SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS | SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY HONOURING
FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2024
Indigenous dancer performing traditional dance at the June 2015 Aboriginal Day Live celebration at The Forks in Winnipeg. PHOTO BY DREAMSTIME
View online at winnipegfreepress.com/fp-features
Published since 1872 on Treaty 1 territory and the homeland of the Métis
As we prepare to celebrate on June 21, we invite you to learn more about our programs, services, and work to protect, preserve, promote, and enhance the lives and rights of more than 87,000 citizens from the 34 Anishinaabe and Dakota Nations we represent. Building for the Future HAPPY NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
scoinc.mb.ca
2 | NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024
Today and every day, we celebrate Indigenous Peoples. Happy Indigenous Peoples Day!
We are honoured to live and work on this incredible land. We recognize the immense impact of Indigenous Peoples throughout history and towards building the foundation for our shared future.
Learn what Manitoba Blue Cross is doing to honour Indigenous Peoples today and every day:
mb.bluecross.ca/journey
®*The Blue Cross symbol and name are registered marks of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans, independently licensed by Manitoba Blue Cross. †Blue Shield is a registered trade-mark of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. 2024-0403
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY | 3
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024
Embracing Heritage and Sharing Stories: The Rise of Indigenous Tourism in Manitoba
BY KRISTIN MARAND
Indigenous Tourism Manitoba (ITM) is an Indigenous-led non-profit organization that unites communities, Indigenous groups, and industry leaders to create authentic Indigenous tourism experiences.
Indigenous Tourism Manitoba CEO Holly Courchene PHOTO SUPPLIED
> continued on page 4
Cedar Lake Ranch PHOTO BY TAYLOR BURK
On June 21 st , the sun shines its brightest and longest.
Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day!
For the elders and knowledge keepers, the healers, the nurturers, artists and storytellers, leaders and teachers, activists and innovators, and the next generation of Indigenous trailblazers.
“This piece serves as a reminder of our inseparable connection to the land, the dance between human and natural elements. We must move in a way that flows with nature, rather than against it. Beings such as the Thunderbird speak to the power of natural law, to which we are always subservient. Our role is to be with the land and water, in harmony as caretakers. Mother Earth provides, and for her we dance in gratitude.”
We celebrate the vibrant history, heritage, and diversity of our First Nations, Inuit, and Métis People, enriching the land we call home.
– BLAKE ANGECONEB, ARTIST
Visit ACU.ca to learn more about our commitments to Reconciliation and to supporting Indigenous students, businesses, and families.
4 | NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024
tourism
> continued from page 3
The result of collaboration between the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and Travel Manitoba, ITM aims to support Indigenous businesses and their communities while promoting and growing Indigenous tourism. “The work started in 2017. There wasn’t a lot of awareness about the Indigenous tourism industry here in Manitoba at the time. I came on as a product development contractor in 2019, and I realized quickly that there weren’t many Indigenous experiences being promoted here in the province. So I hit the ground running and started working with communities and operators,” explains ITM CEO Holly Courchene, who hails from Peguis First Nation. In 2019, there were only 81 Indigenous tourism- related experiences scattered throughout the province and merely 27 were considered market- ready to be promoted to the broader tourism industry. Through raising awareness and supporting product and experience development, 177 businesses now make up the Indigenous tourism industry in Manitoba with 75 considered market and export-ready – a growth of 178%. This is just the beginning of a promising future for Indigenous tourism in Manitoba. “We act as a liaison. We’ve developed relationships with the mainstream tourism industry, so they come to us when they want to build a relationship, offer an Indigenous experience in a package or otherwise work with our Indigenous operators. Then we connect Indigenous operators with the mainstream travel trade and help them understand the readiness levels of being involved in the travel trade and help create more awareness about Indigenous tourism in the province.” In 2021, ITM incorporated as an association, created a board, and named Courchene CEO. Indigenous Tourism Manitoba now has
“
IT’S NOT AN EASY ROAD. WE LIKE TO
PAINT A PRETTY PICTURE, BUT IT’S HARD WORK, AND WE’RE REALLY FIGHTING FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. “ – ITM CEO Holly Courchene
approximately 70 members and held its first annual general meeting last September. To be a member of ITM, a business must be at least 51% Indigenous-owned. While ITM is not a booking agent, its website offers an interactive map to discover businesses and experiences by region.
