nation, Metis, and Inuit students are confident in the classroom and ready for their careers when they graduate. MITT is proud to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day.

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SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2020

Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day 2020

Markus Chambers City Councillor Conseiller municipal

CELEBRATING NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY

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Brian Mayes City Councillor Conseiller municipal

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EDUCATION FOR A BETTER WORLD

NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY | 5

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Many celebrations focus on relationships and spiritual connections through ceremonies, song and dance. During this pandemic period, Kematch also offers ideas for how to mark the moment in a more solitary way. “You can have a private ceremony just for you by connecting with something sacred or personal — smudge, take a bath, go for a walk in nature, spend time with your immediate household family. You can also support Indigenous business owners, if possible, or you can take it upon yourself to learn something new by watching an Indigenous documentary or reading a book by an Indigenous author,” she said. “We can all participate in activities that help us grow and to learn the real history and lasting impact of colonization. We can commit to ensuring we help move towards a future that changes institutions and the experiences Indigenous people have within them.” Lorena Sekwan Fontaine, University of Winnipeg’s Indigenous academic lead, feels it’s important to celebrate the accomplishments of Indigenous people now and throughout history. She points to the contributions of the Bear Clan as an example of remarkable people

working together to create a safer and more supportive community. At the same time, she stresses that more work needs to be done around issues such as land rights and Indigenous language revitalization. “It’s important for kids to see Indigenous people who are doing good work,” she said. “We have a beautiful culture to celebrate and it benefits everybody to talk about the positive things that have occurred.” With the cancellation of large gatherings, Fontaine encourages everyone to find other ways to celebrate. “This is a time when Indigenous communities would be getting ready to go to ceremonies, and we’re not able to do that because of COVID-19. It’s causing stress for a lot of people because our relationship to the land is so important to our health and well-being,” she said. “A lot of people will celebrate online or connect by phone or spend time with immediate family for simple celebrations. For the Indigenous community, it’s also important to take the time to go for a walk in nature or go by the water to celebrate the land that we love so much.”

From left: Carla Kematch, Red River College’s manager of Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement; Lorena Sekwan Fontaine, University of Winnipeg’s Indigenous academic lead; Catherine Cook, University of Manitoba’s inaugural vice-president Indigenous.

For Catherine Cook, University of Manitoba’s inaugural vice-president Indigenous, the annual event provides the possibility of positive change for the future. “My vision for National Indigenous Peoples Day is that it would be a real holiday for Canada that recognizes not only the resiliency of our people but the contributions we’ve made to the country,” she said. “There is a long history to this place, particularly here in Manitoba, prior to non-Indigenous people arriving. It’s critically important to recognize that Indigenous people lived here, survived here and continue to do so despite colonization. We need to recognize that it’s because of the resiliency of the Métis people

that we have the province of Manitoba.” Looking to the future, Cook is buoyed by a sense of optimism in the strength of today’s youth. “I am so encouraged by the young people coming out of high school and university today. They’re beginning to emerge as very proud of their ancestry as opposed to the generation when people were almost afraid to acknowledge their Indigenous heritage,” she said. “These young people are so smart and proud and confident in their identity. They can change this world we live in. I encourage them not to lose sight of that vision they have for our people and our country.”

The WCB supports diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Diversity, equity and inclusivity are Red River College’s heart and soul. They are values we celebrate, hold dear, and continually aspire to as we strive to ensure our faculty, staff and students feel safe, respected and equal. Supporting You on Your Path

Apply today to one of our featured fall programs:

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6 | NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY

music

Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21!

