Gayle Gruben’s work reflects her dedication to causes that are deeply ingrained in community.

In 2022, she created an amauti (a woman’s parka with a pouch in which to carry a baby) to memorialize the loved ones identified with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit People and to honour their families. Gayle worked closely with families to properly commemorate their loved ones, and the amauti was featured in an exhibition at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in November 2022.

Gayle 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 Invialuit Settlement Region of the western arctic. Gayle credits her discipline to her grandmother and her mother-in-law, who taught her the way to make traditional Inuit clothing, and to the College of the North Atlantic’s Textile and Fabrication program in St. John’s, Newfoundland, where she learned technical skills for pattern-making.

A mother to three adult children and grandmother to six grandchildren, Gayle is proud to share her Inuvialuit culture and traditions with anyone willing to learn. She had lived in many different provinces throughout her life before making Steinbach, Manitoba her home.

Join Gayle at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae on April 19, 2023 for Indigenous Food, Fashion, and Music: an RBC Reaction by Collision Community Event and encounter Inuit fashion right here in the heart of Canada. For more information, check out the program post for the 2023 RBC Reaction by Collision.

Olivia Nasikapow taught herself to bead growing up.

That hobby turned into a fully-fledged career when she graduated from MC College in November 2022.

Olivia is a fashion designer from Missipawstik Cree Nation in Treaty 5 Territory. From a young age, Olivia’s parents encouraged her creative endeavours through arts and crafts and by showing her how to use the furs and leathers her father collected from out on the trap line. She learned the differences between the various leathers and furs, how each of them were used, and how the materials were able to keep them warm and safe through the seasons.

Olivia comes from a long line of artisans. On her father’s side, her great-grandmother Grace (Tobacco) Sanderson designed jingle dresses and traditional clothing, and her grandmother Priscilla (Sanderson) Nasikapow handmade clothing for her children. On her mother’s side, her great-grandmother Harriette (Greenleaf) Ballantyne and her grandmother Gladys (Ballantyne) Scott made tanned leather and moccasins.

Seeing the tanning process and the work that went into making clothes inspired Olivia to pursue fashion.

“I was determined to figure out how to elaborate on their designs and crafts with the collection I have recently made.”

Olivia Nasikapow

Olivia’s vision for her brand is to express the resilience and strength of Indigenous Iskwew (women), a testament to the work that she and the women that came before her have done to revolutionize and Indigenize fashion. The Winter Collection 2023 Traditional and Contemporary Indigenous Fashion includes nine jackets, women’s snow suits, casual and formal wear, mukluks, fur hats, and beaded accessories.

Join Olivia at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae on April 19, 2023 for Indigenous Food, Fashion, and Music: an RBC Reaction by Collision Community Event and experience her latest collection on the runway. For more information, check out the program post for the 2023 RBC Reaction by Collision.

Inspired by a fusion of Carribean spice and Indigenous ingredients.

Established in October 2018, Brownees Urban Bistro, a cultural catering company infusing Indigenous ingredients with Caribbean flavours and spice, was brought to Winnipeg, Treat 1 Territory by owner and head Chef, Melissa Brown; also known as Brownee!

With her passion for cooking, love for her Jamaican & Anishinaabe identity, and appreciation for the Indigenous foods sovereignty movement, Chef Brown thought it only made sense to offer Winnipeg a unique and elevated dining and tastebud experience.

Food and the opportunity to cook were surefire ways to engage the youth in Melissa’s neighbourhood growing up. Whenever places like Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre offered either, Melissa and her friends were always there; that experience launched Melissa’s journey to establish an urban Indigenous youth culinary program and Brownees Urban Bistro.

Brownees Urban Bistro fills a unique and thriving niche in the cuisine industry and has recently created an extension of her catering company to include luxury bannock donuts: Brownees Bannock Delights.

Brownees Urban Bistro & Brownees Bannock Delights can be found on Facebook & Instagram, and bookings can be made through her website.

Join Chef Brown at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae on April 19, 2023 for Indigenous Food, Fashion, and Music: an RBC Reaction by Collision Community Event and indulge in a fusion of Anishinaabe and Jamaican cuisine. For more information, check out the program post for the 2023 RBC Reaction by Collision.

