Indigenous Education

Events

Sweat Lodge Ceremony – Students

April 17, 2024

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 on Friday April 26. Preparations will start at 10am and the Ceremony will take place at 1pm.

Please meet in F209 for 9:30am and to the Medicine Wheel Garden together to start preparing the site at 10am.

To register, please send an email to Holly Scherban at hscherban@rrc.ca with the following information: 

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

When: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2024 

Where: Medicine Wheel Garden and Sweat Lodge Facilities at the Notre Dame Campus 

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. 

Pow Wow 2024: Registration is open!

April 10, 2024

RRC Polytech is proud to host its 24th annual Pow Wow to acknowledge the accomplishments of Indigenous graduates. The annual Pow Wow gives our community the opportunity to dance, drum, sing, eat, connect, and participate in Ceremony.

Please join us to celebrate Indigenous graduates as we send them off on their continued journeys to success.

All Indigenous students graduating in 2024 are encouraged to join us to celebrate! Full-time, part-time, students that attend regional campuses, and students graduating in Fall 2024 are welcome to register and participate in Pow Wow.

FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2024

NOTRE DAME CAMPUS, NORTH GYM

  • 10:00am – Pipe Ceremony
  • 12:00pm – Grand Entry
  • 2:00pm – Honouring Indigenous Graduates
  • 4:30pm – Feast

Graduating students can register for attendance here. Graduates don’t need to register for stoles ahead of time and can pick them up at the Registration Table at the event.

Dancers can register at the Registration Table on the morning of the event.

Attendees don’t need to register ahead of time.

Spring Equinox – Friday, April 5, 2024

March 28, 2024

All students, staff, and faculty are invited to our Spring Equinox gathering in the Roundhouse Auditorium at the Exchange District Campus.

Date:                   Friday, April 5, 2024

Time:                   10:00 am – Pipe ceremony

                             12:00 pm – Feast

Where:               Roundhouse Auditorium, Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, Exchange District Campus

The celebration will begin with a pipe ceremony led by the Knowledge-In-Residence in the Roundhouse Auditorium, followed by a feast to celebrate the season.

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

Indigenous Career Fair – This Thursday!

March 19, 2024

This Thursday, RRC Polytech is hosting the Indigenous Career Fair – An RBC Reaction by Collision Event in the North Gym at Notre Dame Campus.

Indigenous students are invited to tune into a panel discussion with industry partners from 12pm until 12:45pm and drop in to connect with over 40 employers from a wide range of industries anytime between 12pm – 4pm. A hot dog lunch will be available starting at 12pm until 1:30pm. The RBC Headshot Lounge will be open for students to take professional headshot portraits for use on LinkedIn and other professional bios. Register ahead for a chance to win awesome prizes!

Thank you to RBC for their generous support of the Indigenous Career Fair – An RBC Reaction by Collision Event.

See below for a list of employers and available job postings.

St. Amant

A not-for-profit organization that supports people with developmental, physical and intellectual disabilities.

Visit St. Amant’s website for more information.

Canada Life

Canada Life is a leading insurance, wealth management and benefits provider focused on improving the financial, physical, and mental well-being of Canadians. For over 175 years, individuals, families and business owners across Canada have trusted us to provide sound guidance and deliver on the promises we’ve made. We proudly serve more than 12 million customer relationships from coast to coast to coast.

Visit Canada Life’s website for more information.

Business Council of Manitoba

The Business Council of Manitoba exists to make Manitoba a preferred place to live, work, and invest for all Manitobans. We represent over 100 of Manitoba’s leading businesses who are committed to Manitoba’s economic growth and community development.

The Business Council of Manitoba has two programs for Indigenous students — the Indigenous Education Awards (IEA) program and the Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) program.

The IEA program is a financial award program that supports Indigenous students attending post-secondary in Manitoba with a $3000 award for the academic year they are attending.

In 2022, we established a program expansion to address the gap between post-secondary education and employment opportunities by implementing the Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) program. WIL provides Indigenous students attending or planning to attend post-secondary with paid summer work placement opportunities at BCM member businesses. The WIL program accepts students in any field of study, with various industry interests, and all levels of experience.

Visit the Business Council of Manitoba’s website for more information.

Canadian Armed Forces

The Canadian Armed Forces comprise 3 branches. The Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Canadian Airforce. With options to serve both part time and full time. 

Visit the Canadian Armed Forces’ website for more information.