Métis melodies

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“The music touches the base of our people. The fiddle connects us. If you’re a Métis person, you can’t help tapping your feet when the fiddle takes off. It’s inside you.” One of the musicians featured on The Beat Goes On is Dave Lavallee, along with his brothers Ray and Darren. They hail from a family of 17 kids who were all musical, taking after their parents. With few toys among them, the siblings relied on their voices for entertainment in their younger years and maintained the tradition throughout their lives. To share his love of music, Lavallee founded the family band called Lavallee Tradition featuring his brothers Ray and Darren, sons Clint and Jason, and nephew JJ. Adding to the online offerings, Lavallee has also launched his own live music show on Friday evenings at 8 p.m. with technical support from his son Jason, who plays bass and sings harmonies alongside his dad. Sometimes Lavallee’s daughter Rebecca and her children join in the performances, which are live-streamed to Facebook on the “Dave Lavallee – Lavallee Tradition” page. “I’m doing it to help people through the pandemic. It gives people something to do while they’re at home. There’s been a lot of depression with people not able to see their families,” said Lavallee, an Interlake resident. “A lot of the people know each other personally, so it gives them something to do by watching together on Friday nights. They all get together and interact on the page.” To provide another resource, the MMF collaborated with the Louis Riel Institute to create an educational program called Red River Cart Adventures to bolster kids’ at-home learning with cultural components through 30-minute online lessons. In addition, the MMF is preparing eight hours of recorded programming to

BY JENNIFER MCFEE A RICH MUSICAL

TRADITION IS ONE OF THE TIES THAT BIND THE MÉTIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN HARMONY. With that in mind, the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) came up with a creative way to support local musicians while also providing some much-needed entertainment for folks complying with stay-at-home recommendations. The Beat Goes On is a series of online concerts that showcase the talent of Métis musicians twice per week through a live stream on the MMF website (www. mmf.mb.ca). Filmed by local company Kizuk Productions, recordings of the shows are also available for those who prefer to watch later. “Métis people are very artistic, especially when it comes to music. We were worried that musicians weren’t getting gigs, and that’s how they make a living. We couldn’t just sit by and watch it happen,” said MMF president David Chartrand. “We thought that we could give some money in the pockets of musicians to help them out during this tough time. It feels valuable because they’re not only providing some feet tapping in the house but they’re also bringing some stress relief and helping in that way. It’s a two-pronged approach.” The live shows currently runs Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. on the MMF website. The captivating concerts also encourage online interactions among friends, family and community members who look forward to creating virtual connections. “We’re close people. The listeners know each other by name. They know the families. It connects the culture and the family while they’re listening to the music. We’ve got such great reviews that we might just keep the show going because people really enjoy it,” Chartrand said.

Each year, nearly 20% of Assiniboine graduates self-identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit, and we are honoured to welcome students from many nations across the province and around the country. Want to know what else sets Assiniboine apart? Find out more at an upcoming online Indigenous Student information session on July 7, 2020 at 11 a.m. Visit assiniboine.net/infosession to register.

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ONLINE CONCERTS SHOWCASE THE TALENT OF MÉTIS MUSICIANS WHILE ALSO CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

Top photo: Dave Lavallee hosts a live-streamed music show on Fridays at 8 p.m. PHOTO BY JASON LAVALLEE. Right photos from top: Manitoba Metis Federation president David Chartrand; Red River Cart Adventures provides online education for kids; The Beat Goes On features Métis musicians in live-streamed performances. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MMF.

celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. CTV will air an hour-long show, and another seven hours will run on the MMF website. “It will feature some of our greatest talent, some of our youngest talent and some of our oldest talent. It’s all being taped in different historical locations for Métis history. We’re having bands, square dancers, jiggers and more,” Chartrand said. “We’ve got a really jam-packed agenda planned and it’s all in line with celebrating Manitoba 150 at the same time. It’s a very historic time, so we want to make sure that

the celebrations are connected.” All listeners can enjoy these performances, regardless of cultural background, he added. ”We’re trying to entice not just Métis citizens to listen. We want all Manitobans to listen to the founding Indigenous people of this province who created it,” he said. “This is our music. You’ll get to understand who we are and connect with us. You’ll know why we’re such a collective and why we’re still so strong today as a people. Our music is one of the champions that connects us so easily.”

