The Fall Equinox is one of the four transitory events that marks the changing of the seasons, along with the Winter and Summer Solstices and the Spring Equinox. The Fall Equinox is the moment in the Earth’s cycle when the Sun crosses the equator into the southern hemisphere. In the Fall, we harvest our crops and prepare for the long winter when the land is protected by a blanket of snow.

To acknowledge the changing of the season, we come together with Ceremony and a Feast. The morning will start with a Pipe Ceremony led by Elder-in-Residence Paul Guimond and Knowledge Keeper-in-Residence Richard Curé and will close out with a Feast.

No registration is required.

Elements of Indigenous Style by Gregory Younging, published in 2018, is the world’s first attempt to standardize writing about Indigenous topics within the context of English-written publications – it is an attempt to articulate Indigenous values and concepts in the English-speaking and -written world when Indigenous languages and ways of knowing the world have, historically, evolved outside the Western scope of understanding. Developing and integrating Indigenous style into contemporary publishing practices is one way we decolonize the way we talk about Indigenous Peoples and re-evaluate the ways in which we express meaning. In the spirit of journalism, we ask: how do we truthfully express truths when many truths are true at once?

Robin Ringland is a Two-Spirit Status Anishininew (Oji-Cree person) with familial roots in Garden Hill First Nation, Treaty 5 territory. She is a Communications Officer with College and Public Relations at RRC Polytech and has been in her role for two years since graduating Creative Communications. Robin is currently working on an internal style guide for RRC Polytech to ensure that written work the College produces can authentically involve Indigenous perspectives, storytelling, and Oral Tradition.

You will hear from Indigenous storytellers what the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action mean to them and how they incorporate Indigenous teachings and principles into the workplace. The Living Library format is interactive by nature, involving small-group discussions between a storyteller and participants in a safe and supportive environment. Groups of 5-6 participants will spend 15 minutes with a speaker, rotating through different storytellers.

Storytellers include Jamie Wilson, Michael Lachance, Jessica Bloomfield, Corey Whitford, and Rebecca LaRiviere.

Register here.

Ivana Yellowback is a member of Manto Sipi Cree Nation (Treaty 5) and a relative to Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (Treaty 6 ), and was born and raised in the inner-city of Winnipeg, Manitoba (located in Treaty 1).  

Ivana is an Associate Producer, Writer, Cree host, and English co-host of Eagle Vision’s 7^th GEN. She also acted as principal characters in both DJ Burnt Bannock and Little Bird, all of which are available to watch on APTN Lumi. Ivana is also a co-creator, host, writer, and executive producer of the Indigenous supernatural podcast show: Creepee Tepee.  

Ivana completed a 4-year Bachelor of Arts degree with an Honours in Sociology at the University of Winnipeg, and a Bachelor of Social Work degree at the University of Manitoba. She is currently working on her Masters of Social Work degree at the University of Manitoba.  

Along with her film work, and academics, Ivana is an Executive Training Facilitator with Indigenous Leadership Development Institute Inc., an Executive Board Member of Sākihiwē Festival, a Registered Social Worker with the Manitoba College of Social Workers, and an Action Therapist. She is also a co-creator of the venture: miteh atôskê (heart work), which provides various trainings, workshops, and healing programming through individual and group counselling through a two-eyed seeing, and Indigenous-based lens. Lastly, Ivana is a traditional hand-drum and rattle singer of the family group: Kind Hart Women Singers.

Join Shirley for a brief history of the Red River Métis. This will include the birth of the Métis Nation, important periods in history, and foundational cultural knowledge – like the Red River Jig!

Shirley Delorme-Russell (Aboriginal Languages 2007) is a proud Métis woman and humble Anisinaabkwe currently at the University of Manitoba as an Indigenous Librarian Intern and is earning her Master’s of Library & Information Studies from the University of Alberta.

At RRC Polytech, she was on the R-Crew and the Student Association. Trained as teacher and living life as history nerd, Shirley was the Instructor of Métis Culture & Education at the Louis Riel Institute and a teacher in Winnipeg School Division.

Learn about the origin of Jordan’s Principle and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #3:

We call upon all levels of government to fully implement Jordan’s Principle.

All levels of government must implement Jordan’s Principle, a policy which is used to resolve jurisdictional disputes within governments over the required funds for government services provided to Aboriginal children.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

In this session, you will learn how to engage with the 94 Calls to Action through the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society resources. The session will explore the discrepancy of funding for First Nations children living on reserve dating back to Residential Schools and the important role Canadian children have in reducing disparity in social funding for children in Canada.

You will be invited to make a heart marker to for the gardens at RRC Polytech for Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams.

