Indigenous Education

News and Events

Louis Riel Week: Keynote Speaker and Manitoba Métis Federation Gallery – Feb. 13

February 6, 2023

Kick off the Louis Riel Day celebrations with us!

On Monday, Feb. 13 at 11am in the South Gym at Notre Dame Campus, an information gallery will be presented by the Manitoba Métis Federation.

Students and staff are invited to enter a draw for a free bus pass for March and other goodies!

We’re pleased to welcome the Minister of Education and Co-Minister of Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Strategy Agreement, Joan Ledoux, to give a keynote. Joan Ledoux is a cabinet member of the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) for The Pas region and the Chair of the Louis Riel Institute (LRI).

No registration required to attend.

Like everyone else, life’s path has taken me down the road of trials, tribulations, hardships, and successes, but through these lived experiences, I have gained the ability, skills, and knowledge to be effective and efficient in sharing what I have to offer you.

 It has made me who I am today. I am honored to serve as the voice of our Métis Government of Manitoba.

Joan Ledoux

About Joan Ledoux

Joan has served three terms on the MMF Cabinet and previously chaired the Flin Flon Local, the Indian & Métis Friendship Centre, and the Provincial Management Board. Originally from Camperville, she earned a Bachelor of Education from Brandon University and worked for federal and provincial governments for 26 years before retiring from Manitoba Hydro in 2012.

As a proud Métis woman, Joan is dedicated to serving her community and advancing priorities like education and employment. She continues to showcase Métis culture and history, including through a memoir she’s writing for her family. Her work reflects a deep commitment to reconciliation and nation-to-nation relationships.

Upcoming Sweat Lodge Schedule

February 1, 2023

January has ended, the bundles have rested, and Sweat Lodges will resume for the new year.

Join us for Sweat Lodges in the Medicine Wheel Garden with Elder Paul Guimond.

Students Sweat Lodges:

  • March 3
  • March 24
  • May 26

Staff Sweat Lodges:

  • February 10
  • April 14

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!

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

Louis Riel Day Celebrations – Feb. 13 – 17

January 24, 2023

Join us to celebrate Louis Riel Day and Métis culture with a week of activities leading up to Monday, February 20!

Learn to bead and jig while experiencing Métis art forms in collage and fiddling!

Notre Dame Campus

  • Monday, Feb. 13: South Gym, 11am – 2pm
    Manitoba Métis Federation gallery with keynote from the Minister of Provincial Education and Métis Employment & Training (MET) Joan Ledoux
  • Tuesday, Feb. 14: F209, 4:30pm – 7:30pm
    Beading Workshop with Métis artist Jennine Krauchi
  • Wednesday, Feb. 15: F209, 5pm – 8pm
    Jigging Workshop with Dean Davis from the Métis Club Traditional Dancers

Exchange District Campus

  • Thursday, Feb. 16: Manitou a bi Bii Daziigae, E235, 4:30pm – 6pm
    Louis Riel Collage Workshop facilitated by the Louis Riel Institute
  • Friday, Feb. 17: Roblin Centre in the Atrium, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
    Fiddle and guitar performance by Jason Lepine and Ben Page with tea and Bannock
  • Monday, Feb. 20: Louis Riel Day
    RRC Polytech campuses closed

Please email Terri-Lynn Anderson at tlanderson@rrc.ca to register for the workshops on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Subscribe here for up-to-date information!

Movement and Wellness with Dawn Chartrand – Feb. 2

January 19, 2023

Are you looking for new ways to engage your body?

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

  • Thursday, Feb. 2 • 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.

Panelists for the Indigenous Career Fair – Jan. 18

January 16, 2023

Join us for a Panel Discussion at noon during the Indigenous Career Fair!

In the Roundhouse Auditorium at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, panelists, guided by our student hosts, will discuss what you can expect when you enter the workforce from their perspectives in different industries across Winnipeg. RRC Polytech partnered with the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce to make this event possible.

Panel Members

Brikena Dibra • Registered Nurse

Brikena is a Registered Nurse from Peguis, Manitoba. She is a College Transition alumna and graduated from RRC Polytech’s Nursing Program in 2021

Her grandparents raised her because of the hardships her parents endured due to intergenerational trauma. Brikena faced many tough roads on her journey to becoming a nurse, but found a meaningful place for herself at the College through the Indigenous Support Centre.

Brikena is now a Community Health Nurse with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and the Manitoba Métis Federation. In the community, she helps to promote the health of the most vulnerable populations in Winnipeg and the Interlake.

