Wednesday, February 16, 2022 | 12-1 pm

Shirley Delorme Russell from the Louis Riel Institute joins us for a lunch hour session to share the history of Métis peoples in Manitoba in advance of Louis Riel Day (February 21) to support our collective truth and reconciliation journey.

Learn about Louis Riel and why we have a provincial holiday named for him!

Find out why the creation of the province of Manitoba (where Louis Riel was the President) led to the Supreme Court Land Claims Case of 2013.

Understand all the resources that are available to Métis citizens (including RRC Polytech students!)

Shirley Delorme Russell

Shirley Delorme Russell (Class of 2007 Aboriginal Languages) is a proud Métis woman from the heart of the Métis nation by her momma as a Delorme. She is a humble Anisinaabekwe from her father from the land of the Sleeping Giant by her dad as a Russell.

A history nerd at heart, Shirley loves to instill pride and excitement as she shares Métis history with others.

Trained at RRC Polytech in Aboriginal Languages as part of her Bachelor of Education (University of Winnipeg 2010), Shirley is currently the Instructor of Métis History and Culture at the Louis Riel Institute, the educational affiliate of the Métis national government- the Manitoba Métis Federation.

Wednesday, January 26, 2022 | 7pm- 8:30pm

Indigenous Student Supports invites you to a family fun night with online bingo! Feel free to join with your family, friends and classmates.

We will do four rounds of full cards for each direction (North, South, East, West) and there are prizes to be won! The event will be hosted via Microsoft Teams. Everything for this event is online – no dabbers required.

Inspiring stories from RRC’s Indigenous Alumni

How do successful people get to where they are? What did that journey look like? What did they learn and how did they stay the course? What does it mean to be an Indigenous student in post-secondary?

The Stay the Course speaker series is a hand from one generation to the next, hosted by Carla Kematch, Manager, Truth and Reconciliation and Community & Engagement. Every month, incredible RRC Indigenous Alumni share their experiences on their journey to success. Advancing Indigenous achievement at RRC means listening to Indigenous stories. This is just one of the many ways we can embed the efforts of Truth and Reconciliation in our daily lives.

Darrell Brown

Darrell Brown is a Cree business owner based in Winnipeg. Darrell is President of Kisik Clean Energy and Kisik Commercial Furniture. He is a 2004 founding member and current chair of the Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce based in Manitoba. He holds an Advanced Diploma in International Business from Red River College in Manitoba and a Certificate of Indigenous Leadership, Governance and Management Excellence from the Banff Centre. Darrell holds the designation of ICD.D from The Rotman, Directors Education Program through The Institute for Corporate Directors. Darrell also holds a certificate in the 20/20 Catalyst program focusing on the Indigenous Renewable Energy Sector. Darrell is the newly elected chair of the Indigenous Clean Energy Network, a social enterprise to advance renewable energy for indigenous people across Canada.

Live conversation with Bomgiizhik (Isaac Murdoch), author of The Trail of Nenaboozhoo

MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 12:00-1:00 PM

Conversations with Authors is a new series hosted by Indigenous Education and Library and Academic Services to further the conversation and our understanding of truth and reconciliation. We have selected some of the best of Canadian Indigenous writing, and lined up live conversations with the authors of these books. Everyone is welcome to attend the live sessions, which will also be recorded and posted on this site at a later date.

“Nanaboozhoo, the creator spirit-being of Ojibway legend, gave the people many gifts. This collection of oral stories presents legends of Nanaboozhoo along with other creation stories that tell of the adventures of numerous beloved animal spirits. The Trail of Nanaboozhoo is a book of art and storytelling that preserves the legends of the Anishinaabe people. Each story is accompanied by strikingly beautiful illustrations by revered Indigenous artists Isaac Murdoch and Christi Belcourt.” (Published by Kegedonce Press, 2020)

Save the Date for virtual Winter Solstice! Gather ‘round the fire and join us for tales, teachings and story-telling from Elder Paul Guimond and special guests Franco-Manitoban Métis storyteller Rob Malo and the Bighetty & Bighetty Puppet Show, Cree brothers from Pukatawagan, MB.

As we get ready for the longest night of the year and the season of rest, gatherings for the Winter Solstice bring comfort, warmth, and people together to share stories and laughter. In many Indigenous cultures, 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.

This family friendly event will be streamed live on the Indigenous Education Facebook page – no need to register, just watch!

Schedule

Elder Paul Guimond

Elder Paul, Okonace (Little Eagle Bone), RRC Polytech Elder-in-Residence will begin our event with a teaching and Honour Song for this time of year.

Rob Malo

Rob Malo, also known as TiBert le Voyageur is a Franco-Manitoban Métis storyteller, author, stage performer, juggler, poet, and community builder who shares his passion for history and culture with people of all ages. He is recognized by Storytellers of Canada as being a Master Storyteller and has been the Storyteller in Residence at the University of Manitoba. Rob draws on his background as an Educational Programs Developer at the Manitoba Museum and as a Professor in the Tourism Department of l’Université de St. Boniface to delight audiences through storytelling, juggling and music. Rob has been awarded Certificates of Excellence from Interpretation Canada for both TiBert le Voyageur live presentations and digital educational tools available to teachers through the Province of Manitoba DREF website.