You will learn how to facilitate a session with your students on how to write a personal reconciliatory land acknowledgment. You will focus on areas where they have lived, worked, and played and learn about the Indigenous communities and treaties within those areas.  Once you have done that, you will choose an Indigenous nation to focus on from one of the territories you have resided within to learn about. Investigate what a community is asking for on their reconciliatory path and how to integrate Indigenous perspectives into the ways in which you acknowledge the land and the people that are part of it.

Dr. Kathy Absolon is the Director of the Centre for Indigegogy at Wilfred Laurier University. She has a PhD from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. The Centre for Indigegogy offers programming for Indigenous Educators’ Certificate in Indigegogy and Decolonizing Certificate for educators. The Centre for Indigegogy offers experiences for learning steeped in Ceremony, Circle Work and Medicines. 

Click here to add the meeting to your calendar.

You will hear from Indigenous storytellers what the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action mean to them and how they incorporate Indigenous teachings and principles into the workplace. The Living Library format is interactive by nature, involving small-group discussions between a storyteller and participants in a safe and supportive environment. Groups of 5-6 participants will spend 15 minutes with a speaker, rotating through different storytellers.

Storytellers include Jamie Wilson, Jessica Bloomfield, Zach Unrau, Brittany Ross, and Sharon Bear.

Register here.

Dr. Karine Duhamel (she/her) is an Anishinaabe historian and a Status member of Opwaaganasiniing (Red Rock Indian Band) in northwestern Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Education, a Master’s degree and PhD in History.

She served as Director of Research for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) from 2018 to the end of its mandate in 2019. In 2021, she was awarded the Bruce and Lis Welch Community Dialogue Award through the Simon J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University for her work with the Inquiry. In 2022, she joined the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada as Director of Indigenous Strategy, working to implement the three federal research funding agencies’ strategic plan to better support Indigenous research and research training in Canada.

In addition to her role as a public servant, she is an official Speaker for the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba, an Indigenous fellow at Simon Fraser University, and a Research Affiliate of the Centre for Human Rights Research at the University of Manitoba.

These sessions will provide experiences specifically for instructors to learn how they can incorporate circle work and Indigenous ways of teaching and learning into their learning activities/instructional practice.

Kisa MacIsaac is proud to be Metis – her family on her maternal side is from the community Lac Ste Anne, Alberta – Treaty 6 – and her roots trace back to Red River Settlements in both St. Francois Xavier and St. Boniface. She also has Scottish/European ancestry and honours all her grandparents. Kisa is a mother, educator, and artist with 20 years working with children and families in community; she is now proud to teach Early Childhood Education here at Red River College Polytechnic, sharing her love for land-based curriculum and arts education.

Rebecca LaRiviere is a member of the Métis Nation with family ties to St. Norbert and St Rose du Lac, and now resides in St. Boniface on Treaty 1 territory. She has spent her career learning from and working with Indigenous caregivers on and off-reserve across Turtle Island by providing training and professional development, promoting collaboration and peer mentorship, and advocating for the strengths that already exist in community. Rebecca seeks to bridge Indigenous worldview and traditional childrearing practices with contemporary child development research.

Gain an understanding of the Two-Eyed Seeing Approach and its application in harmonizing Indigenous knowledge and Western scientific methods in the context of cuisine. In this session, you will explore the development and potential applications of sweetgrass extract and develop insights into integrating traditional Indigenous Medicines respectfully and innovatively in contemporary frameworks. You’ll engage in a reflective discussion about the Two-Eyed Seeing Approach to foster a deeper understanding of its role in reconciliation and innovation.

Branden Wyryha is the Acting Research Coordinator at the Prairie Research Kitchen (PRK). He graduated from RRC Polytech’s Chemical and Bioscience Technology Co-op program (Science Laboratory Technology) in 2014 and later earned a B.Sc. in Bioanthropology from the University of Winnipeg. Branden values the collaborative environment at PRK, where he contributes to applied research projects aimed at developing innovative solutions to industry challenges. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring the province on hikes with his two dogs.

By the end of this session, you will be able to identify key concepts in our current collective agreement that need decolonization work, explain the process of a collaborative approach for decolonization discussion and implementation, and apply this collaborative approach to decolonization work in other areas of the organization.

The session will provide a guided reflection with questions so you can apply the session information to your own academic or administrative environment.

In this session, you will learn how to approach assessments and evaluations using Two-Eyed Seeing, which is a way of perceiving things from both Indigenous and Eurowestern ways of teaching and learning.

Joanna White is the Indigenous Educational Developer in the Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement Department. She approaches her work by creating holistic and relational experiences for staff, faculty, and students to engage in to learn about Truth and Reconciliation and what this means for their professional practice or studies. 