Some of the highlights of Indigenous tourism in Manitoba include the internationally renowned Churchill experiences, the National Residential School Museum in Portage la Prairie, the Bannock Point Petroforms in the Whiteshell, the Manito Ahbee festival and the Manitoba Indigenous Cultural Education Centre in Winnipeg. With operators such as Borealis Beading and Spence Custom Carving, you can learn about Indigenous history and culture while creating art. > continued on page 5
White Shell Petroforms PHOTOS BY TAYLOR BURK
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY | 5
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024
> continued from page 4
“When it comes to our Indigenous tourism opera- tors, each operator has their own story and history as an Indigenous person. I think the main contributor to reconciliation is understanding an Indigenous person’s story - getting to know them, where they come from, how they were impacted by colonialism, by the residential school system and then experiencing that resiliency. When you go for an Indigenous experience through tourism, you’re not going to hear the same story twice. You get a different perspective, a different story with every Indigenous person you meet, and that’s what drives reconciliation.” The growth and success of Indigenous tourism in Manitoba are trending upward, but there is still a long way to go. As a 100% Indigenous-led organization, including board members and contractors, ITM under- stands through lived experience the barriers that Indig- enous businesses and communities continue to face. “It’s not an easy road. We like to paint a pretty pic- ture, but it’s hard work, and we’re really fighting for a better life for the next generation. We have experience navigating these barriers, so we know how to help the operators navigate and connect with non-Indigenous experts who have been a huge help in growing our industry. We pass
that on to our opera- tors, so we lift each other up.”
Moon Gate Guest House
Together, we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day!
To request accessible formats visit hydro.mb.ca/accessibility.
Spence Carving
WFP - Indigenous Days ad_June2024_final.indd 1
2024-05-30 10:38 AM
6 | NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024
art
THREADS OF TRADITION Embracing Métis Heritage Through Beadwork
Red River Vest - Beadwork by Teresa Byrne for Rob Riel, Assistant Superintendent of Indigenous Education. PHOTO BY DARCY FINLEY
Manitoba’s Used Oil & Antifreeze Recycling Program 1-888-410-1440 UsedOilRecyclingMB.com To find your nearest used Oil & Antifreeze drop-off location go to
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY | 7
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024
BY KRISTIN MARAND
Tables line a hallway in R.B. Russell Vocational
High School on Wednesday evenings, and the scent of coffee and snacks creates a homey and welcoming atmosphere. Beaders, from beginners to experts, sit and stitch a rainbow assortment of minuscule seed beads on various projects. At one end, teenagers are working on their first project, learning how to bead a simple flower. At the other end, a long time beader is sharing tips to make sunflower earrings. In between, beaders of all ages and abilities are chatting and working on an array of projects like pins, keychains, lanyards, moccasins, and mittens. > continued on page 8
Teresa Byrne - Indigenous Ways of Life teacher; John Sobkovich - Graphic Design teacher; and Nancy Gouliquer - long-time MMF volunteer. PHOTO BY DARCY FINLEY
Manitoba Public Insurance would like to acknowledge that our organization operates on the original lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anish-Ininiwak, Dakota, Dene, Ininiwak and Nehethowuk and the homeland of the Métis. On this National Indigenous Peoples Day, we honour and celebrate all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across Canada. In our work delivering auto insurance and driver services throughout Manitoba, we are committed to advancing reconciliation with Indigenous individuals and communities through respectful and meaningful consultation and practices. We are also continually working on ways to strengthen the inclusivity of our organization, including ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse population of our province. If you are interested in a career with Manitoba Public Insurance, you can view current postings at: careers-mpi.icims.com We encourage you to declare your employment equity status when completing your online application.
