September 22 – 26

Join us for RRC Polytech’s 7th annual Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement Week.

This week-long series of events invites all students, staff, and faculty to gather, learn, and reflect as we prepare for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day) on September 30.

From keynote speakers and sharing circles to workshops, cultural teachings, and conversations with Knowledge Keepers, each session offers an opportunity to deepen understanding, spark dialogue, and bring Truth and Reconciliation into classrooms, workplaces, and beyond.

Everyone is welcome, no registration required (unless noted).

Learn, heal, and connect — together we can create meaningful change.

Check out and subscribe to the Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement blog for the full list of events!

Join us at RRC Polytech for MMF Citizenship and Harvester Card sign-up sessions!

The Manitoba Métis Federation will be on campus September 23 at Notre Dame Campus (West Lot) and September 25 at Exchange District Campus (Atrium) from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. All students can apply free of charge, while staff will need to bring $10 cash for a Citizenship card and $10 for a Harvester card.

Bring these items to your appointment:

• Completed MMF Application Form
• Genealogy documentation (or supporting relative documents)
• Long-form birth or baptismal certificate
• Government-issued ID
• Passport-quality photo (can be taken on-site for free)
• Payment (if applicable)

This is your chance to complete your application in person and get help from MMF representatives. Don’t miss it! Subscribe to the Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement blog for more opportunities like this!

Launch Your Post-Secondary Journey

The College Transition program at RRC Polytech is designed specifically for Indigenous learners who want to explore their potential, connect with communities, and prepare for professional success. Whether you’re just beginning your post-secondary journey or looking to strengthen your skills before entering a full-time program, College Transition offers a supportive, holistic environment to help you thrive.

Through this program, you’ll build versatile skills, knowledge, and competencies that will serve you both in your studies and throughout your career. You’ll investigate potential employment paths, learn more about RRC Polytech’s career-focused opportunities, and gain practical, employer-sought skills that will make you stand out in the workforce.

The College Transition experience combines academic preparation with cultural learning. You’ll focus on strengthening your reading, writing, math, science, and technical skills while deepening your understanding of Indigenous culture. One-on-one mentorship, diverse learning strategies, and a holistic approach ensure that each learner develops both personal and career potential. You’ll also have opportunities to earn certifications, gain hands-on experience through work and volunteer opportunities, and explore pathways to full-time programs at RRC Polytech.

Admission Information

Applicants must submit documentation proving they meet admission requirements within 15 days of applying, unless otherwise noted. If you apply within six weeks of the program start date, documents are due within five days.

For Regular Admission, applicants must provide proof of Grade 12 graduation or enrolment, including one credit in both Grade 12 English (40S) and Grade 12 Math (40S). If applying while still enrolled, final grades confirming successful completion must be submitted by July 15 for fall entry, or by the deadline in your admission letter.

In addition, applicants are required to complete a prescribed English and Math Skills Assessment at the minimum competency level. This is not due within 30 days of applying and will be requested later by the College.

For Mature Student Admission, applicants must be at least 19 years old, out of high school for at least one year, and not meet the regular admission criteria. High school graduation is not required, but mature applicants must still meet the English Language Requirements and skills assessment requirements listed under Regular Admission.

Read about some of recent students and their journeys:

• Culture and College Transition
• Sparks Fly for College Transition Student in Women of Steel: Forging Forward Program
• Honouring Growth: First Bead Ceremony

Take the first step toward your post-secondary goals today. Check out the College Transition program explorer page for more information and to register for the next intake in Fall 2026.

Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation pursues initiative with RRC Polytech that will change healthcare education delivery across the province

On August 22, a transformative initiative rolled into Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation and the first cohort of students stepped into a classroom-on-wheels. Their first day of Health Care Aide training in Roseau River marked a trailblazing opportunity for healthcare education delivery in the province – a program born from months of collaboration, vision, and dedication.

“I genuinely look forward to coming to class and learning something new every – it’s definitely a great opportunity that everyone should take advantage of. This program is the first of its kind, and we get to be part of history in the making,” said Stacey Patrick, Health Care Aide student.

Read the full story on the MarComm blog.

Join us to celebrate!

