Indigenous Education

Welcoming Grandmother Ivy Chaske

January 25, 2024

The School of Indigenous Education and RRC Polytech are excited to welcome Grandmother Elder Ivy Chaske to our community! Grandmother Ivy will be joining the Indigenous Student Support Team once a week to provide additional support to Indigenous students.

Join us in the Indigenous Support Centre P407 at Exchange District Campus on Wednesday, Jan. 31 for a come-and-go Meet and Greet with Grandmother Ivy any time between 3pm and 4pm. Drop by the centre for a chat and some coffee as your schedule allows.

  • Wednesday, Jan. 31
  • 3pm – 4pm
  • P407, Indigenous Support Centre, Exchange District Campus

A message from Grandmother Ivy Chaske:

Grandmother Elder Ivy was born full blood Dakota. She has family ties in Sioux Valley First Nation & married into Sayisi Dené First Nation. She was raised in a Traditional Family & Community.

Grandmother Elder Ivy fought her way through residential school and is known as a Warrior by her family. She ran away from residential school to Winnipeg where she joined others who had also run away from the residential school. Grandmother Elder Ivy has survived the streets & gang life found here in Winnipeg.

She completed High School & attended the University of Manitoba. She is not one to care about colonial acceptance of her intelligence. She strongly believes that Indigenous people do not need colonial certification of their intellect & capabilities.

She has committed her life to working for her people and to build an urban community for our children & grandchildren. She is very proud of all the work she has done, especially the first annual walk for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women. She helped found many organizations & has worked for Schools, Post-Secondary Institutions and has given guidance to Health Educations & various Government Departments.

As a Grandmother, she is committed to supporting youth who face many barriers & the individuals who also support our young people. This work has given her hope for the future & a belief that our young people will change the world!

RRC Polytech campuses are located on the lands of Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Anishininew, Dakota, and Dené, and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.

We recognize and honour Treaty 3 Territory Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, the source of Winnipeg’s clean drinking water. In addition, we acknowledge Treaty Territories which provide us with access to electricity we use in both our personal and professional lives.

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