Bighetty & Bighetty Puppet Show

Brothers Kelsey, Andrew, Daniel and Ken Bighetty from Pukatawagan, MB, inspired by The Muppets and Fraggle Rock in their youth, have created hilarious and spontaneous characters that spread laughter across the prairies with a growing online audience. Known for their interactions with Elders and children alike, these brothers use their Cree language and culture to bring representation through humour.

Photo of Gayle Sinclair from TRC Week 2021

Blended: In-Person & Virtual
Wednesday, December 1 – 6:30 pm
Virtual: via WebEx Events
In-Person: Limited Capacity, Indigenous Support Centre, Notre Dame Campus (F209)

Join us virtually with your family, friends, and loved ones to paint along with Gayle Sinclaire. Gayle shares a deeply spiritual experience, often sharing her traditional teachings through her demonstrations.

From Norway House Cree Nation, artist Gayle Sinclaire has pursued the use of colour through oils and acrylics on canvas and paper for the last 37 years. As a fine Arts student at the University of Manitoba Gayle began her formal inquiry into the concepts of colour and composition, the effects of light and how content can give significance to culture and spirituality. Her work is in the collections of the Manitoba Assembly of Chiefs, the community offices in Norway House and Cross Lake, and the homes and offices of numerous private patrons.

We have a limited number of painting supply packages available for students to pick up at the NDC Indigenous Support Centre (F209). Supplies included and required for this workshop are a canvas, a few paint brushes, and a few paint colours (black, white, red, blue, yellow). Supplies can be purchased at most dollar or craft stores. A cup with water and cloth or paper towel is also good to have on hand. Please contact Terri-Lynn Anderson, Navigation Coach, to arrange pickup.

Oji-Cree artist Matthew Monias, who goes by MattMac, recently performed at Directions 2021 powered by RBC Future Launch.

Directions is an annual business and applied arts conference showcasing Red River College Polytech students and local industry practitioners. Students spent the day in Breakout Sessions, in the Networking Lounge, and at the various Roundtables.

Hailing from Garden Hill First Nation, Manitoba, Mattmac has been blind from birth. He grew up surrounded by music both on the radio and singing in his community’s gospel choir. Mattmac began to struggle with depression at a young age and credits music for helping him cope. A fully self-taught artist, he first began to make beats and write songs when he was 13-years-old, and later taught himself how to play piano and guitar. He also has impressive skills with beat production software and equipment, and attributes his creative competencies to the support of the Blind & Famous group, a USA based collective of blind music artists who collaborate and connect with one another through the internet. Mattmac hopes to continue to use his platform to inspire others to know that they can accomplish anything they set their mind to.

Watch his performance here:

Inspiring stories from RRC’s Indigenous Alumni

How do successful people get to where they are? What did that journey look like? What did they learn and how did they stay the course? What does it mean to be an Indigenous student in post-secondary?

The Stay the Course speaker series is a hand from one generation to the next, hosted by Carla Kematch, Manager, Truth and Reconciliation and Community & Engagement. Every month, incredible RRC Indigenous Alumni share their experiences on their journey to success. Advancing Indigenous achievement at RRC means listening to Indigenous stories. This is just one of the many ways we can embed the efforts of Truth and Reconciliation in our daily lives.

Christine Merasty, Dene Cree Designs Inc.

Christine Merasty is a Denesuline First Nation woman from Lac Brochet, MB and raised in Bowsman MB. She was a part of the sixty scoop era. She completed her Grade 12 at Winnipeg Adult Education, continued into University of Winnipeg for four years, however did not receive her diploma. She then attended Red River College Polytech and graduated from the Community Development/ Community Economic Development Program. She says this is where her real learning began. She is now the owner of Dene Cree Designs Inc. with her husband Raymond Merasty.

Spend time with Elder Paul Guimond and Ms. Una Swan as they host virtual drop-in centres, workshops, teachings, as well as open their door for in-person appointments.

Activities and schedule subject to change and in response to special College-wide events and holidays. Virtual sessions will be hosted via Microsoft Teams. This schedule runs until December 17, 2021.

Connect on Teams!

Students and staff can join the new Elder’s Microsoft Teams site to easily access events, add them to your calendar, and receive notifications. Virtual events and workshops will be hosted via Microsoft Teams.

To join, use code: l317iay
(Select Teams in the side bar of Microsoft Teams (right below chats), click join team in the top right corner, enter the code.)

We are proud to welcome  Terri-Lynn Anderson as our new Navigation Coach as part our Indigenous Student Supports team. She brings her extensive experiences to support Indigenous students on their learning journey.

Navigation Coaches are a first point of contact for current Indigenous students and can help with everything from finding your way around campus, problem-solving, sharing important resources and information, understanding College processes and accessing community services. They will also help connect you with other important support team members, who together, can ensure you receive the help you need.

Terri-Lynn Anderson

Terri-Lynn Anderson is a proud, Métis woman and mother of four. Her passion is to continue helping Indigenous students become successful in their post-secondary studies and future careers.

Click here to learn more about Terri-Lynn.