Celebrating the Winter Solstice

Posted: December 7, 2018

We sat down with Elder-in-Residence Paul Guimond, who will lead the Winter Solstice ceremony at the Notre Dame Campus, to learn more about this key seasonal event.

Both Red River College Indigenous Support Centres (Exchange District Campus and Notre Dame Campus) will host Winter Solstice celebrations to mark the start of the season, December 13^th and 14^th, and you’re invited!

Gatherings for the Winter Solstice bring comfort, warmth, and people together to share stories, laughter and of course, food. In Indigenous culture, winter represents an ancestral spirit, so reflecting on the past by sharing stories and thanking our ancestors is an important part of honouring where we’re from, especially as we plan for the cold months ahead.

We’ll begin with a traditional pipe ceremony and sacred songs, one of which will be a thank you song to our ancestors. Don’t worry if you don’t know the words, lyrics will be shared so everyone can join in. At the Notre Dame location, we will bring a grandfather drum to life. Both events will conclude with a feast that Paul says represents feasting the spirits and showing thanks.

If you’re wondering what the Pipe Ceremony is all about, Paul says, “it was always the pipe that brought people together. The pipe’s stone represents strength, and that stone has been here for a long time, so it has a lot of stories. The wood that’s attached to that pipe represents the connection to the spirit that connects to the creator. So if you put those two together and put our first medicine in the pipe, which is tobacco, then that smoke takes the message to the creator.”

The Winter Solstice celebrations offer RRC students and staff an opportunity to learn more about and participate in the Indigenous ceremonies that take place at the college, visit the Support Centres, and meet staff.

All pipe carriers are invited to take part in the Pipe Ceremony.

Winter Solstice: Pipe Ceremony & Feast
Thursday, December 13 – 11:00 am
Indigenous Support Centre
Exchange District Campus – P407

Winter Solstice: Open House
Pipe Ceremony, Feast & Making of the Grandfather Drum
Friday, December 14 – 10:00 am
Indigenous Support Centre
Notre Dame Campus – F205

Hide Tanning and Drum Making

Posted: November 29, 2018

Indigenous Education does not start in the classroom. It starts in connecting students to the real world, whether that be the traditional world or the academic world. It allows students to be successful in whatever path they choose to take in life, whether that means employment in an urban centre or returning back to their community to work on community driven projects.

Although traditional Indigenous people did not carry around beakers and journals, they were scientists. They understood and followed Natural Law. They understood and had biologists, chemists, archeologists, and botanists. They also understood and used astrology, and practiced conservation and land management. Often people hear the word traditional and they think that the information is outdated or not scientifically sound, however, the reality is that Indigenous knowledge and ways of being provide us with many of our modern medicines and knowledge of our physical environment. The form of tanning that the students learned does not use chemicals but rather parts of the animal. It’s important to understand that there may be quicker methods to tanning but they are harmful to the earth and to the humans working in that field. These students now have the knowledge to tan a hide, take care of the earth and themselves for future generations.

During the hide tanning exercise, students learned about Indigenous history, culture, chemistry, biology, and conservation. They honoured the animal that gave up its life for their learning. Although these animals may not be ones in our back yards, we have to remember that we are in their back yards so it’s important for us to learn to live with wildlife because we cannot live without one another.

Indigenous Education Fisher River Field Trip

Posted: November 21, 2018

On November 7th and 8th, 25 students and instructors from Red River College’s Indigenous Education went to Fisher River Cree Nation to learn about the Initiatives the community has undertaken regarding Community Development, Economic Development and Social Entrepreneurship. The community facilitated discussion with community leaders who ensure that environmental stewardship, sustainability and cultural values are integrated into all aspects of community life. Chief Crate and Council members spent time with the students explaining how they achieve and maintain a healthy community and environment by describing initiatives, research, land management and governance structures that support the ongoing resilience of the community despite the colonial imposition of the Indian Act and other policies that historically have sought to diminish these very values.

The students and instructors then embarked on an extensive tour led by one of the council members of the community to numerous locations of interest including the cottage lot development, the largest solar farm in Western Canada, the new community hall, the band office and the high school. The school is new and incorporates geothermal heating (as do most homes and buildings) and sustainability into the design. It also highlights the Cree cultural and language ways of learning through Artwork, Architecture and programs. Some programs include land based teachings of hunting and trapping, Cree language integration into curriculum and an access life program that prepares students for success into life after high school into post-secondary opportunities, entrepreneurship or other types of success.

The evening was hosted by council member Carl and his wife Jeannie who prepared a sweat lodge ceremony. The group is diverse and includes students who are of Indigenous, non-Indigenous and International decent. The experience for most was the first time experiencing Cree ceremony, medicines, songs and drumming. The field trip ended with a sharing circle and honour song led by Elder Jeanie and delivered with traditional drum playing and singing by a talented young man who brought some of the group to tears with his song.

Red River College is extremely grateful for the opportunity to visit and connect with FRCN and for the generous hospitality, language and cultural teachings, delicious food and history books they received.