8 | NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024
> continued from page 7
moccasins and mukluks and create her own designs. Her favourite teaching is the concept of the spirit bead, an intentionally mislaid bead that serves as a reminder that no one, save the Creator, is perfect. “It’s sometimes hard for me to leave that in there, so it’s a good reminder that we are human, and we’re allowed to make mistakes and learn from them to become stronger.” Byrne is working on expanding the Flower Beadwork Circle to other schools in the Winnipeg School Division. The Flower Beadwork Circle held its last gathering before the summer break on June 12th with a potluck. It will start back up again in the fall, visit the Winnipeg School Division website for updates at winnipegsd.ca and learn more about Métis culture, history, and beadwork at mmf.ca.
“These girls,” she says, motioning to Parisian, Jaarsma, and another table-mate, “keep me coming back. Community is such a huge part of it.” Jaarsma initially experimented with beading through workshops offered by her employer. When she retired, she wanted to continue, so she contacted the MMF. “There was a class the next day, so I came and had a good time. I’ve made lots of good friends here,” she says. Like Dumas, Jaarsma says the community of the bead group is an antidote for loneliness. She is renowned at bead group for the keychains she makes with patterns cut from leather by her husband and is working towards creating a full-length beaded table runner. For Parisian, beading is a way to connect with her roots. She says she’s working on her beading to be able to make
Teresa Byrne and Nancy Gouliquer share guidance, history, technique, and patterns with participants week after week. Gouliquer is a long-time volunteer with the MMF, and Byrne is an Indigenous Ways of Life teacher focusing on Métis education in the Winnipeg School Division. They welcome new beaders, share their knowledge, support those who are struggling, and play a major role in creating the undeniable sense of community that permeates the halls. “It’s a traditional art form that we hold very high and dear, that’s been passed on from generation to generation,” says Byrne. “Whether you’re Métis, whether you’re First Nations, or maybe you’re not Indigenous at all, when you’re doing beadwork, you’re an ally, and you are sharing something that’s so dear to us and making it your own.” Gouliquer is an important community facilitator teaching advanced stitches such as picot – a type of edging, and has previously led workshops for the MMF on moccasin, mukluk, ribbon shirt, and capot making.
“As a Métis, it’s a great way to get back in touch with your culture and do something that expresses your culture. I like to inspire people to come and learn beading and to support people who are rediscovering their culture,” she says. “ I LIKE TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO COME AND LEARN BEADING AND TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO ARE REDISCOVERING THEIR CULTURE. – Nancy Gouliquer
“
Byrne echoes those sentiments and explains how beading is an act of reclamation and part of the journey of reconciliation. “Beadwork takes time, so the fact that people are taking the time to do this is so inspiring. It’s about walking together with teachers and students of all different backgrounds to learn about our Métis history, culture, and identity. After having our culture taken away, I want everyone here to feel pride in where they come from, to feel comfortable and safe. That’s the community that I want to build,” she explains. Charlene Dumas, Lesley Parisian, and Carmen Jaarsma have found a great sense of connection and appreciation since they started attending the Flower Beadwork Circle. Dumas had learned to bead before the pandemic and took online classes during lockdowns, but she wanted to learn a flat stitch, which led her to the group where she sought Gouliquer’s expertise.
IT’S A TRADITIONAL ART FORM THAT WE HOLD VERY HIGH AND DEAR, THAT’S BEEN PASSED ON FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. “ – Teresa Byrne “
Carmen Jaarsma, Lesley Parisian, and Charlene Dumas PHOTO BY KRISTIN MARAND
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY | 9
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024
GAKINA NDINWEMAAGANAG KAKINAW NIWAHKOMAKANAK
10 | NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024
culture
Celebrating on National Indigenous Peoples Day Language and Culture
BY TRINA REHBERG BOYKO
National Indigenous Peoples Day is significant to Elder Paul Guimond, who calls Sagkeeng First Nation, Manitoba, his home. “What it means to me is that there is a day for us now,” says Elder Paul. “There is time for us now.”