Health Careers Manitoba

Health Careers Manitoba brings together career information and support tools for anyone interested in pursuing a career in health care in Manitoba.

Visit Health Careers Manitoba’s website for more information.

IDFusion

IDFusion Software is a Winnipeg based company that has been developing custom software solutions since 1999. Indigenous owned and operated since its inception, IDFusion has over 24 years of experience in delivering high value engagements for our customers, both independently as well as in partnership with large systems integrators, to support diverse client sectors that include Retail, Transportation, Oil & Gas, Media, Non-Profit, Telecommunications, Health Care, Finance/Insurance and the Public Sector.

IDFusion Software is proud of our long history and track record of working with customers of all sizes and in a multitude of industries, supporting their visions, and helping to make those visions a reality. Our services are delivered by our teams of gifted software developers, IT Technicians and consultants supporting our clients to assess & plan, build & integrate, and manage & sustain technology solutions.

Visit IDFusion’s website for more information.

IG Wealth Management

IG Wealth Management is part of the Power Corporation Group of Companies, one of Canada’s largest and most respected corporations.

Since 1926, we have been providing Canadians with holistic financial planning services that instill financial confidence and allow our clients to embrace all of life’s possibilities.

Our success depends on our greatest resource—our people.

Visit IG Wealth Management’s website for more information.

Assiniboine Credit Union

ACU is a financial co-operative with over $6 billion in assets. We offer a full suite of personal and commercial banking products and services, and a team of financial and wealth advisors to help our members succeed. We have sixteen branch locations in Winnipeg, two northern branches in Thompson and Gillam, and we’re owned collectively by over 140,000 Manitobans who use our services today.

Money doing more is the guiding statement that represents the way we do business, and conveys our ongoing commitment to the economic, social and environmental health of our communities. Over the last 80 years, we have helped our member-owners achieve their dreams, and we’d like to help you achieve yours.

Visit Assiniboine Credit Union’s website for more information.

Manitoba Aerospace Inc.

Manitoba Aerospace is a membership based, not-for-profit organization representing aerospace and defence companies and stakeholders driving the sustainable worldwide business growth of Manitoba aerospace and defence companies through collaboration, innovation and supply chain development.

Visit Manitoba Aerospace Inc.’s website for more information.

Winnipeg Police Service

The Winnipeg Police Service provides a wide range of career opportunities including policing, auxiliary cadets, and a significant number of civilian positions.

Visit the Winnipeg Police Service’s website for more information.

RBC

Learn more about RBC’s employment and education opportunities that can help make a positive change at any point of your career.  With an aim to be the employer of choice for Indigenous people, our programs are designed to provide rewarding experiences and develop the skills needed to build successful careers.

Visit RBC’s website for more information.

Southeast Child and Family Services

Southeast Child and Family Services serves eight First Nations in the southeast region of Manitoba: Brokenhead Ojibway Nation; Black River First Nation; Hollow Water First Nation; Bloodvein First Nation; Berens River First Nation; Poplar River First Nation; Little Grand Rapids First Nation; and, Pauingassi First Nation. Of these, Poplar River, Pauingassi, and Little Grand Rapids are remote communities and are accessible by plane except for a brief period when there is winter road access. Buffalo Point First Nation, which falls under the SECFS mandate, is served by Animikii Osozon Child and Family Services under a sub-agreement since 2008.

See Southeast Child and Family Services’ website for more information.

Manitoba Hydro

Manitoba Hydro is a provincial Crown Corporation and one of the largest integrated electricity and natural gas utilities in Canada. We provide safe, reliable service to over 616,000 electric and 296,000 natural gas customers — with some of the lowest rates in the country.

Manitoba Hydro operates on Treaty 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 lands — the original territories of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples and the homeland of the Red River Métis. We acknowledge these lands and pay our respects to ancestors of these territories.

We are one of Manitoba’s largest employers and are recognized as a top employer. We conduct our relationships with the utmost integrity and respect for our customers and community as we enhance our province’s economic and social growth.

Visit Manitoba Hydro’s website for more information.

Anishinaabe Child & Family Services

According to the principles governing Anishinaabe Child & Family Services, ACFS offers a wide-range of programs and services to the children and families of Anishinaabe Child & Family Services region, and families of other first nations who request our services.

Visit Anishinaabe Child & Family Services’ website for more information.

Turning Leaf Support Services Inc.

