Indigenous Culinary Class were invited to assist chefs at the International Indigenous Tourism Conference.

A world-class event, a thousand hungry attendees, and seven eager first year Indigenous Culinary Skills students from RRC Polytech were among the ingredients in a recipe for success, served up in downtown Winnipeg last week.       

Opportunity knocked when organizers of last week’s International Indigenous Tourism Conference (IITC) reached out to the College looking for help to feed visitors to the RBC Convention Centre attending the largest Indigenous tourism event in the world.    

Indigenous Culinary Skills instructor, Chef Patrick Anderson didn’t have to convince his current class to step up and show off their skills because all seven first year students immediately volunteered and even organized their own carpool to ensure they didn’t miss the chance of a lifetime – to get into the kitchen at a massive international event to prepare upscale traditional dishes and learn from world-renowned top chefs.

“Our students got to work shoulder-to-shoulder with 11 of the most accomplished Indigenous chefs from all over North America, helping them make 650 portions of some of the most well thought out and delicious Indigenous dishes,” said Chef Patrick. “Even I was blown away by all the amazing flavors they developed and served. This menu was proof that Indigenous cuisine is so much more than Bannock, berries and smoked meat.” 

Although cooking for a convention was a first-time experience for most of the students, they leaned on their training, their mentors, and each other to embrace the moment and perform to rave reviews. Their confidence was off the charts by the end of the night as they enjoyed samples of their work and even danced a few friendly jigs with event coordinators and guest chefs in celebration.   

“It was a really useful experience – I’d been to conferences before when I worked in healthcare, but being able to help prep and plate next to these chefs was so exciting,” said student, Belinda Johnson.

The professional chefs could not stop raving to instructors about how diligent and skilled the students were, and even offered jobs to a couple of them.

“Our team did not look like first year culinary students at this event – they acted like graduates. They worked like experienced cooks that have an incredibly bright future ahead of them. One of the coordinators came up to me and told me she believes the future of Indigenous culinary industry is very bright knowing there are programs like ours.”

Chef Patrick Anderson

On the heels of the students’ success at IITC, the Wiisinin Diner is now operating Tuesday to Friday at  RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame Campus. From March 14 to April 21, the Culinary Skills students will get hands-on experience by serving short-order meals to the College community.

The Wiisinin Diner menu will be posted daily online. Staff and students must purchase vouchers at the Campus Bookstore, place their orders for breakfast or lunch online, then take their vouchers over to Prairie Lights Dining Room to pick up their meal. Please note the Campus Bookstore will be closed March 29, 30, 31 so you are encouraged to purchase vouchers in advance for these dates.

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.

Sweats take place at 1 pm in the Medicine Wheel Garden at the Notre Dame Campus. To register, email Stephanie at sdwright@rrc.ca. Subscribe to our blog for reminders of upcoming Sweats! Check out the Sweat Lodge schedule here for more information.

All students, staff, and faculty are invited to our Spring Equinox gathering.

The Pipe Ceremony and Feast mark a special time of connection and gratitude, bringing everyone together in a powerful shared experience.

Following that, join us for the Round Dance in the Library hallway (mall level), a vibrant celebration of community and tradition.

This event is part of our Spring Equinox celebration — a meaningful way to welcome the new season and honour the balance of light and life returning to the world. It’s a time to reflect, renew, and look forward to growth and new beginnings.

• Thursday, March 23 • 10am – 12pm
• F209, Notre Dame Campus

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

Feel the beat and connect with spirit!

Join us in the Indigenous Support Centre (F209) as we welcome back Coco — a celebrated musician known for his powerful traditional singing and drumming at Pow Wows and ceremonies. Drumming is more than music — it’s a sacred artform that helps many Indigenous people connect to their culture, ancestors, and spirit. Don’t miss this uplifting experience!

• Wednesday, March 8 • 2:30pm – 3:30pm
• F209, Notre Dame Campus

To register, email Terri-Lynn at tlanderson@rrc.ca.

Music has always been at the heart of Métis culture.

It brings people together through rhythm, storytelling, and celebration.

Swing by the Atrium in the Roblin Centre at the Exchange District Campus for a lively fiddle and guitar performance by Jason Lepine and Ben Page! Grab some tea and bannock, and soak in the sounds of a tradition that’s been passed down for generations.

• Friday, Feb. 17 • 12pm – 1pm
• Atrium, Roblin Centre, Exchange District Campus

No registration required.

Remember: next week, Monday, Feb. 20 is Louis Riel Day and RRC Polytech campuses are closed.

