Inspiring stories from RRC’s Indigenous Alumni

How do successful people get to where they are? What did that journey look like? What did they learn and how did they stay the course? What does it mean to be an Indigenous student in post-secondary?

The Stay the Course speaker series is a hand from one generation to the next, hosted by Carla Kematch, Manager, Truth and Reconciliation and Community & Engagement. Every month, incredible RRC Indigenous Alumni share their experiences on their journey to success. Advancing Indigenous achievement at RRC means listening to Indigenous stories. This is just one of the many ways we can embed the efforts of Truth and Reconciliation in our daily lives.

David Thomas

David Thomas is from the Peguis First Nation, and a graduate of both the RRC drafting program as well as the Master of Architecture program at the University of Manitoba. He is currently the Manager of Planning and Design for the Treaty #1 Development Corporation developing the former Kapyong Barracks site in Winnipeg. In 2018, he exhibited work at the 2018 Venice Biennale as part Canada’s submission: Unceded, Voices of the Land. David is currently guiding the final stages of design for the Indigenous Peoples Garden part of Canada’s Diversity Garden located at Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg. David draws from lived experiences as an Indigenous person to create placemaking projects that include the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, Vancouver General Hospital and Humber College in Toronto. As well as presenting internationally in Aotearoa and the UK David mentors and actively supports young indigenous designers in the community.

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