Feast Café Bistro is a 100% Indigenous owned and operated restaurant serving dishes inspired by the traditional flavours of this great land.

From day one, Feast has run as a hybrid restaurant and social enterprise. Some crowd favourites include butternut squash bannock pizza, traditional tipi tacos, pan-seared Manitoba pickerel and wild rice, slow-roasted sweetgrass bison ribs with wild blueberry BBQ sauce, and, of course, fresh-made bannocks!

Feast harvests, cooks, and eats with good intention. The folks at Feast pay respect to the plants and animals that give themselves to nourish our bodies. Feast proudly uses foods native to the land, such as wild rice, squash, beans and bison. Feast is committed to working with the community by participating in initiatives surrounding Indigenous foods, education and work experience with local non-profits and providing opportunities to those who face barriers to employment.

“As we eat together, we honour our connections, preserve our history and share our stories. This is where our name comes from, what inspires us and our menu.”

Born and raised in Winnipeg and a proud member of Peguis First Nation, owner Christa Bruneau-Guenther is a homecook turned restaurateur. She has made it her mission to help Feast become a pillar in the community, a place for the community to reconnect and learn about Indigenous food and culture. 

Since opening in late 2015, Christa and Feast have been featured on national and international stages like Food Network Canada, Canadian Living and Chatelaine Magazine. Feast has been honored to host guests from all walks of life—from community members, elders, and families to community leaders, senators, and supreme court justices.

Savour Feast’s delectable selection at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae on April 19, 2023 for Indigenous Food, Fashion, and Music: an RBC Reaction by Collision Community Event and experience her latest collection on the runway.

For more information, check out the program post for the 2023 Reaction by Collision.

Express your school spirit during Spirit Week!

Next week, bring your comfiest pajamas, your baggiest jersey, your wackiest hairstyle, and your creative-iest not-a-backpack! Each day you participate, get an entry into the draw at the end of the week to win!

Show up at either Indigenous Support Centre (F209 at NDC and P407 at EDC) decked out each day:

• Tuesday, April 11: Pajama Day
• Wednesday, April 12: Jersey Day
• Thursday, April 13: Crazy Hair Day  
• Friday, April 14: Anything-but-a-Backpack Day

Make sure you check in with a Navigator to get entered each day. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

If you have any questions, contact Terri-Lynn at tlanderson@rr.ca.

The Exchange District Campus comprises three core buildings: Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, the Roblin Centre and Paterson GlobalFoods Institute. Your Indigenous Food, Fashion and Music experience starts at the Manitou a bi Bii daziigae building – so let us help you plan how to get there.

How do you want to get to RRC Polytech?

Car

Drive to the Exchange District and find parking around our campus – we’ll help you figure out the best parking spots.

Bus

Using Winnipeg Transit is an affordable and efficient way to get to the Exchange District.

Bike

Learn more about your options if you’re intending to bike to the Exchange District Campus.

Explore Your Transportation Options

Car

Parking in the Exchange District

The Exchange District area has both street parking and public parking lot options – both paid. Make sure you purchase your parking pass before going into the Open Doors event.

Bus

Winnipeg Transit

Several bus routes can take you to the Exchange District. Use the Winnipeg Transit tool to plan your bus ride.

Plan your trip to EDC ›

Bike

Storing your Bike

There are options to make cycling a safe and convenient method of commuting to RRC Polytech. Bike racks are available to the public at the Roblin Centre (160 Princess St.), one of our Exchange District Campus’ buildings.

Find out more about biking resources ›

This event is graciously supported by RBC Future Launch.

We are proud to host the 23^rd annual Pow Wow to honour Indigenous graduates and academic achievement!

Please join us to celebrate our students as we send them off on their continued journeys to success. The annual Pow Wow gives our community the opportunity to dance, drum, sing, eat, connect, and participate in Ceremony.

Friday, May 5, 2023

North Gym, Notre Dame Campus

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

Registration for graduating students is now open. Students don’t need to register for stoles ahead of time and can pick them up at the Registration Table at the event.