About Jason Lepine

Jason Lepine is a Métis fiddle champion and recording artist born and raised in Portage La Prairie who now lives in Winnipeg. Métis traditional fiddling was passed on to Jason by his dad, Garry Lepine, a Métis and Manitoba Fiddle Hall of Famer. He taught himself by ear and started fiddling at 7 years old.

Jason’s forté is playing for Red River jigging and square dance groups. He judges competitions, teaches lessons, and plays for all types of functions.

Unleash your creativity while learning about one of Manitoba’s most iconic figures!

This hands-on workshop invites students of all levels to dive into the life and legacy of Louis Riel — Métis leader, visionary, and the founding father of Manitoba.

Through the creation of a paper collage, you’ll explore Red River Métis history, celebrate Riel’s impact on Métis identity and rights, and honour his role in shaping our province. Come away with a deeper understanding of Métis pride and a piece of art that tells a powerful story.

Register for the Collage Workshop on Thursday, Feb. 16 by emailing Terri-Lynn at tlanderson@rrc.ca.

• Thursday, Feb. 16 • 4:30pm – 6pm
• E235, Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, Exchange District Campus

About the Louis Riel Institute

The Louis Riel Institute is the official educational and cultural arm of the Manitoba Métis Federation. It was incorporated in 1988 and formally recognized by the Manitoba Legislature in 1995. The Institute is dedicated to promoting Métis history, culture, language, and identity through education.

It offers a range of programs and services, including cultural workshops, Michif language support, adult learning programs, and educational bursaries. The Institute also operates out of Riel House National Historic Site, where it delivers culturally focused programming that brings Métis heritage to life.

Through its work, the Louis Riel Institute empowers Métis citizens, families, and communities by fostering cultural pride and supporting lifelong learning.

Métis jigging is a high-energy dance that ensures mental and physical fitness.

Jigging has brought Métis people together for generations — it’s more than just dance, it’s a celebration of identity, community, and resilience.

Join us at the Indigenous Support Centre for Jig ’n’ Time, an energetic evening of jigging and square dancing led by renowned instructor Dean Davis. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned stepper, come connect through rhythm, laughter, and tradition as part of our Louis Riel Day celebrations.

Dean has taught dancers of all ages across Manitoba — many of whom have gone on to become champion performers. Through weekly lessons at the Métis Club and workshops in schools, he continues to pass down the joy and cultural power of dance to the next generation.

So grab your dancing shoes — let’s keep the tradition alive, one step at a time!

• Wednesday, Feb. 15 • 5pm – 8pm
• F209, Notre Dame Campus

Register for the Jig ‘n’ Time workshop on Wednesday, Feb. 15 by emailing Terri-Lynn at tlanderson@rrc.ca.

About Dean Davis

Dancing has been a huge part of Dean’s life for the last 20 years and for the last decade, he has trained dancers of all ages and levels in cultural Métis jigging and square dancing.

Dean has performed over 400 shows as a square dancer with well-known groups such as the Asham Stompers and the Métis Club Traditional Dancers. He has danced in Winnipeg and throughout Manitoba and made appearances in Saskatchewan, Ontario, Alberta, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

His own training began at the age of 40 at the Métis Club of Winnipeg, where he learned to jig and later began dancing with the Asham Stompers. The Asham Stompers are a synonymous dance group showcasing the Métis jig internationally.

Beadwork is more than just decoration!

It’s a deeply rooted Indigenous art form that tells stories, preserves culture, and connects generations. Join us in the Indigenous Support Centre for a hands-on Beading Workshop led by Jennine Krauchi, a celebrated Métis beadwork artist known around the world for her stunning, traditional floral designs.

Whether you’re a beginner or experienced beader, this is a rare opportunity to learn from a master and explore the rich history and meaning behind this beautiful art form. All materials provided – everyone is welcome!

• Tuesday, Feb. 14 • 4:30pm – 7:30pm
• F209, Notre Dame Campus

Register for the Beading Workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 14 by emailing Terri-Lynn at tlanderson@rrc.ca.

About Jennine Krauchi

Jennine Krauchi is a Métis beadwork artist and designer. She produces clothing and creates replicas for organizations like the Manitoba Museum, Parks Canada, The Canadian Museum of History, The Canadian Museum for Human Rights and many more around the world, including those in places like Scotland, France and the USA.

Jennine teaches beadwork, quillwork and moccasin and mukluk making.  She teaches in schools and at festivals throughout Canada, and has had the opportunity to teach in Europe.

Most recently, Jennine participated in two exhibits: A Hard Birth at the Winnipeg Art Gallery and Radical Stitch at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina.