You’re 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 on Tuesday, November 22 from 9am – 3pm.

Sweat lodges are a way to heal and connect with all four parts of the self: the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Register now!

To register, please send an email to Stephanie Wright at sdwright@rrc.ca with your name, student number, and confirmation that you will attend.

• Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022 • 9am – 3pm
• Medicine Wheel Garden, Notre Dame Campus

About Elder Paul

Elder Paul joined RRC Polytech in 2018 as an Elder-in-Residence and has since hosted many traditional ceremonies and Sweat Lodges across the College in addition to offering the Indigenous Worldview through Indigenous Teachings and Sharing Circles. He’s a Sundance Bundle Carrier (Chief), Sweat Lodge Bundle Carrier (Water drum) and Dark Room Bundle Carrier. He is an active Elder with Addictions Foundation of Manitoba and Sagkeeng Child & Family Services and offers healing, spiritual growth, and personal development through ceremony, programming, and establishing healthy relationships. To learn more about Elder Paul and connect, please see his profile on our website.

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

The 2SLGBTQQIA+ Sweat at Notre Dame Campus has been postponed until February! Check back in with us for more details after the holidays. The schedule for upcoming Sweat Lodges has not changed.

We’re looking forward to seeing you in February for the 2SLGBTQQIA+ Sweat!

This event has been postponed until 2023.

You’re invited to a Sweat Lodge for Two Spirit, Indigequeer, and Non-Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ students! Led by Two Spirit Kookum and Knowledge Keeper Barbara Bruce with Two Spirit Elder Charlotte Nolan, 2SLGBTQQIA+ students will have the opportunity to connect spiritually through a Ceremonial Sweat Lodge on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 9am.

To register, please send an email to Stephanie Wright at sdwright@rrc.ca with your name, student number, and confirmation that you will attend.

Sweat lodges are a way to heal and connect with all four parts of the self: the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Register now!

• Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022 • 9am – 3pm
• Medicine Wheel Garden, Notre Dame Campus

About Kookum Barbara Bruce

Kookum Barbara is a citizen of the Métis Nation—Michif aen Otipemisiwak. Her beliefs of Indigenous traditional teachings are reflected in all her work. Her dedication to advancing the rightful place, recognition, and acknowledgement of the Two Spirit community, Indigenous women, and children are an integral part of her life.

About Elder Charlotte Nolan

Elder Charlotte is a 72-year-old Métis woman, parent to seven children, and grandparent to nine grandchildren. She’s a Sixties’ Scoop Survivor and Indian Day School survivor — she attended the Indian Day School for Roseau River Reserve and lived in various foster homes and a group home. Charlotte began her transition at 17, but returned to the closet due to racism, homophobia, and transphobia. She worked in construction until the 1990s and that experience gave her the ability to build anything from bridges to beautiful monuments. Charlotte left the construction industry in the 90s and moved into the social service field, where she dedicated the last 30+ years to protecting children and their families.

RRC Polytech’s Digital Film and Media Production Program and Nikâwiy Productions are proud to present the first public screening.

Fawnda Neckoway makes her directorial debut in this heartwarming 20-minute film in honor of a hopeful future when it comes to discussing a difficult part of history with the young ones in our lives. She is joined by community leaders who offer valuable insight and resources in support of carrying on important conversations.

Inspired by an innocent question, and the literature of author David Robertson, STWK features interviews with David Robertson, Wab Kinew, Bobbie Jo Leclair, Kimberly Giswein and Dr. Ramona Neckoway.

Moderated by Aaron Zeghers, the evening will feature an opening film A Moccasin Creation Story, and host a brief informative session with Industry Representatives such as Film Training Manitoba, Red River College Polytechnic and the Winnipeg Indigenous Filmmakers Collective. All are welcome! Light refreshments will be available. 

• Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022 • 7:30pm
• Roundhouse Auditorium, Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, Exchange District Campus

Limited seating available. Tickets are free.

About Kita Kiskihtihtakwaw: So They Will Know

The name of the film was gifted from her aunt who said in a conversation ‘they need to know’, which later translated to the Inthinew (Cree) language as Kita kiskithihtahkwaw: ‘So They Will Know’. We acknowledge the elders/survivors who lived through Residential Schools and remember the ones who did not make it home.

Are you looking for new ways to engage your body?

Join Indigenous Yoga instructor Dawn Chartrand for a family-fun night of Yoga with an Indigenous infusion! Her practice focuses on introducing Indigenous people to healing and wellness through art and Yoga.

• Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022 • 6pm – 8pm
• Roundhouse Auditorium, Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, Exchange District Campus

All attendees can register by emailing Terri-Lynn Anderson at tlanderson@rrc.ca. Register now – space is limited!

About Dawn Chartrand

Dawn Marie Chartrand is a visual artist, musical entertainer, and yoga instructor.  She is a proud wife, mom of 4 and grandmother of 9, and is a member of Rolling River First Nation in Manitoba.

Dawn started painting in 2017 and was immediately drawn to creating Indigenous themed art. Dawn considers painting to be a very special form of wellness and self-care, and she has sold many of her paintings throughout Canada. Dawn offers painting and wellness workshops as a means of introducing others to the healing properties of creating art.

After 10 years of practicing yoga and driven by the low representation of Indigenous people in mainstream yoga classes, Dawn studied to become a yoga instructor and completed her training in May 2022. She has now launched her own yoga business, “OM-Digenous Yoga & Wellness”, and teaches several yoga classes per week with special focus on drawing Indigenous participants. Dawn’s intention is to create a safe and accessible environment where Indigenous people can feel welcome to participate, learn, and benefit from regular yoga practice.