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

Crafters and artists can email Frank Parkes at fparkes@rrc.ca to register.

Attendees don’t need to register ahead of time.

Ready to sing your heart out (or cheer from the sidelines)?

Join us in the Indigenous Support Centre (F209) at NDC for a fun-filled karaoke night on Thursday, April 20!

Snacks and refreshments start at 4p,, and the mic heats up at 4:30. Whether you’re a stage star or a behind-the-curtain crooner, everyone’s welcome to shine.

Bring your friends, grab a mic, and let’s make some noise—no registration needed!

• Thursday, April 20 • 4pm – 7pm
• F209, Notre Dame Campus

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

We invite the community to join us to celebrate Indigenous culture and arts!

In partnership with RBC, the School of Indigenous Education at RRC Polytech is hosting the annual RBC Reaction by Collision on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae (319 Elgin Ave.) in downtown Winnipeg.

Reaction by Collision is a community celebration featuring some of Canada’s brightest Indigenous entrepreneurs through Food, Fashion and Music. All are welcome!

Many thanks to event sponsor RBC Future Launch for their gracious support of the Reaction by Collision event.

Discover the latest trends in haute couture as models stride the runway, indulge in delectable cuisine from local chefs, browse handmade crafts and jewelry from local artisans, and experience the talent of Indian City.

The Crafters’ Market will feature local artisans and businesses with handmade works for purchase. Visit the Roundhouse on the second floor to see what’s for sale!

OGICHIDAA, a student-led Indigenous Cultures Club, will share a drumming performance to showcase their cultural pride as Indigenous students.

Featured Artisans

Food

Brownees Urban Bistro, a cultural catering company infusing Indigenous ingredients with Caribbean flavours and spice was brought to Winnipeg, Treat 1 Territory by owner and head chef, Melissa Brown, also known as Brownee! With her passion for cooking, love for both her cultural identities (Jamaican & Anishinaabe), and appreciation for the Indigenous foods sovereignty movement, Chef Brown thought it only made sense to offer Winnipeg a unique and elevated dining and tastebud experience.

Feast Café Bistro started with a focus on community and a goal of becoming a pillar in the West End. Chef Krista Bruneau-Guenther wants each visitor to experience modern dishes rooted in traditional First Nation foods while celebrating the spirit of her culture. In the four years since opening, Christa’s recipes have been featured in Canadian Living, Chatelaine, and Food Network Canada.

Fashion

Olivia Nasikapow taught herself to bead growing up, and that hobby turned into a fully-fledged career when she graduated from MC College in November 2022. Olivia’s vision for her brand is to express the resilience and strength of Indigenous Iskwew (women), a testament to the work that she and the women that came before her have done to revolutionize and Indigenize fashion.

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.

Dawn Harris‘s journey in fashion started when she would shop for stage clothing for her children’s and grandchildren’s jigging performances but found that the pieces offered in stores never fit quite right and the mass-produced styles were lacking in character. She started to envision her own designs that would make her kids shine on stage, and in 2004, she started her brand, Designs by Dawn.

Music

Indian City is a fusion of pop, folk, and rock with an ever-rotating roster of talent. Indian City’s fourth album and Fontaine’s final project, Code Red, is a 2023 Juno Nominee for the Contemporary Indigenous Group of the Year Award. The Winnipeg-based band features different Indigenous superstars with each album, bringing together a masterful mix of energies to every recording and each live performance while expressing the modern conscience of Indigenous People. The band was founded in 2012 by the late Vince Fontaine.

Subscribe here or follow us on Facebook or Instagram for up-to-date information. If you have any questions, please contact the School of Indigenous Education Events Coordinator Terri-Lynn Anderson at tlanderson@rrc.ca.

This observance was created by the Two-Spirit community in partnership with the Centre for Community-Based Research in Alberta.

It’s a time to recognize and support 2SLGBTQQIA+ Indigenous people by learning about their history, identities, and contributions.

Join us in honouring this important day by deepening your understanding and showing support for the Two-Spirit and 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.