We are a non-profit, charitable organization that provides person-centered, crisis and treatment services to low and high-risk vulnerable and marginalized individuals living with mental illness and intellectual challenge in our community.

Visit Turning Leaf Support Services Inc.’s website.

APTN

APTN launched in 1999 as the first national Indigenous broadcaster in the world. Since then, the network has become a global leader in programming that celebrates the rich diversity of Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island and beyond.

Visit APTN’s website for more information.

Sagkeeng Child and Family Services

Sagkeeng First Nation established Sagkeeng Child & Family Services in 1978. Sagkeeng was one of the first Indigenous Child & Family Service agencies in Manitoba. Sagkeeng Child & Family Services was founded on the beliefs, values and desires of the community with respect to the well-being of their children and families.

We are one of 10 agencies in the Southern First Nations Network of Care providing provincially mandated services as well as services under the Federal Child Welfare Legislation, known as An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Metis children, youth and families. We believe that children are our gifts and as community, it is our responsibility to guarantee their physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs.

Sagkeeng Child and Family Services’ vision is to strengthen and enhance the family unit by responding to the changing needs that reflect our culturally diverse community.

Our goal is to provide quality services using a preventative approach to promote self-determination.

Qualico

Established in Winnipeg in 1951, Qualico is one of the largest privately owned integrated real estate companies operating in Western Canada and US.

Visit Qualico’s website for more information.

Vidir Solutions Inc.

Vidir Solutions is a leading manufacturer and worldwide supplier of vertical motorized storage carousels and display systems. Our highly versatile line of carousels offers industry solutions for construction, retail, medical, warehouse, government, automotive, printing, and manufacturing.

Vidir Solutions is a company built on values that emphasize Quality, Innovation, Community and Safety. We create a family environment for our staff which fosters inclusivity and high employee satisfaction. Creativity and advancement is encouraged and supported to ensure the highest quality product.

Visit Vidir Solutions’ website for more information.

First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba

The objectives of the FNHSSM are to carry out business in the areas of health and social development for First Nations in Manitoba that are founded in the Treaty and inherent right to health and that are culturally appropriate, holistic, and community-based. To these ends, it will:

Develop strategies and initiatives to promote and increase the participation of First Nations in Manitoba in the control and delivery of health;

Pursue tripartite collaboration for a unified health system in Manitoba;

Promote understanding of the health and social issues that affect First Nations through partnerships, research, and collaboration;

Affirm, protect, and incorporate First Nations traditional knowledge and wellness practices; and,

Provide innovative programs and services for the well-being of Manitoba’s First Nations communities and individuals regardless of their place of residency.

Visit the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba’s website for more information.

Viterra Canada Inc.

At Viterra, we believe in the power of connection. Our world leading, fully integrated agriculture network connects producers to consumers to supply sustainable, traceable and quality controlled agricultural products.

With more than 18,000 talented employees operating in 37 countries, our strategic network of storage, processing and transport assets enable us to offer innovative solutions and open pathways for our customers, creating successful partnerships that last. As a responsible long-term business, we will continue to invest in and develop our network, allowing us to meet the needs of a growing world.

Visit Viterra Canada’s website for more information.

Treaty 1 – Naawi- Oodena Workforce Initiative

Naawi-Oodena Workforce Initiative for unique employment opportunities at the forefront of Naawi-Oodena’s development. In 2022, the Treaty One Workforce Mobilization team engaged with Treaty One First Nation communities to introduce the NOWI project and highlight its objectives and goals. A key area of focus was to identify and leverage the skills of Treaty One First Nation members to secure employment opportunities during the construction phases at Naawi-Oodena.

Visit Treaty One’s website for more information.

Sparrow Hotels

At Sparrow Hotels, our core purpose is to create an environment for people and communities to flourish. We strive to be responsible to our guests, clients and staff through social responsibility, community investment, sustainability, design and innovation.

Our roots in the Winnipeg community run deep with more than 80 years in the hospitality industry, growing alongside a city profoundly shaped by culture and hospitality. It is from this history that we draw inspiration to extend the most genuine and unique dining, spa and hotel experiences.

Visit Sparrow Hotels’ website for more information.

Scotiabank

As one of Canada’s largest banks with a strong presence across the Americas, Scotiabank’s vision is to be our clients’ most trusted financial partner, to deliver sustainable, profitable growth and maximize total shareholder return.

Visit Scotiabank’s website for more information.

