Today is Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ Awareness to Celebration Day, a day developed and recognized by the Two Spirit community and the Centre for Community-Based Research in Alberta. We invite you to join us in acknowledging this observation in support of the Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ community by learning more about Two-Spirit people and the history of the Indigenous 2SLGBTQQIA+ community.

RRC Polytech has a library guide on Two-Spirit and Indigenous cultural identity to walk you through suggested resources.

Learn more about Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ Awareness to Celebration Day at the Centre for Community-Based Research.

Learn more about the Two Spirit and the Indigenous LGBGTQQIA+ community in Manitoba at Two-Spirit Manitoba.

Watch “Niish Manidoowag (Two-Spirited Beings)” at the National Film Board. Walk with four Indigenous youth as they share their stories.

Read “A Two-Spirit Journey: The Autobiography of a Lesbian Ojibwa-Cree Elder” by Ma-Nee Chacaby and Mary Louisa Plummer from the library. Hear Elder Ma-Nee Chacaby’s story of growing up in north-western Ontario as an Ojibwa-Cree lesbian.

Read “An Introduction to the Health of Two-Spirit People” by Dr. Sarah Hunt. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the historical, contemporary and emergent issues related to Two-Spirit health, a topic that has been largely overlooked in Indigenous health literature.

Watch “Two Spirits, One Voice” at Egale for a short animated discussion on the history of Two-Spirit people.

Watch “First Stories – Two Spirited at the National Film Board. Listen to the story of Rodney “Geeyo” Poucette, who struggled with prejudice within his own community as a Two-Spirit person.

Sweats take place at 1 pm in the Medicine Wheel Garden at the Notre Dame Campus. To register, email Stephanie at sdwright@rrc.ca. Subscribe to our blog for reminders of upcoming Sweats! Check out the Sweat Lodge schedule here for more information.

All students, staff, and faculty are invited to our Spring Equinox gathering in the Indigenous Support Centre at Notre Dame Campus.

No registration is required. Everyone is welcome to come as they are.

Join us next Wednesday at NDC for a Drumming Workshop with Ray Coco Stevenson!

We’re excited to welcome back Coco to drum with students and staff in the Indigenous Support Centre F209. Coco is a popular musician known for his traditional singing and drumming at Pow Wows and ceremonies.

The workshop will be from 2:30pm to 3:30pm.

To register, email Terri-Lynn at tlanderson@rrc.ca.

Drop by the Atrium in the Roblin Centre at the Exchange District Campus to hear a fiddle and guitar performance featuring Jason Lepine and Ben Page from 12pm to 1pm! Tea and Bannock will be available, so kick back with a snack and enjoy some Métis tunes.

Jason Lepine is a Métis fiddle champion and recording artist born and raised in Portage La Prairie who now lives in Winnipeg.

Métis traditional fiddling was passed on to Jason by his dad, Garry Lepine, a Métis and Manitoba Fiddle Hall of Famer. He taught himself by ear and started fiddling at 7 years old.

Jason’s forté is playing for Red River jigging and square dance groups. He’s won many fiddle contests throughout his music career. He also judges competitions, teaches lessons, and plays for all types of functions. Jason has played all over Canada with some performances in the US.

No registration required to attend.

Remember: next week Monday, Feb. 20 is Louis Riel Day and RRC Polytech campuses are closed.

Join us on Thursday, February 16^th at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae in E235 from 4:30pm to 6pm for a Collage Workshop facilitated by members of the Louis Riel Institute.

This workshop was designed for students of all levels to learn about the significance of celebrating Louis Riel Day in Manitoba. The workshop will focus on Louis Riel, where he came from, and his significance in forming the province of Manitoba.

Participants will make a paper collage of Louis Riel as a way to display the proud history of the Red River Métis and the founding father of Manitoba. Participants will gain an understanding of Louis Riel, Red River Métis history, and gain pride and confidence through the creation of a paper collage focused on Louis Riel.

Register for the Collage Workshop on Thursday, Feb. 16 by emailing Terri-Lynn at tlanderson@rrc.ca.

Join us on Wednesday, February 15^th for the Jig ‘n’ Time workshop with Dean Davis at the Indigenous Support Centre F209 at NDC from 5pm to 8pm. Grab your dancing shoes and learn to jig and square dance as part of our Louis Riel Day week-long celebration!

Dancing has been a huge part of Dean’s life for the last 20 years and for the last decade, he has trained dancers of all ages and levels in cultural Métis jigging and square dancing.