“As a community health nurse, I try to think back to my roots. When working with our people, as an Indigenous person, I remember the teachings from my grandparents and Elders: to care for people the way I would want my family treated, and to promote health to all in a holistic manner. “

Brikena Dibra

Miranda Harper • Commercial Cash Management Manager

Miranda graduated from the College Prep for Aboriginal Students, now College Transition, with honors in the early 2000’s. She works as a Commercial Cash Management Manager with the First Nations Bank of Canada. She is responsible for the bank’s commercial business products and services all across Canada.

Miranda is a musician and when she’s not managing the First Nations Bank of Canada’s commercial cash, she sings and plays drums in an all-female band.

Theressa Thompson • Educational Assistant

Born and raised in Winnipeg, MB., Theressa is a member of Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation in Treaty 1 Territory.

Theressa is a College Transition (formerly APCET) graduate and interned for the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce for a few consecutive summers. She is currently working as an Educational Assistant at Gordon Bell High School as part of the Winnipeg School Division. This is her fourth year as an EA.

She’s working towards her teaching degree and is a third-year student in the Community Aboriginal Teacher Education Program at the University of Winnipeg. She aims to have her Bachelor of Arts in English by the end of this academic year (fingers crossed!). Theressa enjoys film, music, snacking, and spending quality time with her two children, Adelaide and Scotty, and her husband Andreas when not in work- or student-mode.

Renata Meconse • Board Member

Renata is a proud Anishinaabe Ikwe who lives in Winnipeg and is from Pinaymootang First Nation in Treaty 2 Territory. She has focused her career on communications primarily with the Indigenous community in Manitoba. She has worked with a number of Indigenous organizations in Manitoba, provincial and federal governments and the private sector.

As an artist and entrepreneur, Renata and her business partner have planned several Indigenous Arts Markets in Winnipeg since 2018. Their goal is to build economic opportunities for local Indigenous artisans and small businesses by providing culturally-safe and welcoming spaces where customers can also shop local and Indigenous!

Renata is a board member of the MB Indigenous Chamber of Commerce and is a Creative Communications graduate from RRC Polytech. She credits the great career opportunities she’s had to her education at RRC Polytech and the time she invested in herself and her professional development.

Student Hosts

Jo-Ann Johnson • Tour Guide for Notre Dame Campus

Jo-Ann is a Métis student in her second year of Community Development. She’s passionate about education and tourism to promote Truth and Reconciliation.

When Jo-Ann isn’t on campus studying, you will find her on a geocaching adventure or singing karaoke with friends.

We can’t wait to see you at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae on Wednesday the 18th! To pre-register and be entered to win a $50.00 SkipTheDishes gift card, visit the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce’s website.

For more information about the Indigenous Career Fair programming and employer booths, check out this blog post! If you want some tips and advice to prepare, check out this post!

What you need to know about career fairs

January 12, 2023

Let’s face it: career fairs can be intimidating!

People are standing around tables, handing out pamphlets; some are in shirts and ties, some in company T-shirts—all of them, beckoning you to their table with the promise of a free lanyard.

Don’t worry! It can seem overwhelming at first, but when you know what to do and say at a career fair, it’s much easier to navigate.

Career fairs are a safe space to gather information about different employers, so don’t be shy. There are no bad questions to ask; and here we’ve gathered some tips for when you prepare to attend and some good questions to ask employers to get you started!

Career Fair Preparation Tips

What to wear

Business-casual is usually a safe bet. You might ask, “what does that actually mean?” Here’s a quick rundown:

T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, or button-up shirts with solid colours or simple patterns work well.

Jeans, pants, skirts, and dresses are the go-to. Shorts or ripped pants are too casual—but it’s winter now, so we probably don’t need to worry about that!

Shoes can be free-style, especially since it’s winter. We don’t expect you to show up wearing high heels or dress shoes, or for you to change your boots to walk around the fair. Wear whatever is comfortable to walk around in.

*There’s no dress code for the Indigenous Career Fair though, so feel free to come as you are. What you usually wear to class will likely work. Just keep in mind that you’re making a first impression with potential employers!*

What to 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!

What to do if you make a career connection with an employer

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!

What to do if you don’t make any strong connections with employers

You’ve checked out all the booths, talked to a couple of employers, maybe left a resume or two, but you came away without feeling that swell of excitement you get when you’re expecting a follow-up. That’s okay! Career fairs won’t always have the perfect job, employer, or industry for you at the moment.