The Forks North Portage

The Forks shall be developed as a ‘Meeting Place,’ a special and distinct, all-season gathering and recreational place at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, through a mixed-use approach including recreational, historical and cultural, residential, and institutional and supportive commercial uses.

The business of the Partnership is to provide as many reasons as possible for people ‘to live, work and play in the downtown.’ As more people live, work, or play downtown, more services and entertainment will be developed to serve them. Vitality at The Forks and North Portage is the result of a diverse mix of facilities and activities that reinforce one another, all bringing people into the downtown.

Visit The Forks’ website for more information.

Klinic Community Health

Klinic is a feminist organization committed to decolonial, anti-oppressive, and social justice practices and provision of prevention, health promotion, education, community health and mental health and counselling supports and services. Klinic Community Health predominantly serves the West Broadway community; however, their crisis lines provide counselling, crisis support, and suicide prevention and intervention for persons across Winnipeg and the province of Manitoba. Klinic Community Health offers primary health care, mental health care, and community health services to enhance individual and community capacity and support engaged and healthy communities.

Visit Klinic Community Health’s website for more information.

Dillon Consulting Ltd.

Dillon is an established, employee-owned professional consulting firm specializing in planning, management, engineering, and environmental science. 

With over 25 office locations and more than 1,100 employees across Canada, Dillon offers a wide range of services related to building and improving facilities and infrastructure, protecting the environment, and developing communities.

Visit Dillon Consulting Ltd.’s website for more information.

Reaching E-Quality Employment Services

Reaching E-Quality Employment Services (REES) has helped people with physical disabilities and/or health conditions connect with quality employment since 1989. REES offers a wide range of employment counselling and consultation services, connecting Winnipeg job-seekers with employers.

Visit Reaching E-Quality Employment Services’ website for more information.

Cobra Enterprises

Bison Modular Homes Division which specializes in the sales and installs of our modular homes across Canada. We are partnered with Norway House Cree Nation with this division.

Tyler Prevost founded Cobra Construction in 2009 as a general contracting company. In 2015, Prevost teamed up with his brother Shane and expanded the company by opening Cobra Structures, a second division to effectively serve customers with building solutions in a variety of industries. In 2019, the Prevost brothers partnered with Norway House Cree Nation to form Bison Modular Homes. This company manufactures durable, quality modular homes that provide fire-resistant, mold-resistant, and rot-resistant building solutions to northern Indigenous communities. Then in 2020, the Prevost’s partnered with Curtis Kuczera and created Cobra Mechanical in order to provide full mechanical and electrical turnkey solutions for clients. Together, these divisions form Cobra Enterprises, and their combined successful projects have made Cobra Enterprises Beausejour’s fastest growing company.

Visit Cobra Enterprises’ website for more information.

Southeast Resource Development Council Corp

We serve eight member communities consisting of Berens River First Nation, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, Bloodvein First Nation, Black River First Nation, Hollow Water First Nation, Little Grand Rapids First Nation, Pauingassi First Nation and Poplar River First Nation. SERDC focuses on the needs of our member communities. Our aim is to support our people through on and off-reserve programs and services including health services, housing and advisory services, social supports, employment and training, and student services.

Visit the Southeast Resource Development Council Corp’s website for more information.

New Directions for Children, Youth, Adults & Families

We provide responsive and individualized services that foster the hopes and dreams of people and their communities.

Visit New Directions for Children, Youth, Adults & Families’ website for more information.

HUB Technology Solutions

HUB Technology Solutions is a 100% Indigenous-owned information technology service provider based out of Winnipeg.

Visit HUB Technology Solutions’ website for more information.

City of Winnipeg

The City of Winnipeg is a vibrant, growing city with many opportunities! The City of Winnipeg is an organization where you can build a career and make a difference to your community. We offer a competitive salary, pension and benefits package, a wide range of challenging career choices, and a respectful, diverse, safe and healthy workplace.

Visit the City of Winnipeg’s website for more information.

Me-Dian Credit Union

Me-Dian Credit Union is the first Indigenous full-service financial institution to be founded in Canada. As a co-operative, the people who use our services-our members are also owners and shareholders. Members have a say in how Me-Dian Credit Union operates. They also share in the profits of the credit union, usually in the form of lower rates on loans and higher rates on deposits than they could ordinarily get at any other financial institutions. Me-Dian Credit Union is responsive to the needs of members, no matter where they live or how they choose to access our services.

Visit Me-Dian Credit Union’s website for more information.