Sandra Bender (she/her) is a lifelong human rights advocate and brings her passion for public education to her work. As a second generation Canadian of grandparents who came to this land as adult immigrants and refugees, she is a staunch Indigenous ally and strives to use her position of privilege to further understanding and reconciliation through outreach and education.

Sandra is a proud member of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, feminist, and neurodivergent, and believes in bringing an intersectional lens to every aspect of her life. Past work has included Indigenous land claims advocacy, work with the unhoused communities in Winnipeg and Atlanta, work with newly-arrived refugees, and advocacy with the local 2SLGBTQQIA+ community. Sandra holds several undergrad degrees and a Master’s, is an ex-opera singer, fitness & hiking enthusiast, and runs the music program at a church in downtown Winnipeg.

Wiiji’idiwag Ikwewag provides culturally rooted teachings and practices that build confidence and promote the restoration of traditional birth practices, sacred family bonds and healthy relationships. We recognize that each family situation is unique, our customized approach respects the diversity of families and honours their personal values and beliefs.

Karen Ashbury is a Reference and Access Archivist at the NCTR. She manages and coordinates reference requests made to NCTR Archives, including requests made by Residential School Survivors and their families. Originally from Fort Frances, Ontario, Karen completed her Bachelor of Arts in History and Sociology at Queen’s University. Her prior experience includes working as a collections manager for a small community museum and archives and with the National Museum of Bermuda. Prior to joining the NCTR, Karen worked as an archivist at the NWT Archives in Yellowknife, where she conducted research and was responsible for the coordination of reference requests made by residential school Survivors that attended residential schools in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Lynn Jones is an Inininiw (Cree) woman whose family comes from the First Nation of Manto Sakahikan (God’s Lake Narrows). She was born in Arborg, MB. and is the youngest sibling from a family of eight. She has worked in Manitoba Justice for the past 17 years in both the capacity of an Aboriginal Court Worker and most recently with Victim Services. Lynn will be graduating with her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Manitoba.

Gerri-Lee Pangman (McPherson) is a member of Peguis First Nation, born and raised in the heart of Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is a wife, mother to two sons and two daughters and Kohkum to one grandson. 

On April 29, 2013, her sister Jennifer Dawn McPherson was murdered in Hanson Island, B.C. and her Aunt Jennifer Johnston was murdered in Winnipeg in 1980.

Gerri participates in community activities and programs, including facilitating weekly beading circles with other MMIWG2S families through Medicine Bear Counselling. She also facilitates beading circles in schools, universities, colleges, and community centers, and has traveled across Canada with the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls to do Healing through beading sessions with MMIWG2S family members and staff of the Inquiry. 

Gerri has turned to and introduced her family to traditional Teachings and Ceremonies such as Sundance to aid in her healing journey and to break the cycle of colonization. Her vision is to continue raising awareness and holding institutions accountable in preventing more Indigenous women and girls from going missing or being murdered. She welcomes all to join her in her vision and encourages others to come back home to our traditional Ceremonies and ways of life.

About J.D.M. Indigenous Designs and Jennifer Dawn McPherson

Jennifer was well-known for her craftiness and creative ideas, so in 2013, Gerri and her older sister Kim created J.D.M. Indigenous Designs to honour Jennifer and keep her memory alive. They carry on her inspiration by creating beaded earrings, dreamcatcher ornaments during the Christmas holidays, stained glass, and red dress pins.

J.D.M. Indigenous Designs promotes awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit People (MMIWG2S). They use art as a medium to express their spirit during their journey of healing while grieving the loss of their sister, auntie and other MMIWG2S in the community. On April 29, 2021, the 8th year anniversary of Jennifer’s death, they presented their first bursary to help four students from Ka Ni Kanichihk with $250 each.

Email Sara McIvor-Prouty at smcivor@rrc.ca to register.

The Immersive Stories Program is designed to give students, faculty, and staff a first-hand opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding about multi-layered socio-cultural identities and lived experiences. As outlined in our new Strategic Plan, this program is part of the College’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, and the pursuit of equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do.

Participants will develop skills that will allow them to regularly check their personal, social, and cultural assumptions so that they can avoid making quick conclusions and judgments. This in turn will help to foster a diverse and inclusive College environment for students and faculty.

Each session in the Immersive Stories Program will involve a discussion with a member of our RRC Polytech community, during which they will share their unique lived experiences, and invite participant questions and dialogue. These conversations will provide participants an opportunity to gain insights into the lived experiences of our diverse community and will assist in becoming aware of our own biases.

Clint Ducharme will talk about certain aspects of his life from childhood to the present time, gaining a deeper understanding of his Métis heritage and seeking ways to share it in his family and with others. He will likely touch on themes of sustainability, land and nature stewardship, language, stereotypes and racism, and food as medicine.