Even if you strike up a conversation with the people at the booths, that’s a win. Keeping that contact information and network might open up opportunities for you in the future. Tell the organizations what you’re looking for, even if they are hiring for a position that doesn’t fit; you’ll never know if in a month, they’re looking for someone with your exact qualifications! Organizations will usually keep resumes on file for a certain amount of time and pull them when there’s a new position open.

If you’re interested in a certain organization, this is a great strategy to stand out—they’ll remember speaking to you at the career fair, which will make your resume shine among the many other resumes of people they haven’t met when they need to look at them.

And lastly, just come with an open mind! This is just one of many networking opportunities you’ll have in your career.

Questions To Ask Employers

You’re there to explore the different job options available, and employers are there to promote their job openings. You want to make sure the job you land helps you grow, compensates you fairly, and supports you culturally, financially, emotionally, and mentally. It’s up to you to decide if an employer is a good fit for you before they decide if you are a good fit for them.

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 are the responsibilities that 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.

Is it full-time or part-time? Permanent or term? What are the hours like? Is there schedule flexibility?

The hours can help you plan the job into your lifestyle. Sometimes there will be a set expected timeframe in which you’ll work.

Some jobs will be term, which means there will be a set number of months they will want you to work, and after a specified date, the term contract will end. Others will be permanent, which means you stay in that position for the foreseeable future. Sometimes term positions can evolve into full time jobs.

With the “new normal” in 2023, it could be useful for you to know what kind of options they offer in the event you need to isolate.

What kind of supports are there?

Supports like mental health support, cultural support, professional development support, and parental leave are just some of the supports that organizations offer to their employees. Depending on your future plans and what you need, these can be a huge boon to you in the future.

In addition to their benefit coverage, the organization might offer opportunities to their employees like on-demand mental health services, cultural events like Sweat Lodges, training courses and seminars, industry conventions, among many, many others.

Is there an option to work remotely? Hybrid?

This won’t apply to every industry, but if you have the opportunity to work from home, that could be a big money- and time-saver.

Does the company encourage professional development?

This is a great question for students to ask! If you still have a few years yet before you graduate, you could snag a position on a part-time basis and then move into full-time when you graduate. Even if you have graduated or are going to graduate soon, this could open up more training opportunities in the future so you can expand your skillset.

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!

And there you have it! How to prepare for a career fair and questions to ask and get your foot in the door with potential employers.

Even small talk like, “Hey, how are you?” with people at the booths can jumpstart a long-lasting and beneficial relationship between you and that organization. Even if you don’t land that job right now, you will have the network you build here under your belt and can return to it in the future.

Have fun and good luck! We’re looking forward to seeing you next Wednesday at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae in the Agora!

If you haven’t already, pre-register with the WCC for a chance to win one of two $50.00 SkipTheDishes gift cards!

RRC Polytech partnered with the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce to make this event possible. Check back here for the bios of the panelists and hosts for our noon-hour Panel Discussion!

Programming Details, Indigenous Career Fair – Jan. 18

January 11, 2023

Get your resume ready and join us for the Indigenous Career Fair at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae!

RRC Polytech partnered with the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce (WCC) and the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to make this event possible.

Pre-register for a chance to win one of two $50.00 gift cards to SkipTheDishes!

Speak with employers from over 30 organizations, representing various industries, who have job openings and opportunities for Indigenous students and graduates. Booths will be spread over the lower and upper Agora, so be sure to walk through and check them all out. See below for a list of confirmed employers and check back here for a comprehensive list of job listings later!

At noon, the Roundhouse Auditorium Panel Discussion will feature:

  • Brikena Dibra, Registered Nurse with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
  • Miranda Harper, Commercial Cash Management Manager with the First Nations Bank of Canada
  • Theressa Thompson, Educational Assistant at Gordon Bell High School
  • Renata Meconse, Board Member with the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce

The discussion will be guided by student hosts with welcomes from RRC Polytech’s CEO and President Fred Meier and the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce’s CEO and President Loren Remillard. The panel will discuss what to expect when you enter the workforce and how to successfully land a job in your chosen industry! Stay tuned here to learn more about our panelists and hosts.

A photographer will be available from 1pm – 3pm to take professional headshot photos for your LinkedIn and other bios. Please bring your student ID to sign up at the photography station.

A hotdog lunch will be available following the panel on a first-come, first-served basis to students that pre-register or register at the door.