Johnston Group

Johnston Group provides employee benefit solutions to over 30,000 companies, ranging from one employee to thousands across various product lines, including Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan, Canada’s largest business program. JG is a platinum member of Canada’s Best Managed Companies and was named one of Manitoba’s Top Employers. We value the diversity in the people we serve and are looking for talent who will contribute to our diverse and inclusive workplace; where individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and respected. JG believes in giving back and contributes significantly to local health, arts, sports, and other community organizations.

Visit Johnston Group’s website for more information.

Bison Transport

Bison Transport is a multiple-award-winning transportation solutions company. Our services span North America, and we employ the latest technologies and operate one of the largest and most modern fleets in the industry. Our dedicated staff and safe, professional Drivers provide a wide range of transportation, warehousing, and logistics services throughout North America. Bison Transport is a high-service, dependable and value-creating supply-chain partner.

Visit Bison Transport’s website for more information.

Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc.

Ka Ni Kanichihk is a trusted heart of Winnipeg’s Indigenous community. Our vision is to lead our people back home to a place where we are self-determining, healthy, happy, and respected for our cultural and spiritual strengths and ways of being.

We do this through a number of Indigenous led prevention and intervention programs that help children, youth, women, men, and families heal, succeed, and become leaders.

Ka Ni Kanichihk provides education and job-skills training, support for women and families, and mentorship. We walk with people on their path of recovery from trauma.

Visit Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc.’s website for more information.

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries

We enrich the lives of Manitobans by making the greatest possible contribution to the economic and social well-being of our province.

Visit Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries’ website for more information.

TD Bank

Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with ~95,000 employees around the world, the Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group (TD). TD offers a full range of financial products and services to over 27.5 million customers worldwide through four key business lines: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking including TD Canada Trust, Business Banking, and MBNA; U.S. Retail including TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, TD Auto Finance (U.S.), TD Wealth (U.S.) and TD’s investment in Schwab; Wealth Management & Insurance including TD Wealth (Canada), TD Direct Investing, and TD Insurance; Wholesale Banking including TD Securities and TD Cowen.

Visit TD Bank’s website for more information.

First Peoples Development Inc. (FPDI); LauncHER into Trades

LauncHER into Trades is geared to promote the recruitment and retention of Women in the Red Seal trades within Manitoba, while supporting and assisting women in achieving employment and progression within a Red Seal trade Career path.

The program will help women to Navigate challenges and barriers that impact progression in attaining a journey-person designation in a Red Seal trade by providing mentorships, networking opportunities and other key supports for women. The program will follow and guide women on their journey to success!

Visit the First Peoples Development Inc.’s website for more information.

The North West Company

The North West Company is a leading retailer to underserved rural communities and urban neighbourhood markets in the following regions: Northern Canada, Western Canada, rural Alaska, the South Pacific islands and the Caribbean. Our stores offer a broad range of products and services with an emphasis on food. Our value offer is to be the best local shopping choice for everyday household and local lifestyle needs.

Visit The North West Company’s website for more information.


If you haven’t already, remember to register for a chance to win prizes at the Indigenous Career Fair – An RBC Reaction by Collision Event!

See you on Thursday!

Indigenous Career Fair Preparation Sessions – March 18, 19, 20

March 14, 2024

Join us at any of the sessions below to learn more about how you can make the most of this event!

With the RRC Polytech Indigenous Career Fair coming up (Thursday, March 21), Career Services is offering employment preparation sessions for Indigenous RRC Polytech students.

Indigenous Career Fair Preparation Presentation

Monday, March 18, 12pm – 1pm
Virtual via MS Teams

Indigenous Career Fair – Ask Me Anything (AMA) Session

Tuesday, March 19, 1pm – 4pm
Notre Dame Campus – F209

Career Services Lunch and Learn Series

Every Wednesday, March 20 to April 24 from 12pm – 1pm
Exchange District Campus (EDC) – P407

Questions

If you have any questions, or accommodation requests, please contact Zach Unrau, Career Advisor at zunrau3@rrc.ca

Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQIA+ Celebration and Awareness Day – March 20

March 6, 2024

Join us to celebrate Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQIA+ Celebration and Awareness Day.

RRC Polytech is hosting a Two-Spirit Film Festival to showcase the radiance and diversity of Two-Spirit identities, expression and experience.

Both campuses will feature screenings of First Stories – Two Spirited; Second Stories – Deb-we-win Ge-ken-am-aan, Our Place in the Circle; and Woman Dress.