LET’S MAKE THIS THE YEAR EVERYONE IS AFFORDED HUMAN RIGHTS! HAPPY NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY!

Your NDP MPs: Working for you.

LEAH GAZAN Member of Parliament Winnipeg Centre  204-984-1675  Leah.Gazan@parl.gc.ca

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art

BY JENNIFER MCFEE KC ADAMS’ ARTWORK STEMS FROM HER ANCESTORS’ TRADITIONS USING EARTH- BASED OBJECTS WHILE ALSO BRANCHING OUT INTO MODERN-DAY TECHNOLOGY. For the past four years, she’s been gaining knowledge and inspiration from elders, scholars and community members at the Nibi (Water) Gathering at Whiteshell Provincial Park. “It’s a really wonderful opportunity to make those connections to land and water,” said Adams, whose cultural background includes Cree, Ojibwe and British roots. “It really transformed my relationship to land when I was able to follow the footsteps of my ancestors by collecting clay and firing these vessels on the land without using anything that was store-bought. Everything was done just as the ancestors did.” She recently showcased her works through an exhibition called “Gage’gajiiwaan” at the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba in Brandon, which shifted to an online format due to COVID-19. Although the gallery’s virtual display has now wrapped up, the solo show can still be Art from the heart

viewed at http://kcadams.net/gagegajiiwaan/. Adams also engaged in a series of virtual workshops and conversations that are posted on the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba’s Facebook page. “I need to share this knowledge, which is what I’ve done with my birch bark technology pieces that are on display,” said Adams, referring to multimedia creations with a birch bark backdrop that melds with patterns from computer circuit boards. Adding to the experience, elder Sherry Copenace provides audio descriptions in the Ojibwe language to accompany the online artwork. “At the Nibi Gathering, she has been instrumental in guiding myself and so many others. It was really important to have her speak her language and not to give the translation. Not all art explains itself. Sometimes it’s just a feeling you experience. When you watch the video and you’re listening to her words, it’s just so lyrical. Her voice is almost like water flowing over rocks. It’s really beautiful,” Adams said. “It was important to bring that water knowledge based on everything that I’ve been learning over the past four years. It’s so meaningful and it really changed my life. It changed how I look at the world, understanding that I am a water carrier and it’s my responsibility to protect waters.” The water theme spills over to Adams’ clay vessel creation that is also part of the exhibition.

KC Adams showcases a large and lightweight vessel from the Manitoba Museum. PHOTO BY KEVIN BROWNLEE.

HAPPY NATIONAL ABORIGINAL DAY! Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day and Indigenous History Month!

CREATIVELY INSPIRING INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

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Top left photos: KC Adams’ birch bark technology is showcased in the virtual Gage’gajiiwaan exhibition. Top right photos: Artist Jackie Traverse offers free colouring pages. Lower photo: Clay vessel by KC Adams.

“It’s interesting how our ancestors adopted technology based on knowledge that was passed on from generation to generation, like where’s the best place to get clay and how much of the mixture do you use. It’s actually a superior technology to metal. It’s not as durable but it’s a better cooking utensil than a metal pot would ever be,” she said. “When I think about the show, I think about how you can’t know where you’re going until you know where you come from. So I see myself looking to the past to help firmly plant myself in the present and look to the future. Understanding ancient technologies and how adaptable we are as a people is worth being proud of.” In another local art initiative, Anishinaabe artist Jackie Traverse is offering free colouring pages to inspire creativity in people who are staying at home due to the pandemic. The idea originated with Fernwood Publishing, which published Traverse’s colouring books IKWE and Sacred Feminine . Information about the free colouring pages is posted on Fernwood Publishing’s Facebook page. “I believe in art therapy,”Traverse said, “and colouring is a really good way to calm you