As summer turns to fall, the days and nights balance in harmony, reminding us of the cycles of change and renewal. The Fall Equinox is a time to gather in community, reflect on the season’s gifts, and prepare for the months ahead.

RRC Polytech invites students, staff, and community members to join us in honouring this transition with a Pipe Ceremony led by the Elders-in-Residence, followed by a Feast.

Friday, September 19, 2025
10am – Pipe Ceremony
12pm – Feast

Roundhouse Auditorium, Manitou a bi Bii daziigae
Exchange District Campus

This gathering is open to all. Please remember to bring your Feast Bag as we come together in respect, gratitude, and celebration of the season. No registration is required. If you have any questions, please contact Sara McIvor-Prouty, Manager, Indigenous Student Supports and Community Relations smcivor@rrc.ca.

Funding your education is possible.

Indigenous learners at RRC Polytech have access to a variety of funding options, including bursaries, awards, Band sponsorships, and Métis sponsorships. To explore all available financial supports, eligibility requirements, and application steps, check out our Indigenous Financial Aid guide.

This guide provides clear instructions for connecting with your Band office or Métis Employment & Training (MET) department, submitting required documents, and accessing additional resources such as Manitoba Student Aid, scholarships, and bursaries. It’s your one-stop source for everything you need to fund your education and take the next step toward your goals.

Learn more and get started: Indigenous Financial Aid

Indigenous students at RRC Polytech are invited to attend a Status Card ID Clinic, hosted in partnership with the Southern Chiefs’ Organization. This event is an opportunity to apply for or renew your Status Card with support available to guide you through the process.

• Date: Wednesday, September 17
• Time: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Location: Indigenous Support Centre (F209)

Appointments are encouraged to ensure you have the correct documentation, but drop-ins will also be accepted.

To book an appointment and confirm the type of ID required for your application, contact
Haley Pratt, Navigation Coach at hpratt2@rrc.ca

Are you a First Nations, Métis or Inuit student at RRC Polytech?

Here’s your chance to build leadership skills, connect with peers and staff, and support Indigenous student events — all while earning a $1,000 bursary.

The R-Crew is a team of student volunteers who bring energy, ideas, and heart to Indigenous-focused programming at RRC Polytech. No experience is needed — just your enthusiasm and willingness to get involved in a fun, welcoming environment.

Why Join the R-Crew?

• Gain valuable leadership and teamwork experience
• Build your resume with meaningful volunteer hours
• Meet new people and strengthen connections within the college community
• Earn a $1,000 bursary by completing 100 volunteer hours

How to Apply

1. Submit a cover letter explaining why you’d be a great fit
2. Include your resume (first-time resumes are welcome)
3. Complete a short interview with our team

Deadline: Thursday, September 19 at 4:00 PM
Notre Dame Submission: Brittany Ross, Navigation Coach — bross4@rrc.ca
Exchange District Submission: Charmaine Mousseau, Navigation Coach — cmousseau2@rrc.ca

Whether you’re looking to get more involved in campus life, grow your skills, or meet new friends, the R-Crew is a great place to start. Don’t miss out — apply today.

Build the skills to lead social innovation and community development initiatives with an Indigenous perspective.

Explore new ways to create meaningful change in communities at RRC Polytech with the Social Innovation and Community Development program. This program equips learners with the theory, practical skills, and applied experience needed to address social, economic, and environmental challenges in urban, rural, local, or global settings. You’ll learn to work effectively with Indigenous communities, government institutions, and social enterprises, while developing strategies for community development, economic reconciliation, and systems change through Indigenous perspectives.

Through hands-on projects and work-integrated learning, you’ll examine the social, political, cultural, and economic factors that influence development, building the knowledge and skills required for employment in socio-economic development and community-focused roles. Upon completing the first year, you can earn a Foundations in Social Innovation and Community Development certificate or continue your studies to attain a diploma in one of two majors: Community Development or Indigenous Social Entrepreneurship.

Admission information

Applicants may be admitted through either the Regular Admission Requirements or the Mature Student Admission Requirements. For regular admission, applicants must provide proof of graduation from or enrolment in Grade 12, including one credit each in Grade 12 English (40S) and Grade 12 Math (40S). If applying while still enrolled, official final grades confirming successful completion must be submitted by July 15 for fall entry, or by the deadline outlined in the admission letter. Applicants who are required to complete an English Language Assessment should only submit transcripts once requested.