  • Wednesday, March 20 • 1pm – 2pm
  • The Spectrum, Notre Dame Campus
  • Wednesday, March 20 • 1pm – 2pm
  • E155, Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, Exchange District Campus

No registration is required.

About the films

First Stories – Two Spirited is a documentary that presents the empowering story of Rodney “Geeyo” Poucette’s struggle against prejudice in the Indigenous community as a Two-Spirited Person. Two Spirited was produced through First Stories, an emerging filmmaker program for Indigenous youth. The program saw three separate collections of short films from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta

Second Stories – Deb-we-win Ge-ken-am-aan, Our Place in the Circle is a representation of Lorne Olson’s vision 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. Second Stories followed the success of First Stories and continued training with Indigenous filmmakers from the first program.

Woman Dress is a pre-contact story about a Two-Spirit person named Woman Dress, who travels the Plains while gathering and sharing stories. Woman Dress features archival images, recounts scenes of dramatized re-enactments, and shares a Cuthand family oral story while honouring and respecting Woman Dress without imposing colonial binaries on them.

Indigenous Career Fair – March 21

February 21, 2024

Get your resume ready and join us for the Indigenous Career Fair, an RBC Reaction by Collision event!

Speak with employers from over 30 organizations representing various industries who have job openings and opportunities for Indigenous students and graduates. View the job listings online and learn about the kind of opportunities available to you! The Indigenous Career Fair will kick off with a panel of Indigenous professionals to discuss breaking into industry and navigating the job search.

The RBC Headshot Lounge, courtesy of RBC, will be open for you to take professional headshot photos for your LinkedIn and other bios.

A hot dog lunch will be available for attendees. Students that register ahead of time will be entered to win awesome prizes!

Keep an eye on Student News or subscribe to the Indigenous blog for up-to-date information and reminders for our events!

Thank you to RBC for their generous support of the Indigenous Career Fair – An RBC Reaction by Collision Event.

Career Fair Tips

If this is your first Career Fair or one of many you’ve been to, it’s better to be prepared ahead of time so you know what to expect! Knowing what you want will increase your chances of finding a career that fits you.

What should I wear?

There’s no dress code for the Indigenous Career Fair, so what you usually wear to class will work! T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, or button-up shirts with solid colours or simple patterns paired with jeans, pants, or skirts are usually what you might see at networking events like career fairs. Just keep in mind—you’re making a first impression with potential employers!

What should I bring?

The main things you’ll want to bring are your resume and an idea of what kind of job you want. Print a few copies of your resume in case you want to leave some with employers. Five to ten copies should be fine, but if you need to print more, printers are available throughout the campus that you can access using Paperclip.

The other thing you might want to bring is a notepad, in case there’s information you want to keep track of when you’re chatting with employers. We’ll provide pens at the registration desk, so we’ve got you covered!

I made a connection! What now?

Fantastic! You’ve hit it off with an employer, you left your resume with them, and they said they’d follow up; or, best-case scenario, they schedule an interview with you. What do you do now?

First thing’s first: get their contact information. It can be a general intake email or phone number, or the direct contact information of the hiring manager. Direct contact information with the hiring manager is better, since you’ll be able to address them by name in the follow-up.

Once the career fair is over, make the first move! The next day or the day after, send them an email or call to confirm the appointment if you’ve made one, or if not, just to thank them for their time at the career fair. Reference anything you might’ve talked about, and that will solidify you in their minds as a strong, interested, and confident candidate. If you didn’t get an interview at the career fair, this might just be the thing that tips the balance in your favour and land you that interview.

If that’s too bold for you, that’s okay too—just make sure that you remember their number, save it in your phone, or be open to calls from unknown numbers. It might be them following up with you!

Questions for Employers

You know what’s most important in a job for you, but here are some questions to get you started. These questions to ask employers can help you decide if you want to throw your hat in the ring for their job posting.

What position are you hiring for?

The most important answer for you to know.

You might know which positions you want, but then again you might not—it’s a good idea to go over your own skillset and to research roles you think you would be good at beforehand.

Even if the position sounds like it doesn’t align with your skillset, keep chatting! Be curious, find out what kind of person they want for the role. It might surprise you—you may actually have the right skillset, or they might ask for your resume to keep on file if a more fitting position opens up in the next few weeks or months. Every booth is an open door!

What responsibilities come with this role?