down as you sit there in peace.” She recently had the chance to meet elders in a care home who became absorbed with the colouring pages during the time when they were unable to see their families due to the pandemic. “They look forward to sitting and telling stories when they colour, with some of them speaking in their language. They feel it’s a safe place for them. It’s really therapeutic, and some of the flower images reminded them of beadwork,” she said. “If it helped the elders, I imagine it helps other people to pass the time too.” Traverse also hosted four free step-by-step virtual painting classes over recent months. “I taught painting to probably about 100 people during the quarantine. Some of them sent me small donations. I was out of work as well, so it was nice to be able to connect with people who were sitting at home and feel like you have somebody to talk to,” she said. “Once they were done their projects, they would send me photos of their finished works. The art really helped these people through these times, and some of their work was so amazing. It makes me feel good that I’m able to share the love of art with others.”

Hon. Jim Carr, MP Winnipeg South Centre

Terry Duguid, MP Winnipeg South

Celébréz

Hon. Dan Vandal, MP Saint Boniface - Saint Vital

We Recognize & Celebrate NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY

Indigenous HAPPY NATIONAL PEOPLES DAY!

L’Université de Saint-Boniface reconnait l’apport des cultures métisses et autochtones, qui sont des pièces importantes de notre identité depuis nos humbles débuts en 1818.

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culture

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BEADING IS NOT JUST FOR THE LOOKS OR THE DESIGN BUT IT HAS A SPIRITUAL COMPONENT TO IT TOO. PEOPLE ARE TOLD IN CEREMONY TO MAKE THOSE SPIRITUAL ITEMS AND TO DECORATE WITH BEADS.

Beauty of beading

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– Cheryl Bird, cultural support Sagkeeng Health Centre

BY JENNIFER MCFEE

porcupine quills to beads. Still today, beading is considered one of the highest honours to wear,” she said. “It’s becoming very popular with girls. They’re wearing beaded earrings and pins. They’re starting to put it on graduation caps, hats, running bands. I’ve even seen a woman wearing a pair of beaded high heels.” Beyond the beauty of brightly coloured beads, the significance aligns with the spiritual side of life. “Beading is not just for the looks or the design but it has a spiritual component to it too. People are told in ceremony to make those spiritual items and to decorate with beads. They’re even told what colours to use,” she said. “Usually the floral beadwork and the designs on your medicine bag are actually dictating which medicines you can carry. Sometimes people are told what to bead on their moccasins when they dance.” Now Bird strives to share the joy of beading with others, particularly while families are staying close to home. To provide an activity for people to focus on during the pandemic, Bird launched the Sagkeeng Beading Project. She’s been creating and giving away beading kits that include everything needed to start a beginner or intermediate beading project.

“I’ve been making 15 to 20 kits a day. I can’t even keep up with the demand. I’ve been taking requests from Sagkeeng band members, both on and off reserve. I’ll keep going as long as the supplies hold up,” she said. “With everybody being at home, I really felt that I wanted to give something for my community to do. It’s been such a hit with everybody.” The kits include hide for the backing, as well as other items needed to complete the project. “A lot of the young people like designs like Nike or Adidas or Chanel, so I take those designs and staple the paper on pellon, which is a flexi-firm fabric that’s almost like really thick fleece,” she said. “Then I’ll roll up a bunch of nylon thread and stick two needles in there, in case they lose one. I’ll add about five colours of beads in little packages. I have another piece of material to lay down on the table so the beads and needles don’t roll away.” Bird has also been posting short tutorials to help guide the process. When participants post a photo of their progress, she enters their names into a prize draw. “There’s a teaching that when you’re beading, you’re not supposed to try to make it perfect. It’s also a reflection of ourselves that we’re not all perfect,” she said. “Even the best beaders are supposed to put