Jennine Krauchi is a Métis beadwork artist and designer who creates clothing and does replica work for many organizations such as the Manitoba Museum, Parks Canada, the Canadian Museum of History, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, as well as for other institutions in Scotland, France, and the United States.

Jennine teaches beadwork, quillwork, moccasin/mukluk making in schools and at festivals in Canada and Europe.

Beading kits will be provided.

While researching Inninew star stories, Wilfred found a host of information which had to be interpreted and analyzed to identify if the stories were referring to the stars. Explore the cosmos and the history of the world through the stars in the night sky through the Indigenous star lore planetarium experience, Acak Wuskwun – or Spirit Cloud in Inninimowin.

Wilfred Buck is a member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation. He obtained his B.Ed. & Post Bacc. from the University of Manitoba. As an educator, Wilfred has had the opportunity and good fortune to travel to South America, Central America, and Europe where he met, shared with, and listened to Indigenous Peoples from all over the world.

These sessions will provide experiences specifically for instructors to learn how they can incorporate circle work and Indigenous ways of teaching and learning into their learning activities/instructional practice.

Kisa MacIsaac is proud to be Metis – her family on her maternal side is from the community Lac Ste Anne, Alberta – Treaty 6 – and her roots trace back to Red River Settlements in both St. Francois Xavier and St. Boniface. She also has Scottish/European ancestry and honours all her grandparents. Kisa is a mother, educator, and artist with 20 years working with children and families in community; she is now proud to teach Early Childhood Education here at Red River College Polytechnic, sharing her love for land-based curriculum and arts education.

Rebecca LaRiviere is a member of the Métis Nation with family ties to St. Norbert and St Rose du Lac, and now resides in St. Boniface on Treaty 1 territory. She has spent her career learning from and working with Indigenous caregivers on and off-reserve across Turtle Island by providing training and professional development, promoting collaboration and peer mentorship, and advocating for the strengths that already exist in community. Rebecca seeks to bridge Indigenous worldview and traditional childrearing practices with contemporary child development research.

Gayle Grubin has been an artisan for 33 years creating traditional Inuit garments with furs and hides. She is Inuvialuk and from Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region of the western Arctic. Gayle is proud to share her Inuvialuit culture and traditions with anyone willing to learn.

The Bannock Babes are a collective of Indigenous drag artists based in Winnipeg. They blossomed in the spotlight in March 2019 and have since performed for the No Stone Unturned concert, Read by Queens at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and a mural unveiling by artist Peatr Thomas in St. Boniface. The Bannock Babes regularly raise funds for local charities, including the 2 Spirit Pow Wow. You may not see them making bannock, but these babes from three different provinces are hard to forget.

Join Ginger Arnold, Instructor in the School of Indigenous Education, and Stephanie Fulford, Sustainability Specialist for an online, 45-minute discussion on the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Learn how the SDGs support Truth and Reconciliation, the College’s commitment to advancing the SDGs, and how Ginger has used the SDGs as a learning tool in the classroom. 

Gerri-Lee Pangman (McPherson) is a member of Peguis First Nation, born and raised in the heart of Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is a wife, mother to two sons and two daughters and Kohkum to one grandson. 

On April 29, 2013, her sister Jennifer Dawn McPherson was murdered in Hanson Island, B.C. and her Aunt Jennifer Johnston was murdered in Winnipeg in 1980.

Gerri participates in community activities and programs, including facilitating weekly beading circles with other MMIWG2S families through Medicine Bear Counselling. She also facilitates beading circles in schools, universities, colleges, and community centers, and has traveled across Canada with the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls to do Healing through beading sessions with MMIWG2S family members and staff of the Inquiry. 

Gerri has turned to and introduced her family to traditional Teachings and Ceremonies such as Sundance to aid in her healing journey and to break the cycle of colonization. Her vision is to continue raising awareness and holding institutions accountable in preventing more Indigenous women and girls from going missing or being murdered. She welcomes all to join her in her vision and encourages others to come back home to our traditional Ceremonies and ways of life.

About J.D.M. Indigenous Designs and Jennifer Dawn McPherson

Jennifer was well-known for her craftiness and creative ideas, so in 2013, Gerri and her older sister Kim created J.D.M. Indigenous Designs to honour Jennifer and keep her memory alive. They carry on her inspiration by creating beaded earrings, dreamcatcher ornaments during the Christmas holidays, stained glass, and red dress pins.

J.D.M. Indigenous Designs promotes awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit People (MMIWG2S). They use art as a medium to express their spirit during their journey of healing while grieving the loss of their sister, auntie and other MMIWG2S in the community. On April 29, 2021, the 8th year anniversary of Jennifer’s death, they presented their first bursary to help four students from Ka Ni Kanichihk with $250 each.