Red River College Cannabis Legalization One-day Conference

Posted: October 15, 2018

Red River College’s School of Indigenous Education welcomes you to a one-day Cannabis Day Conference on October 19. Join us for a day of learning, opportunity and networking with panel speakers that include Industry experts from Navigator, Bonify and National Access Canada, including Medical Professionals doctors and patients, educators, investors, and entrepreneurs as well as provincial and federal regulators.

With Canada set to become the first G7 country to have full legalization on both medical and recreational use of cannabis, education, research and development will play a significant role in this emerging industry.

Come learn this growing Cannabis Industry In Manitoba including upcoming courses at Red River College and the growing partnership opportunities with First Nations and Métis Nations.

Details

Location: Red River College’s Roblin Centre (160 Princess St., Winnipeg, MB)
Time: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Cost: $99 Regular, $25 Students (must show student ID)

To register, please sign up on Eventbrite.

Confirmed Speakers

Navigator
Trevor Green, CEO OneLeaf
Dr. Brent Guppy
Dr. Shelley Turner
Dr. Faith Dieleman
Bonify
One-leaf
Tokyo Smoke
National Access Cannabis
First Pharmacy Medical
Fresh Forage
Chief Christian Sinclair
Chief Marcel Moody
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Grand Chief Arlen Dumas
Plus more to come!

For questions, please contact Morgan Paul at mpaul50@rrc.ca or 204-632-3773.

Red River College is also offering a Continuing Education night course starting November 6 called Cannabis 101.

This course will provide 36 hours of instruction with Dr. Shelley Turner and include:

a science-based overview of the cannabis plant from genetics, to production and processing, and to market;
a review of the regulations and restrictions in the medical and recreational space, and how they apply provincially and federally;
up-to-date information regarding medical cannabis therapy and harm reduction strategies;
robust discussion on the safety and social responsibility topics in the industry; and.
an overview of the current research and development in the industry

Indigenous Language Revitalization through Land-based Learning

Posted: June 27, 2018

Red River College is offering a week-long accredited course that uses land-based learning to support language revitalization. You’ll learn from local Elders and certified Indigenous language teachers working in language revitalization programs in Winnipeg school divisions.

This is the third course being offered as part of the Indigenous Language program at Red River College. It is open to anyone, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners. Course content and methodology will accommodate both fluent and non-fluent speakers.

This course can be taken as part of RRC’s Indigenous Language Certificate program, or as a stand-alone course to increase competency in land-based education. Come and learn with us and our community as we revitalize language through our relationships to the land, people, teachings, ceremonies and songs.

This is a 40-credit-hour course, which counts as three credits. For more information, contact Linda Bulka at lbulka@rrc.ca.

The course cost is $599. To apply for a bursary, contact Darlene Funk at dfunk@rrc.ca.

To register: visit rrc.ca/irl or phone 204.632.2180.

Download the poster for the course here.

Indigenous Education Programs for 2018/2019

Posted: June 19, 2018

We have recently undergone some exciting new developments and are pleased to announce the launch of five new academic programs coming this fall 2018. We know offer 8 courses through Red River College Indigenous Education.

Click on links below for more information on Indigenous Education programs for 2018/2019:

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Aspiring Student Manager, Frank Parkes, at 204.632.2534 or fparkes@rrc.ca.

Indigenous Education Open House

Posted: May 18, 2018

Red River College Indigenous Education has recently implemented a new strategic vision that focuses on the long-term success of our Indigenous students through the redevelopment of our Indigenous Student Support Services, as well as changes to our academic programming.

We have recently undergone some exciting new developments and are pleased to announce the launch of five new academic programs coming this fall 2018.

To help spread the word on these exciting new post-secondary educational opportunities for students we would like to extend an invitation to you to join us at our upcoming Indigenous Education Open House on Thursday, May 31st, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Our Open House will take place at the Notre Dame Campus in our Indigenous Student Support Centre, Building F, 2nd Floor, Room F209, where aspiring students and guests will have the opportunity to learn about the five new programs in detail, gather information about Indigenous support services, as well as the opportunity to apply the same day. Read More →

Learn a Traditional Language

Posted: January 9, 2018

Red River College is offering two new Anishinaabemowin language and culture courses, created to support Indigenous language revitalization in Manitoba schools.

The accredited courses are the first of their kind to be offered by RRC, and will be delivered through a partnership between its Schools of Indigenous Education and Continuing Education.

The Introduction to Anishinaabemowin Language and Culture course — geared to non- or semi-fluent speakers — begins in February 2018, while the Level 2 course for intermediate and fluent speakers starts in the spring.

Both will be offered on a part-time basis to K-12 educators in the province, and to anyone else who may be interested.

“As a College, we are taking the lead to provide more opportunities for educators to gain a deeper understanding of Indigenous language and identity, and to continue to strengthen partnerships with Indigenous learners in our community,” says Rebecca Chartrand, RRC’s Executive Director, Indigenous Strategy.

To learn more about the courses and see registration information, visit rrc.ca/acl.

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