SUBMITTED PHOTO
We Are All Treaty People INDIGENOUS PEOPLES HISTORY MONTH is a time to celebrate, reflect, and honour the rich contributions, cultures, and histories of Indigenous Peoples from coast to coast.
The Numbered Treaties were not just historical agreements. They were, and continue to be, living documents shaping our relationships and responsibilities, and forming a vital part of the Canadian-First Nations relationship. Let’s take this month to deepen understanding, show respect, and commit to upholding the spirit and intent of the Numbered Treaties. Together we can build a better future for the generations of young people to come.
A message from the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre.
www.mfnerc.org
Launc HER into Trades NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY | 11
and drive success by supporting Women in Trades Are you an Employer? Empower your team and “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.
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024
> continued from page 10
Eligibility: 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. 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, 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
“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
▪ ▪ Boilermaker Bricklayer drive success by supporting Women in Trades
About the LauncHER project:
Eligible Trades:
Launc HER into Trades
▪ 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. 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
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
Cabinetmaker
Carpenter
Concrete Finisher
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.”
Why join the LauncHER project: Construction Craft Worker
Why join the LauncHER project:
Construction Electrician Floorcovering Installer
• 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. ▪ Insulator (Heat and Frost) ▪ Ironworker (Generalist) Gasfitter - Class A Gasfitter - Class B ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ Glazier Industrial Electrician Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) Instrumentation and Control Technician
▪ 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.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
Landscape Horticulturalist
Lather (Interior Systems Mechanic)
“
Machinist
▪ 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. I WALK WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TEACHINGS OF OUR ANCESTORS, I TRY TO CARRY WHAT I’VE HEARD AND ECHO THE HISTORY
Mobile Crane Operator Painter and Decorator
Plumber
Refrigeration & AC Mechanic (commercial)
OF OUR PEOPLE. “ – Elder Paul Guimond
Roofer
Sheet Metal Worker
Sprinkler Fitter
Steamfitter/Pipefitter Tool and Die Maker Tower Crane Operator
Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy 204.987.9570 | launcher@fpdinc.ca
Welder
204.987.9570 launcher@fpdinc.ca
12 | NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024
From hometown hockey to Carnegie Hall
music
BY TRINA REHBERG BOYKO
Rhonda Head has long been a fan of the Winnipeg Jets, but singing the national anthem at a game—in her native language of Cree, nonetheless— was something else. “It was a really proud moment for me,” says Head, a 22-time international award- winning mezzo-soprano vocalist from Opaskwayak Cree Nation in northern Manitoba. “Not too long ago, we were forbidden to speak in our Indigenous languages, so to be able to sing in Cree at a nationally televised event was empowering.” Head’s parents are residential school survivors, having been stripped of their identities and their language as they were raised, makes Head’s experience singing the national anthem that much more meaningful.
> continued on page 13
Rhonda Head performing the national anthem in Cree. PHOTO BY JONATHAN KOZUB
PHOTO SUPPLIED
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY | 13
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024
> continued from page 12
As Head works on her next album, which she anticipates will be released in July 2024, she also looks forward to taking the stage with the next generation of Indigenous music artists. Head, who has showcased her talents at New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Carnegie Hall, will return to Carnegie Hall this December with five Indigenous youths. “When I performed there last year, I brought along three Indigenous youths, and the maestro was so excited,” says Head. “To be able to bring more with me this time—to expose them to classical music, Carnegie Hall, and New York—it’s incredible. It’s going to be life-changing for them.” Standing on the world-renowned stage, performing with choirs around the world while amplifying the voices of up-and-coming Indigenous singers, is a thought that brings tears to Head’s eyes. “I couldn’t stop crying when I found out,” Head says. “It’s a big deal. Not too many people can say they sang at Carnegie Hall. These youths are future stars. That’s what I see.” Head is hosting a fundraising gala at Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg on September 7, 2024, to support the New York trip. She’ll perform with another local talent, opera singer Margot Harding, and the youths who will accompany her to New York.