Dean has performed over 400 shows as a square dancer with well-known groups such as the Asham Stompers and the Métis Club Traditional Dancers. He has danced in Winnipeg and throughout Manitoba and made appearances in Saskatchewan, Ontario, Alberta, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

His own training began at the age of 40 at the Métis Club of Winnipeg, where he learned to jig and later began dancing with the Asham Stompers. The Asham Stompers are a synonymous dance group showcasing the Métis jig internationally.

Métis jigging is a high-energy dance that ensures mental and physical fitness. Dancing regularly provides immense benefits whether at dance lessons, practices or performances. Dean believes the best way to maintain good health and fitness is by engaging in fun and invigorating activities like jigging and square dancing.

Throughout the years, Dean has worked with many dancers at various ages who are now champion dancers are winning competitions as individuals and as dance groups. He teaches weekly at the Métis Club and holds workshops with many school divisions in Winnipeg/Manitoba

Dean strives to instill the importance of dancing into newer generations to keep this important cultural art alive and strong.

Register for the Jig ‘n’ Time workshop on Wednesday, Feb. 15 by emailing Terri-Lynn at tlanderson@rrc.ca.

Join us for a Beading Workshop with Jennine Krauchi in the Indigenous Support Centre F209 at NDC on Tuesday, February 14^th from 4:30pm to 7:30pm.

Jennine Krauchi is a Métis beadwork artist and designer. She produces clothing and creates replicas for organizations like the Manitoba Museum, Parks Canada, The Canadian Museum of History, The Canadian Museum for Human Rights and many more around the world, including those in places like Scotland, France and the USA.

Jennine teaches beadwork, quillwork and moccasin and mukluk making.  She teaches in schools and at festivals throughout Canada, and has had the opportunity to teach in Europe.

Most recently, Jennine participated in two exhibits: A Hard Birth at the Winnipeg Art Gallery and Radical Stitch at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina.

Register for the Beading Workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 14 by emailing Terri-Lynn at tlanderson@rrc.ca.

Kick off the Louis Riel Day celebrations with us on Monday, February 13^th at 11am in the South Gym at NDC with a gallery presented by the Manitoba Métis Federation. Students and staff are invited to enter a draw for a free bus pass for March and other goodies!

We’re pleased to welcome the Minister of Education and Co-Minister of Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Strategy Agreement, Joan Ledoux, to give a keynote. Joan Ledoux is a cabinet member of the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) for The Pas region and the Chair of the Louis Riel Institute (LRI).

Like everyone else, life’s path has taken me down the road of trials, tribulations, hardships, and successes, but through these lived experiences, I have gained the ability, skills, and knowledge to be effective and efficient in sharing what I have to offer you.

 It has made me who I am today. I am honored to serve as the voice of our Métis Government of Manitoba.

Joan Ledoux

Joan has been part of the MMF Cabinet for three terms. Prior to being elected, she served on numerous boards within the MMF and as Chair for three other organizations over 15 years: the Flin Flon Local, the Flin Flon Indian & Métis Friendship Centre, and the Provincial Management Board.

She was born in Winnipegosis and grew up in Camperville. Joan graduated from Brandon University with a Bachelor of Education, after which she found employment with the federal and provincial governments for the past 26 years. She retired from Manitoba Hydro in 2012 and now dedicates her time to working for the National Government of the Red River Métis.

Métis citizens have always played a pivotal role in their families and communities, providing important insight with their lived experiences to inform priority areas like education and employment, and Joan’s goal is to serve and be accountable to the Métis people. She is a proud and passionate Métis woman.

For the past ten years, Joan has been writing bits and pieces of her memoir which she dedicates to her children and family. She will continue to use every opportunity to showcase her Métis culture & history and work toward the vision of the Métis Nation.

Through her work, Joan has a broadened understanding of what reconciliation means to the Métis people and for the future of Canada, as we continue to build our leadership, partnerships, and relationships together, nation to nation.

No registration required to attend.

January has ended, the bundles have rested, and Sweat Lodges will resume for the new year.

Join us for Sweat Lodges in the Medicine Wheel Garden with Elder Paul Guimond.

Students are welcome to join us on the following Fridays:

• March 3
• March 24
• May 26

And staff are welcome on these Fridays:

• February 10
• April 14

Sweats take place at 1 pm in the Medicine Wheel Garden at the Notre Dame Campus. To register, email Stephanie at sdwright@rrc.ca. Subscribe to our blog for reminders of upcoming Sweats!

Sweat Lodge Ceremonies are a way to heal oneself and connect with all four parts of the self: the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Limit of 20 participants per Lodge. Register now!