Email Sara McIvor-Prouty at smcivor@rrc.ca to register.

Students are invited to participate in a Sweat Lodge Ceremony hosted by Elder-in-Residence, Paul Guimond. Indigenous and non-Indigenous students will have the opportunity to connect spiritually through a Ceremonial Sweat Lodge, followed by a Feast. Please meet in F209 for 9:30am and walk together to the Medicine Wheel Garden to start preparing the site at 10am.

To register, please send an email to Sharon-Rose Bear at sbear40@rrc.ca with the following information: 

• Name 
• Student number 
• Any dietary restrictions for the Feast 

Visit the Manitoba Metis Federation in their mobile office on September 27, 2024, to apply for or renew your Red River Métis Citizenship card, Harvester card, and more.

Contact citizenship@mmf.mb.ca for more information. No registration required.

Learn to analyze how familiar active learning strategies provide students with opportunities to practice new knowledge and skills and get feedback; list students’ knowledge, skills, and experiences that, if shared, would enhance the learning of other students and the instructor; and reshape familiar active learning strategies so that each student learns from the community and the community learns from each student

The Active Learning Community of Practice meets monthly to discuss challenges and opportunities of active learning. Since the September meeting occurs during Truth and Reconciliation Week, we will discuss ways in which active learning supports Indigenous ways of knowing and learning.

Add the meeting to your calendar.

The Immersive Stories Program is designed to give students, faculty, and staff a first-hand opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding about multi-layered socio-cultural identities and lived experiences. As outlined in our new Strategic Plan, this program is part of the College’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, and the pursuit of equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do.

Participants will develop skills that will allow them to regularly check their personal, social, and cultural assumptions so that they can avoid making quick conclusions and judgments. This in turn will help to foster a diverse and inclusive College environment for students and faculty.

Each session in the Immersive Stories Program will involve a discussion with a member of our RRC Polytech community, during which they will share their unique lived experiences, and invite participant questions and dialogue. These conversations will provide participants an opportunity to gain insights into the lived experiences of our diverse community and will assist in becoming aware of our own biases.

Haley Pratt will be this session’s storyteller and she will discuss topics like the Indigenous experience in the workplace, supporting Indigenous students at college, discrimination, being an ally, and being proud of your identify.

Gerri-Lee Pangman (McPherson) is a member of the Pegius First Nation. She was born and raised in the heart of Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is a wife and mother of four beautiful children, two sons, and two daughters and just recently became a Kohkum last July to a healthy beautiful grandson.

In 2013 Gerri-Lee and her family tragically lost her sister Jennifer Dawn McPherson who lived on Hanson Island, BC., and also, her Aunt Jennifer Johnston in 1980 in Winnipeg. After the great losses in her family to murder, she is now fully aware of the tragedies and injustices faced by our Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit. She works hard to heal and bring light to the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit (MMIWG2S).

During her grieving and trauma after losing her sister, Gerri-Lee found the strength to cope with her sister’s loss by healing through art-making, earrings, ornaments, dreamcatchers, and stained glass to honor her beloved sister’s memory. She honors her sister’s spirit through J.D.M. Indigenous Designs with her older sister Kim. She also participated in community activities and programs such as Medicine Bear Counseling by facilitating weekly beading circles with other MMIWG2S families for five years as well as in schools and community centers, and also traveled across Canada with the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls to do healing through beading sessions with MMIWG family members and the staff of the Inquiry.

She has turned to and introduced her family to traditional ceremonies such as Sundance, and has completed five years. She also shares her sister Jennifer’s story while teaching how to make red dress pins from coast to coast to coast on Zoom sessions to help in breaking the cycle of violence towards MMIWG2S and colonization.

If you need help, please don’t hesitate to reach out or access any of the following resources:

• Mental Health Coordinator
• Healthy Minds Healthy College
• Homewood Health’s Employee and Family Assistance
• First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Helpline
  • 1.855.242.3310 or online chat at hopeforwellness.ca
• Klinic Crisis Line (24/7)
  • Phone: 204.786.8686 Toll free: 1.888.322.3019

Self-care is a powerful tool to help us work through emotions and take better care of our minds, bodies and spirits and can come in many forms and is not one-size-fits-all.

• Here are some recommendations:
• Spend time with a loved one
• Phone a friend
• Ask a loved one for a hug
• Read a book, watch a favourite movie, or listen to music
• Go for a walk, do yoga, or exercise
• Take a warm bath or shower
• Cook yourself a nice meal
• Meditation or prayer
• Download a meditation app
• Write in a journal
• Get proper sleep

Presentations on the hour, every hour from 9 AM – 3 PM daily from September 26th through the 29th. Limited to 14 people per presentation.