“I received so much feedback from people who told me how emotional they were just watching,” Head says. “They were very proud. And one person told me, ‘You’re not only representing Opaskwayak Cree Nation, but you’re representing all Crees across Canada and into the United States.’” In that sense, Head’s music has had a healing impact on her community. It’s also had a healing impact on her, from not only a language perspective but also from a personal perspective. Head suffered the loss of her brother, Chris, and dedicated her fourth and most recent full-length album to him. Released in September 2023, Head’s album is about loss and finding happiness again. It’s titled Waniska, which means to rise up or awaken in the Cree language. “I went through a lot of struggles and challenges and wrote some of the songs about what I was going through at the time,” Head says. “But my life turned, and I had some amazing experiences. So, it’s an album of struggling and then life becoming okay again.”
IT’S A BIG DEAL. NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE CAN SAY THEY SANG AT CARNEGIE HALL. “ – Rhonda Head “
PHOTO SUPPLIED
Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day!
Artwork by Jordan Stranger
14 | NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024
literature
Niigaan Sinclair’s ‘Wînipêk’: Celebrating Indigenous perspectives, reconciliation, and Winnipeg’s crucial role
BY KRISTIN MARAND
In front of a standing-room-only crowd at McNally Robinson this past May, Anishinaabe writer, editor, and activist Niigaan Sinclair launched his newest book, Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre.
Comprised of 80 of Sinclair’s newspaper columns, the book is a collection of stories, thoughts and observations about Winnipeg. Attended by citizens of all ages, current and former politicians, authors, activists and artists, the event featured an introduction from Mayor Scott Gillingham, short readings from the book and a heartfelt conversation led by host Shelagh Rogers. The book is an intertwined look at history, culture, language, racism, resilience, and reconciliation and posits that Winnipeg is at the centre of it all in many layered and nuanced ways. Sinclair delivered his readings and commentary with insight and humour, with the oft-heard refrains of “welcome to Winnipeg” and “that’s Winnipeg.” In his opening reading, from an infamous column following the protests at the Manitoba legislature on Canada Day 2021, Sinclair compared the editing of the royal statues on the legislature grounds to the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919. Sinclair described the 2021 events as “a rare, necessary, and unsettling step” towards reconciliation – one that produced the first installments of Indigenous representation and art on the legislative grounds. He points out that in contrast to Winnipeg’s most famous uprising, no one was harmed in the process. “We are the first place
we have been at the solutions the longest. We have been thinking, engaging and dealing with the basic premise, which is that every single one of us lives beside, works beside or is married to each other – That’s what it means to be a Winnipegger; that’s what it means to be a Manitoban.” The second story Sinclair shared underlines the progress that has been inching along in Manitoba for decades, as he told the story of being cast as Joseph opposite a white girl in his school Christmas play in Ashern in the mid-eighties. He has also shared this story on his podcast Niigaan and the Lone Ranger, where his mother joked that upon looking for her son among the cast, she realized that she had inadvertently become the grandmother of an interracial baby Jesus. Sinclair uses that story to illustrate what it’s like to grow up in Manitoba, “where there is a consistent, continual engagement of what it means to live together.” In conversation with Rogers, Sinclair discussed the important differences between land acknowledge- ments, land commitments, and land blessings. He explained the linguistic history behind the book’s title, its greater contextual meaning of the watershed area of Lake Winnipeg, and how he sees Winnipeg as not only the centre of the continent and the centre of reconciliation but also the “centre of the spiritual forces which coalesce and intersect in this place.” Rogers asked Sinclair about his relationship with his grandfather – a residential school Survivor who, despite a lifetime’s worth of justified anger, often manifesting in violence, chose love. They also discussed the hope that younger generations are bringing to the conversation: “My father’s generation was the first in the room, my generation, my job, is to be the critical mass in the room, and my daughter’s generation are making whole new roads.” Rogers described Sinclair’s contributions as “unvanishing stories”. “Consistently, continually, we have the ability to think of solutions for this country’s most pressing issues; around the environment, affordability and this crisis involving listening to each other in a conflict. All of that starts with Indigenous peoples, and you can see examples of it over the history and the present and the future,” Sinclair explained.