Play Employer Bingo and for every card filled out, receive an extra entry into the gift card draw! Instructions to play will be posted here the morning of the Indigenous Career Fair.

Two gift cards are available for the pre-registration draw and two gift cards are available for the Employer Bingo draw, each valued at $50.00 for SkipTheDishes! Pre-register and play Employer Bingo to get entered into both draws!

The four winners of the pre-registration draw and Employer Bingo will be announced using the screen boards in the Roundhouse Auditorium at 3:30pm.

Bus tickets will be available from Terri-Lynn Anderson in the Indigenous Support Centre in F209 at Notre Dame Campus. First-come, first-served. One ticket per student. See below for bus schedule for Wednesday, January 18.

Programming Schedule

  • 11:00 • Doors open • Employer booths open
  • 12:00 • Roundhouse Panel Discussion starts
  • 12:40 • Roundhouse Panel Discussion ends
  • 1:00 • Lunch is available • Headshot photography station opens
  • 3:00 • Headshot photography station closes
  • 3:30 • Pre-registration and Employer Bingo draw winners announced
  • 4:00 • Indigenous Career Fair ends

Bus Schedule

The 26 Logan – Berry/City Hall goes straight to the Exchange District Campus about every half an hour. Click here to view the bus schedule in real time.

  • 9:40
  • 10:11
  • 10:41 • This time will ensure you’re there when the doors open!
  • 11:11
  • 11:40 • This time will ensure you’re in time for the panel discussion!
  • 12:10
  • 12:40 • This time will ensure you get in line for the headshots!
  • 1:09
  • 1:39
  • 2:10
  • 2:41 • This time will ensure you’re there for the draw winners!
  • 3:13

List of employers

  • Assiniboine Credit Union
  • Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries
  • Staffmax Staffing & Recruiting
  • Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN)
  • Reaching E-Quality Employment Services (REES)
  • The Manitoba Museum
  • Scotiabank – Main
  • IATSE Local 856
  • Cushman & Wakefield | Stevenson
  • Birchwood Automotive Group
  • IG Wealth Management
  • Colliers Project Leaders Inc.
  • Circles for Reconciliation Inc.
  • Comforts of Home-Care Inc.
  • The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce
  • Red River College Polytechnic
  • New Directions for Children, Youth, Adults & Families Inc.
  • Chartered Professional Accountants of Manitoba
  • MNP LLP
  • Manitoba Hydro
  • Stantec
  • Number TEN Architectural Group
  • The Forks North Portage Partnership
  • CINUP – Johnston Group Inc.
  • Assiniboine Park Conservancy
  • Pembina Trails School Division
  • Epic Opportunities Foundation Inc.
  • Manitoba Industry-Academia Partnership
  • CAHRD-Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development
  • RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg
  • International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)

Mínwastánikéwin Award application deadline – Jan. 31

January 10, 2023

Mínwastánikéwin is a Cree word that means ‘to set it right.’

RRC Polytech introduced the award in December 2019 and presented the first award in January 2020. The College has since presented the award to three Indigenous students over the past three years. For 2023, two recipients will be selected to each receive the $1000 bursary.

The Mínwastánikéwin Truth and Reconciliation Award was made possible through the generous support of RRC students, staff and faculty supporting campaigns at the RRC Campus Store that bring awareness to Truth and Reconciliation and Indigenous issues such as Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Honouring and Awareness Day.

We know that over the last 150 years, 150,000 Indigenous children attended Canadian Residential Schools. We know that 90% of children in Manitoba’s foster care system are Indigenous and more than one-third of Winnipeg’s Indigenous population, nearly 70,000 people, live in poverty. And we also know that despite making up almost 17% of the provincial population, Indigenous peoples are typically underrepresented in post-secondary institutions.

This award is for full-time Indigenous students who have a stake in Truth and Reconciliation and a personal connection to the intergenerational effects of colonialism. Recipients will be selected based on an essay response on what Truth and Reconciliation means to them. To be eligible, applicants are required to submit a General RRC Application, proof of Indigenous heritage, and a one-page essay submission. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2023.  Completed application forms should be submitted by email to financialaid@rrc.ca.

For more information about the Mínwastánikéwin Truth and Reconciliation Award, see the Awards, Bursaries, and Scholarships Catalogue.

The previous recipients of the Mínwastánikéwin Truth and Reconciliation Award were Morgan Barbanchon (2019-20), Chasline Spence (2020-21), and Naomi Henderson (2021-22).

RRC Polytech > Indigenous Education > News and Events

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.

Learn more