Immerse yourself in an introductory story of Truth and Reconciliation, from the relationship with “Earth Mother” to the experience of Residential Schools. This 10-minute installation is about healing and respect. Brought to you from the Emerging Media and Production Immersion Room, this 360° media-rich installation provides an opportunity to learn, discuss, and share thoughts and experiences related to Truth and Reconciliation.

Library and Academic Services is pleased to host the Assiniboia Residential School Exhibit.  On loan from The City of Winnipeg this exhibit was developed as a part of their Journey of Reconciliation. On display at Red River College Polytechnic from September 26 to October 7, the Assiniboia Residential School Indigenous Exhibit is a reconciliation project that provides an opportunity for RRC Polytech staff and students to learn about Indigenous history with a goal of renewed perspectives and understandings that will strengthen relationships with Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.   

The Assiniboia Residential School Exhibit was created in consultation with Assiniboia Residential School Survivors Committee from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and the Indigenous Exhibits Working Group.   

For more information please visit https://winnipeg.ca/indigenous/reconciliation/AssiniboiaResidentialSchoolExhibit.stm 

About Assiniboia Residential School 

There were 17 Indian Residential Schools in Manitoba which included one location in Winnipeg known as the Assiniboia Indian Residential School. Federally funded and operated by the Grey Nuns and Oblate Fathers, the Assiniboia Indian Residential School was part of the Federal government’s educational system under the Indian Act. The school operated from 1958 until June 1973 and the school still stands today and now functions as the Canadian Centre for Child Protection including Child Find Manitoba located at 615 Academy Road in River Heights. 

Please take time to visit the Assiniboia Residential School Exhibit as it will be available for viewing in the Library at the Notre Dame Campus.  

Singer and composer Ray “Coco” Stevenson helps us open up the week with a traditional Honour Song to start us off in a good way. You may recognize Coco as our annual Pow Wow arena director, or as a well-known singer and drummer in the community. He was first introduced to drumming and ceremonies over thirty years ago. 

Research is an important area at RRC Polytech that helps to guide the work we do. Dr. Shawn Wilson, from Opaskwayak Cree Nation, and author of Research is Ceremony: Indigenous Research Methods will be at the College during Truth and Reconciliation Week to share his knowledge about Indigenous research methodologies. We invite you to join us on a learning journey where we will view research through a holistic and relational lens and one rooted in ceremony. 

Shawn will share with us the elements of an Indigenous research paradigm, OCAP and FPIC principles, and how to weave Indigenous traditions and practices into a research process and share with us the specific principles that need to be considered and applied when entering into research with Indigenous Peoples and Nations. 

Lunch and refreshments will be provided.  

When we think and talk about racism, most people reference examples of interactions between people, but racism is also maintained by institutions and society through the implementation of policies, practices, and programs. This two-hour training will provide an introduction of how privilege and racialization contribute racism    and provide a starting point for challenging systemic racism in Canada.

Module 1 of the Anti-Racism training will provide participants with an introduction to how racism functions as an interconnected system. Using videos and data reflecting both historical and current evidence of systemic racism, this training will help develop the awareness and skills needed to challenge systemic racism in Canada. 

This presentation is brought to you by the Academic Success Centre (ASC) Diversity team and the Centre for International Education and Global Partnerships (CIEGP).

There is more to language than just words: it’s culture, context, history and even humour. Indigenous languages need to protected. RRC Polytech Indigenous Language Instructor Corey Whitford from the School of Indigenous Education invites you to a discussion on Indigenous languages where you will also learn some phrases in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe), one of the most common Indigenous languages in Manitoba.

In this session, Joanna White, Indigenous Curriculum & Cultural Advisor for the Department of Community Services, will lead faculty through a experience of holistic learning through Indigegogy, while unpacking the important role Indigegogy can and should play in the future of teaching and learning at RRC Polytech.

Participants will leave this session with a better understanding of the following questions:

• What is Indigegogy?
• Why should Indigegogy be incorporated into post-secondary programming?
• How is Indigegogy an act of reconciliation?
• What could Indigegogy look like in a post-secondary program?
• How can we create more holistic learning opportunities in our classes?
• How can we better use physical spaces to promote learning?
• What does Indigegogy look like in online teaching?
• What is the difference between honouring Indigenous ways of teaching and learning and appropriation?
• What are resources for further learning?

Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

1200+ is a documentary film Featuring Indigenous Leader Sheila North, Directed by Leonard Yakir and Co-produced by Sheila North and Leonard Yakir.

“This film is important for us and our Indigenous communities as we need to raise awareness and bring international attention to the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada. We invite those to see the film, to learn more about the issue of MMIWG in Canada and how it is impacting our communities and families across the country. I know those dark corners of Canada’s town and cities that need more light, that need more helping hands reaching in, and that’s a big reason we made this documentary. I hope people are inspired to make change.” – Sheila North, Film Co-Creator.

Acclaimed Métis filmmaker Christine Welsh brings us a compelling documentary that puts a human face on a national tragedy – the epidemic of missing or murdered Indigenous women in Canada. The film takes a journey into the heart of Indigenous women’s experience, from Vancouver’s skid row, down the Highway of Tears in northern BC, and on to Saskatoon, where the murders and disappearances of these women remain unsolved.

Lorne Olson’s short documentary presents a vision he had of two-spirited people dancing, laughing, and smiling. His vision spurs him to rediscover the strength of the past to better face the challenges of today. This funny and buoyant film documents his touching journey.

Canada’s Indian Residential Schools (IRS) caused irreparable harm to First Nations families across many generations. 2Spirit (Indigenous LGBTQ) people were among those impacted, however their stories have rarely been heard, documented, or shared in the general discourse about this era. Following the closure of the last IRS in Ft. Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan, in 1996, there is a generation of 2Spirit former students who are available to engage in this project. The 2Spirit Council of Fierté Canada Pride lead the engagement of 2Spirit survivors and assisted and supported them to tell their stories.

The goal of this project was to recruit eight 2Spirit Indian Residential School Survivors (Story Tellers) to participate in a speaker series project in order to preserve and share their stories. Our Project Coordinator worked with Story Tellers through a series of storytelling workshops, and support them in documenting and sharing their story through the project.

Truth and Reconciliation Week contains many emotionally sensitive and often painful topics and it’s important that we take time for joy, community and taking care of our spirits to help us along in this journey. Join us for a community celebratory gathering and enjoy some Bannock, rice pudding, and performances by Morgan Grace, fiddling, and Peyton Habinski-Anderson, jigging.

Morgan Grace

Morgan is a 15 year old youth fiddler from east Selkirk. She is Coming off a very busy summer playing many festivals and other significant events. This year she also launched her first self-titled album. Morgan’s style originates from the vast amount of amazing fiddle teachers and fiddle players she has been fortunate to be around.

Peyton Habinski-Anderson

Peyton Habinski-Anderson is a proud, 13-year-old Métis performer. At age 7, she started jigging lessons with Dean Davis and quickly fell in love with the cultural dance.  Since then, she has performed at several different Métis events and was this year’s female youth ambassador for the Métis Pavilion at Folklorama. Peyton’s goals are to continue performing at different Métis events throughout the community and spread cultural awareness.

The Immersive Stories Program is designed to give students, faculty, and staff a first-hand opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding about multi-layered socio-cultural identities and lived experiences. As outlined in our new Strategic Plan, this program is part of the College’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, and the pursuit of equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do.

Participants will develop skills that will allow them to regularly check their personal, social, and cultural assumptions so that they can avoid making quick conclusions and judgments. This in turn will help to foster a diverse and inclusive College environment for students and faculty. 

Each session in the Immersive Stories Program will involve a discussion with a member of our RRC Polytech community, during which they will share their unique lived experiences, and invite participant questions and dialogue. These conversations will provide participants an opportunity to gain insights into the lived experiences of our diverse community and will assist in becoming aware of our own biases.

About Corey Whitford

Corey Ralph Whitford has been teaching at RRC Polytech in the Indigenous Languages Program for five years, teaching through activities that shape a better understanding of Anishinaabemowin. Corey is eager to share his knowledge and provide guidance in all class activities to his students.

Corey was born in Portage la Prairie, and raised in Sandy Bay. His parents are from Long Plain and Sandy Bay, and both were fluent Anishinaabeg. Corey’s family spoke/speaks Anishinaabemowin, so he naturally picked it up along the way.

Corey is passionate about what he does, continuing to serve his community and fill the vacuum for Anishinaabemowin knowledge at the College level.

Elder Paul Guimond, RRC Polytech Elder-in-Residence helps us close the week with an honour song dedicated to MMIWG2S in advance of the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit on October 4.

It is estimated more than 4,000 Indigenous women and girls in Canada have gone missing or been murdered since 1980. According to Statistics Canada, Indigenous women and girls make up four per cent of the total Canadian female population, represent 10 per cent of missing women and, on average, 16 per cent of female homicide cases, a number that fluctuates and was as high as 21 per cent in 2014.

Join Murray Peterson, Historian with the City of Winnipeg, in a talk about the Assiniboia Residential School Exhibit and the effort of the hundreds of people it took to put the panels together. 