Today, RRC Polytech celebrated International Inuit Day with students, staff, faculty, and members of the Manitoba Inuit Association.

The event was livestreamed from Notre Dame Campus’s Indigenous Support Centre to the Exchange District Campus’s Indigenous Support Centre, where folks from both campuses enjoyed a pizza lunch, group activities, presentations, and a performance.

The celebration started with a three-song performance by Inuit throat singer Zeann Manernaluk. She explained that throat singing was invented by Inuit women while men were out hunting, and traditionally two women would throat sing together until they laughed or got tired.

Victoria, an Inuit Student Support Worker with the Manitoba Inuit Association, kicked off the group activities with a rundown of their role as an organization in Manitoba: a resource that supports any Inuit people in Manitoba and connects them with services to meet diverse and ever-evolving needs. Victoria presented traditional Inuit clothing and tools and the stories behind them. She demonstrated and invited everyone to compete in Inuit games to win prize packs from the Manitoba Inuit Association.

College Transition students Luke Kusugak and Andrew Owlijoot said a few words about being young Inuit men coming from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut: they’re learning to be more open about their emotions, coming from a place that doesn’t have the infrastructure to focus supports around mental wellbeing.

Chase Powell, another Inuit student in the College Transition program, prepared a PowerPoint presentation to share a brief history of his home Rankin Inlet, Nunavut and his life growing up on the west coast of the Hudson Bay. His mother Esther, who happened to be in Winnipeg for a medical appointment, joined him and shared a short family history and the nature of Inuit life before colonization. PowerPoint pictures depicted the landscape of the north, Chase’s cabin on the coast, caribou on their mating grounds, roads enveloped in blowing snow, and old black-and-white pictures of Chase’s and Esther’s ancestors.

Chase explained that the education in Rankin Inlet didn’t meet his expectations. Teaching was not based on students’ needs, but rather was based on the resources that were available. And resources were basic – there were no supports for students with special needs. The schools had some Inuktitut language classes but didn’t have any Inuit culture classes.

After high school, Chase decided to pursue education. Originally he had planned to attend the University of Winnipeg for a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, but his high school grades weren’t satisfactory. A guidance counsellor at his high school suggested that he try the College Transition program at RRC Polytech, because it would help him get his grades up and prepare him for college life in the south. He applied and has since started on his path to his future goals.

Chase hopes to get his master’s degree in education so he can become a principal. He explained that southerners come up to the north and fill up high-ranking positions in organizations and in government because they had easier access to quality, focused education. Chase wants to change that—having local representation in these positions is important because people who have grown up in the north have a lived experience that can more effectively contextualize the unique needs of learners in Nunavut. He wants to influence change in Nunavut’s education system as a future administrator, to help the learners of future generations obtain the education they need to get into these high-ranking, decision-making, community-impacting positions.

For now, Chase, Luke, Andrew, and their colleagues will continue with the College Transition program and work toward their professional and personal goals. We can’t wait to see where they’ll go!

Have you ever heard the term “Miigwech” being used by our Anishinaabe friends and wondered what it meant?

Or maybe you would like to learn how to say a simple greeting in Anishinaabemowin?

Join us next Wednesday to learn how to make bannock, a type of bread that is a staple and sometimes a treat with jams, butter or honey for Indigenous people, with Instructors Corey Whitford and Chef Patrick Anderson as part of Inclusion Week!

• Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022 • 3:30pm – 5pm
• F209 Notre Dame Campus

Register for this fun, interactive workshop in which Indigenous Languages Instructor Cory Whitford shares his very own bannock recipe while simultaneously immersing participants in the basics of Anishinaabemowin.

Take-home bannock making supplies will be provided for participants. Space is limited, so register early!

All staff and students are invited to join us to celebrate International Inuit Day!

Four College Transition students from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut — Chase Powell, Andrew Owlijoot, Luke Kusugak, and Logan Siksik — will be sharing stories about Inuit culture, teaching a few words in Inuktitut, and leading us in some traditional Inuit games.

We’re excited to welcome guests from the Manitoba Inuit Association, who will be joining in the celebration.

The event will be livestreamed from NDC (F209) to EDC (P407), so students at both campuses can take part.

• Monday, Nov. 7, 2022 • 11am – 1pm
• F209 Notre Dame Campus • P407 Exchange District Campus

Pizza will be provided for lunch!

If you have any questions, please contact Terri-Lynn Anderson at tlanderson@rrc.ca.

Are you ready for Halloween?

Drop by one of the Indigenous Student Support Centres on either campus and see Terri-Lynn Anderson or any support staff to enter the Costume Contest!

• Monday Oct. 31, 2022 • 8:30am – 4pm
• F209 Notre Dame Campus • P407 Exchange District Campus

Choose your category:

• Single costume
• Duo costumes
• Group costumes

Juices boxes, coffee, and candy will be available throughout the day.

Names of winners for the costume contest will be posted in the centre and they will be contacted.

Come and join us for a fun-filled day of activities, entertainment, and food, while having the opportunity to meet the Indigenous Student Supports Team, fellow students, and to win prizes!

Our Indigenous Support Centres at the Notre Dame Campus and Exchange District Campus will be open for the celebration with baked goods, coffee, pizza, and pop all throughout the day. Special entertainment includes the Walking Wolf Singers from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at the Notre Dame Campus.

• Date: Thursday, October 6, 2022
• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  Come and go as your schedule allows.
• Locations: Notre Dame Campus (F209) and Exchange District Campus (P407)

The event is free of charge and open to all RRC Polytech students.

For any questions, please contact Event Coordinator, Terri-Lynn Anderson at tlanderson@rrc.ca.