after confederation, the first footsteps of this country. We are also the place that has inherited the longest-serving series of violent policies and practices that have come to characterize this place; you only have to drive around the city to see that. We know what genocide looks like. We know what 150 years of this country looks like,” Sinclair said. “But that also tells us that
Niigaan Sinclair FILE PHOTO
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY | 15
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024
Honouring National Indigenous Peoples Day!
DILJEET BRAR MLA for BURROWS 204-415-7621
MATT WIEBE MLA for CONCORDIA 204-654-1857
JIM MALOWAY MLA for ELMWOOD 204-415-1122
IAN BUSHIE MLA for KEEWATINOOK 204-363-7810
LOGAN OXENHAM MLA for KIRKFIELD PARK 204-831-6689
NELLIE KENNEDY MLA for ASSINIBOIA 204-888-3188
TYLER BLASHKO MLA for LAGIMODIÈRE 204-583-7423
JD DEVGAN MLA for McPHILLIPS 431-323-6014
MALAYA MARCELINO MLA for NOTRE DAME 204-788-0800
BERNADETTE SMITH MLA for POINT DOUGLAS 204-414-1477
JELYNN DELA CRUZ MLA for RADISSON 204-599-2080
MIKE MOYES MLA for RIEL 204-421-4666
MIKE MOROZ MLA for RIVER HEIGHTS 204-774-3669
TRACY SCHMIDT MLA for ROSSMERE 204- 661-1377
BILLIE CROSS MLA for SEINE RIVER 431-323-6026
RENÉE CABLE MLA for SOUTHDALE 204-222-9038
ROBERT LOISELLE MLA for ST. BONIFACE 204-505-2800
ADRIEN SALA MLA for ST. JAMES 204-792-8779
NAHANNI FONTAINE MLA for ST. JOHNS 204-582-1550
JAMIE MOSES MLA for ST. VITAL 204-219-5407
NELLO ALTOMARE MLA for TRANSCONA 204-594-2025
UZOMA ASAGWARA MLA for UNION STATION 204-306-8581
DAVID PANKRATZ MLA for WAVERLEY 204- 804-2875
LISA NAYLOR MLA for WOLSELEY 204-792-2773
16 | NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024
Anishinaabekwe land protector Celebrating Taylor Galvin
Taylor Galvin, Ozaawi Mashkode Bizhiki (Brown Buffalo), is a proud member of Baaskaandibewiziibing (Brokenhead Ojibway Nation). She is dedicated to protecting the land, the water and the animals that call them home. While pursuing a degree in environmental studies at the University of Manitoba, Ms. Galvin [BEnvSt/24] co-founded the Indigenous Concerns on the Environment student group, advocating for Indigenous-led environmental stewardship. Now embarking on her master’s in environment and geography at UM, Ms.Galvin aims to focus on Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) in Manitoba.
“I’d like to see Indigenous leaders, knowledge keepers, land guardians and water protectors spearheading the movement towards conser- vation and sustainability,” she said. An intergenerational Survivor of residential schools, Ms. Galvin’s journey is one of perseverance and connection. Navigating personal challenges, including addiction and the demands of being a mature student, she found strength in the support of her community and at Migizii Agamik – Bald Eagle Lodge, the home of the Indigenous Student Centre. The University of Manitoba honours Taylor Galvin for her exceptional achievements and unwavering dedication to environmental advocacy.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING.
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16Powered by FlippingBook