About Assiniboia Residential School 

There were 17 Indian Residential Schools in Manitoba which included one location in Winnipeg known as the Assiniboia Indian Residential School. Federally funded and operated by the Grey Nuns and Oblate Fathers, the Assiniboia Indian Residential School was part of the Federal government’s educational system under the Indian Act. The school operated from 1958 until June 1973 and the school still stands today and now functions as the Canadian Centre for Child Protection including Child Find Manitoba located at 615 Academy Road in River Heights. 

Please take time to visit the Assiniboia Residential School Exhibit as it will be available for viewing in the Library at the Notre Dame Campus from September 26 to October 7. 

The Immersive Stories Program is designed to give students, faculty, and staff a first-hand opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding about multi-layered socio-cultural identities and lived experiences. As outlined in our new Strategic Plan, this program is part of the College’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, and the pursuit of equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do.

Participants will develop skills that will allow them to regularly check their personal, social, and cultural assumptions so that they can avoid making quick conclusions and judgments. This in turn will help to foster a diverse and inclusive College environment for students and faculty. 

Each session in the Immersive Stories Program will involve a discussion with a member of our RRC Polytech community, during which they will share their unique lived experiences, and invite participant questions and dialogue. These conversations will provide participants an opportunity to gain insights into the lived experiences of our diverse community and will assist in becoming aware of our own biases.

About Brittany Ross

Brittany Ross is a Métis woman and mother of two sons. She was born and raised in Winnipeg, and has spent over 10 years supporting, advocating and mentoring Indigenous students in the adult education, and post-secondary education sectors. Through Brittany’s previous experience, she has a fundamental understanding of the importance of creating safe, respectful and positive environments.

Brittany has developed, engaged, and maintained relationships with various stakeholders including; community organizations, school divisions, health professionals, and various levels of government. In addition, she has years of training to aide her in her new position, such as Mental Health First Aid, Indigenous Suicide Prevention, PTSD in Indigenous Adults, to name a few.

As a Navigation Coach within the School of Indigenous Education at RRC Polytech, Brittany is passionate about making a significant difference in student’s lives, and connecting with students through her open-minded, empathetic, and caring nature. She loves playing a role in supporting the successes of Indigenous students here at Red River College Polytechnic.

Join Elder Betty Ross as she shares her story about her experience in Canada’s Residential School System.

About Elder Betty

Elder Betty Ross originates from Pimicikamak Cree Nation and has lived in Winnipeg, MB, since the early 1960s. Betty is a Residential School Survivor of two systems St Joseph’s Residential School in Cross Lake and Assiniboia Residential School in Winnipeg, MB. She is very immersed in her Indigenous heritage and speaks Cree language fluently. She’s a mother, grandmother, great grandmother of two sons and two daughters, 15 grandsons, 12 grand daughters, and 10 great grand generations and counting.

Elder Betty worked as a Cree Interpreter and Resource worker for 11 years at the Health Science Centre. She also worked for the Winnipeg Regional Health authority as a Spiritual and Cultural Care Provider for Indigenous Health/Cultural for 10 years. Betty retired in 2018 to relax and rejuvenate before traveling to Albuquerque, New Mexico to attend the gathering of Nations where she danced Traditional for Canada. Shortly after coming back from the gathering, she was recruited by the Seven Oaks School Division as an Elder-in-Residence and works there to this day. She teaches cultural initiatives in three different schools connecting with over 3000 students weekly from all walks of life.

Betty has been very busy connecting with various community organizations in Winnipeg sharing the true story of Residential Schools as depicted in her stories Sugar Falls and Did You See Us. Elder Betty continues to walk from the best of both worlds, looking after a nurturing the great Circle of Life with honour and respect to this day.

For those joining virtually, click here for the livestream during the event.

Marshall Richard, Indigenous Liaison Advisor and Scaabe, invites you to be fanned down to let go and head into the weekend with a light heart and spirit. A fan down is a smudging ceremony and a beautiful way to take in some good medicines. No prior knowledge required, just drop in!

The Truth and Reconciliation Community of Practice will create opportunities for participants to extend and apply their learning, and to take action to advance Truth and Reconciliation and anti-racism. This experience will guide participants on a journey through the Medicine Wheel and will provide experiential learning around Indigenous ways of teaching and learning. Participation in the TRCP will involve a minimum commitment of 8 hours throughout Fall 2022, including joining the Immersive Stories events.

If you are interested in learning more about the Truth and Reconciliation Community of Practice, visit us online or join the information session on Tuesday, Sept 20, from 12:00 to 12:45 pm, which you can register for here.

If you are ready to join the Truth and Reconciliation Community of Practice, you can apply to the first iteration of this program here. (Don’t forget to register for the Immersive Stories sessions as well, which accompany this learning community!)