MEMBERS OF THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY ARE DRAWING ON CREATIVITY AND GENEROSITY TO BRIGHTEN THE LIVES OF OTHERS DURING THIS PANDEMIC PERIOD. For Cheryl Bird, who provides cultural support through Sagkeeng Health Centre, the past few months have been bustling with a renewed interest in traditional art forms. “One of the activities I do is porcupine quilling. It’s a traditional art form that I’m trying to bring back. We take the porcupine quills and then we flat sew them or wrap them around deer hide,” she said. “I learned that long ago our people had medicine quilling societies that you had to be initiated in. It was actually a responsibility of women. The porcupine quilling was considered the very best. If you were wearing it, you were highly honoured or a leader.” Over time, porcupine quilling gave way to new forms of creative expression. “When Europeans came and beads were introduced, things transitioned over from

Designs can be attached to flexi-firm pellon; Cheryl Bird prepares beading kits (PHOTO BY SHARON COURCHENE); colourful beading projects are underway; quilling is another traditional art form.

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CELEBRATING TOGETHER NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY

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a mistake in there. Sometimes they’ll put a different coloured bead to show that mistake. You share that teaching of humility, that we’re allowed to have mistakes.” She encourages participants to work on beading projects for 20 minutes each day, even when they don’t feel like doing it. “When I talk to people about beading, I tell them they could put some music on and just listen. It’s a good time for families to sit down and do it together,” she said. “When my mom started beading, she was told by an elder to bead when you’re lonely. Beading brings healing. It also helps you reflect. It helps you relax. It teaches patience too.”

WE HAVE SOME GROUND TO COVER WHEN IT COMES TO EQUITY. At Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba, we see a future where more Indigenous professionals across our industries, corporations, governments, and schools are creating solutions that better serve people, the economy , and the earth. To achieve that, we are working to change attitudes, policies, and processes in our association, we’re working with our partners and stakeholders to help bring about meaningful change, and we’re engaging with the next generation of Indigenous candidates. Last year, we established the role of Indigenous Professionals Initiative Coordinator to increase the representation of Indigenous people in our professions, and shed light on the current and historic barriers to entry across industries. We’re not where we need to be, but we’re working on it. Interested in getting involved? Here are three ways Engineers and Geoscientists can take part: 1: Self-declare if you are an Indigenous engineer or geoscientist 2: Join our Indigenous Members Chapter 3: Join the Indigenous Professionals Initiative Committee (IPIC)

EQUITY STARTS ON THE INSIDE

For more information contact Nicole Everett Indigenous Professionals Initiative Coordinator Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba E: NEverett@EngGeoMB.ca

12 | NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY

food

Feast for the future BY JENNIFER MCFEE

“

WE’VE WORKED REALLY HARD AT TRYING TO MAKE A NAME FOR OUR INDIGENOUS FOOD, PEOPLE AND CULTURE THROUGH OUR RESTAURANT. FOOD IS SO IMPORTANT AND IT REALLY DOES FEED THE BODY, MIND AND SOUL. – Christa Guenther, owner of Feast Café Bistro

“

Christa Guenther, owner of Feast Café Bistro, gathers food fresh from the garden. PHOTO BY KRISTA ANDERSON.

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IN TIMES OF TURMOIL, HOME-COOKED MEALS SEEM TO HAVE A WAY OF SOOTHING JANGLED NERVES. Christa Guenther, owner of Feast Café Bistro, was faced with a dilemma when she shuttered her business at the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. “I shut down right away for the safety of my staff and community. We all made a decision together as a Feast family that we had to do this. We cried and prayed and said we would weather this storm together — and then we just completely shut down,” she said. “But I had all of that food. I like to honour our sacred vegetables and all of our animals, so there was just no way that I was going to let anything go to waste.” Instead, Guenther prepared about 150 mouth-watering meals featuring Indigenous ingredients to donate to elders and families in need. “Some staff came in and volunteered to process all that food, which was really great,” said Guenther, who grew up in the North End organizations and I got a long list of people. I called on volunteers in Winnipeg to help deliver the food until it was gone. It was nice to be able to do that.” Offerings included bison and wild rice, bison stroganoff with peas, Mexican chili bake with bison, and maple shredded chipotle chicken for tacos. with roots in Peguis First Nation. “I contacted different Indigenous