Usually this is the follow-up information when they tell you the title of the position. This information will help you determine if the role is aligned with your current skills and goals.

If only half of the responsibilities sound like things you know how to do, don’t worry! Organizations might have opportunities for their employees to develop professionally and may provide training for things you don’t know how to do yet. It can pay off in the end for an organization to train the employees they have or the employees they hire on (like you!), rather than continually look for someone that checks off all their boxes right off the bat. What’s valuable to them is your willingness to learn with them.

So, if you want to stand out, be honest! You don’t have to share what you can or can’t do right now, but if you snag an interview with them later, be honest about what you can do or have experience with. Even if you don’t check all their boxes, let them know that you’re willing to learn on the job! It gives them a sense of what to expect of you in that position and where they can help you grow, and what you can provide them with when you start (and so they aren’t overloading you with things you don’t know how to do yet).

What is the pay rate?

Pay is a huge factor when considering your job options. If they don’t volunteer this information, don’t be shy to ask! Everybody needs to know what their compensation will look like to know if they want to pursue an opportunity.

A good thing to know when deciding if a wage or salary is sufficient for you, a living wage in Winnipeg is $18.35 an hour full-time (or $36,700 annually) for both parents of a family of four, according to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives as of August 2022. (Living wage means to be able to pay off all your expenses like groceries and bills from month to month.)

A lot of employers will say the pay varies, but generally they’ll give you a range like $40,000 – $45,000 a year, which is something you can negotiate when you get to the interview part of the hiring process. It’ll depend on what you ask for and your qualifications.

What are the benefits?

This will depend on the hours of the job. If it is full-time, salaried, then there will usually be benefits like dental coverage, eyecare coverage, mental health care coverage, among others. Positions that are not full-time will have limited additional benefits.

Coverage means the organization will reimburse the cost up to a specified amount each year. For example, you could claim up to $1000.00 per year in coverage for mental health services like therapy or psychological evaluations. They will pay up to $1000.00 to your provider, and after that amount, you will be responsible for the costs.

Another way organizations might cover your benefits is providing a certain percentage for each instance you use a covered service. For example, your employer might cover 80% of your dental cleaning service, so you only have to pay the remaining 20%.

Organizations will often use a third-party service, like Blue Cross or Canada Life. They’ll go over your benefit coverage in more detail once you’ve been hired on.

What’s your favourite part about working for this organization?

Anyone who enjoys their career and is trying to get new people on their team will love this question! Knowing what current employees like about their jobs can help you decide if the job and organization has potential to meet your expectations.

Asking a personal question like this is a great way to make a connection with people at the booths. It shows interest in the organization and the people that manage it. This question also serves a practical purpose: knowing why current employees like their organization might sell you on that organization too!

We’re looking forward to seeing you at the 2024 Indigenous Career Fair – An RBC Reaction by Collision Event! Students can register ahead of time for a chance to win awesome prizes!

Calling all past Indigenous Pathway program students!

February 14, 2024

As a past Pathway Program student, you’re invited for a special event!

Join us for lunch in the Indigenous Support Centre F209 at Notre Dame Campus to meet other Pathway progression students and reconnect with the supports and faculty in the School of Indigenous Education. Be part of a community of Indigenous trailblazers and continue to build your network of peers.

  • Tuesday, Feb. 27 • 11:30am – 1:30pm
  • F209, Notre Dame Campus

If you’re interested in attending, please RSVP by emailing Terri-Lynn, Navigation Coach, at tlanderson@rrc.ca.

Know of any other Pathway students in your program? Invite them to join the lunch! Pathway graduates from all years are welcome. Charcuterie, dainties and refreshments will be served.

Aadizooke – Dec. 7

December 4, 2023

Join us in the Indigenous Support Centre to celebrate the Winter Solstice with a Pipe Ceremony and Feast.

The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year—a time of reflection, renewal, and the Earth’s return to the sun. While the solstice falls on December 21, we invite you to gather with us a little early on December 7, before the end of term.

Join us in the Indigenous Support Centre for a meaningful ceremony, sharing circle, and feast as we honour the seasonal shift. Come reflect, connect, and celebrate the return of the light with community.

  • Thursday, Dec. 7 • 10am – 12pm
  • F209, Notre Dame Campus

No registration is required—everyone is welcome.

RRC Polytech campuses are located on the lands of the Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, Anishininwak, Dakota Oyate, and Denésuline, 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.