The packages also came with fresh fruit and all the fixings for salad, as well as a carbohydrate such as bannock, pita or tortilla. At the time that Feast closed its doors, the restaurant had been in the middle of a $250,000 expansion, thanks in part to a grant geared for women entrepreneurs. “I’ve used this closed time to regroup and do this expansion in peace and quiet,” Guenther said. “We’ve got all our equipment in and we’re trying to get things organized.” With an eye on the horizon, she’s looking ahead at how to reopen and work within the new reality. “We’re looking at having a Feast market on one side of the café, so we’re sourcing some local Indigenous products like wild rice and locally made honey that people can purchase,” she said. “We’re also going to amp up on the baking side of things. Without Neechi Commons, there’s no place where you can go to pick up a beautiful loaf of bannock or frozen fry bread that you can heat up to have that decadence at home.” Guenther also plans to create a section for grab-and-go meals, as well as packages of ingredients for those who want to make a meal at home by following a simple recipe. “You’ll be able to pick up a buffalo lasagna and we’re also going to have some Métis options. We’re going to be releasing more blogs on cooking, gardening and our traditional medicines. That’s our new vision.” Located at 587 Ellice Ave., Feast Café Bistro will continue to offer delivery and take-out,

Proud to honour the heritage, cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Thanks for being part of the FWS team! CELEBRATING NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY

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Continued on page 15 >

May the celebration and teachings of love, respect, honesty, bravery, humility, truth, and wisdom of Indigenous culture enrich us all.

She takes pride in preparing healthy meals with Indigenous ingredients.

Proud Supporter of National Indigenous Peoples Day

Continued from page 13 >

plus dine-in seating at 50 per cent capacity. The restaurant will operate with reduced hours to start, and a patio will be included as an extension of the eatery. “I have no idea if it will be successful or not. We’ll only be able to start with five staff and then hopefully build quickly to bring everybody back,” Guenther said. “Now we can accommodate more business because the expansion is complete. We’re also hoping that the catering comes back full swing.” Amid all these changes, Guenther is grateful

for government funding and wage subsidies that will help her Indigenous eatery to reopen. “We owe it to ourselves and our community to go for it and open again. We hope that we can slowly grow again and be successful,” Guenther said. “Winnipeg has supported Feast and what we stand for from Day 1. We’ve worked really hard at trying to make a name for our Indigenous food, people and culture through our restaurant. Food is so important and it really does feed the body, mind and soul.”

Red Seal chef Jim Johanson volunteered to prepare meals for elders and families in need.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PAULINE BOLDT/26 PROJECTS. WAG’s Inuit Art Centre Groundbreaking Ceremony on May 25, 2018

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LEADERSHIP CELEBRATING

Physician. Educator. Mentor. Leader. Throughout her career, Métis alumna Dr. Catherine Cook has brought her voice and expertise to create positive change. Before she became the inaugural vice-president (Indigenous) at the University of Manitoba, Dr. Cook practiced as a family physician, her passion for Indigenous health resulting in numerous roles in health administration and leadership in Winnipeg and provincially. As a member of the UM community for more than 30 years, she has inspired the brilliant collision of people and ideas, and cultures and beliefs, among students, staff, faculty and community partners through her research, teaching and mentorship.

An esteemed advisor and collaborator, Dr. Cook brings her visionary leadership and dedication to building community to her new role. In this key position, she will help advance the University of Manitoba’s commitment to Indigenous achievement and reconciliation, and continue efforts to weave Indigenous perspectives, knowledges and cultures across our campuses. The University of Manitoba honours and celebrates the outstanding contributions of Dr. Cook and the vibrant Indigenous campus community.

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University of Manitoba Docket: National Indigenous Peoples Day

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