Mature Student admission is available to those 19 years of age or older who have been out of high school for at least one year and do not meet the regular admission criteria. High school graduation is not required; however, applicants must have successfully completed, or be enrolled in, one credit in both Grade 12 English (40S) and Grade 12 Math (40S). As with regular admission, proof of successful completion must be submitted by July 15 or the stated deadline in the admission letter. Mature applicants must also meet the second Regular Admission Requirement and may be asked to complete an English Language Assessment.

In addition to admission requirements, there are Program Progression Requirements, which are not due at the time of application but must be completed closer to the program start date. Some practicum sites in the Community Development stream require a Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search and/or a Child Abuse Registry Check. Students with a criminal record or who are listed on the Child Abuse or Adult Abuse Registry may be restricted from attending certain practicum placements.

Learn from past students who are making an impact:

• Putting Healing Into Action
• Student Trio Enters Federal Mentorship Program Focused on Increasing Female Representation in Science Fields
• Finding Strength in Community

Find more information and register for the next intake in Fall 2026 — Social Innovation and Community Development Program.

At RRC Polytech, a new chapter in Indigenous language revitalization is underway.

This past spring, after two years of offering Introduction to Anishinaabemowin at no cost to students thanks to the generous support of CWB Financial Group, the Polytech launched its first delivery of Conversational Anishinaabemowin. The second-level course builds on the vocabulary and structure taught in the introductory class and moves learners toward greater fluency and comfort holding small conversations in Anishinaabemowin.

Eighteen students enrolled in the pilot session to transform memorized phrases into deeper understanding and meaningful interactions. Instructor Corey Whitford, who also teaches the introductory class, designed Conversational Anishinaabemowin to push students beyond repetition by immersing them in storytelling, language logic, and grammar patterns that don’t follow English conventions.

“One of the most important things we’re doing here is planting seeds,” says Whitford. “You can’t approach Anishinaabemowin the way you would a colonial language. The structure, the sound, even the philosophy behind it is different. It’s not just about translating words. It’s about learning how to think and speak in a completely different way.”

The course curriculum is grounded in Gidinwewin: Your Language by Roger Roulette, a comprehensive 174-page resource that guides students through sentence building, verb usage, and question formulation. The textbook includes a CD to help with pronunciation – an essential tool for a language where tone and syllable emphasis can change a word’s meaning entirely.

Students also received a supplemental guide created by Whitford called Coyote’s Notes, a quick-reference companion filled with essential phrases from each module.

But learning doesn’t stop at the page. Whitford brought lessons to life through interactive activities, like language-based poker games and Kookum Says – a version of Simon Says where students follow commands in Anishinaabemowin. These activities reinforce vocabulary and make the language fun, practical, and social.

For many students, language learning is about more than communication – it’s a deeply personal journey of reclamation and reconnection. Teddy Lands says that she can see regional differences between learning the Conversational Anishinaabemowin and the language she’s heard at home in Ontario.

“I really appreciated that this course offered more learning rooted in ‘you, us, we,’ those foundational conversation pieces. Even when I’ve asked my parents about certain words, I’ve noticed that the ways things are said in Ontario can be completely different. It reminded me how easily our language can be lost, especially since we don’t have many fluent speakers anymore,” says Lands.

Lands, who has a strong interest in policy, emphasized the importance of having fluent language speakers who can interpret and communicate policies in ways that are meaningful and accessible to Indigenous communities. She believes that incorporating Indigenous languages into formal and institutional spaces represents a meaningful step toward reconciliation. She says she hopes to see more immersive and advanced courses in the future – and perhaps even policy written in Anishinaabemowin someday.

“My mom and I were at a conference once, and one of the speakers said that language and culture aren’t connected. That really frustrated her. So much of our culture – how we speak to children, to elders, how we interact with each other – is rooted in the language. A lot of our cultural norms and practices come from it. Those that practice Midewiwin, for example, are held in such high regard in Anishinaabe culture because they’re Ceremonial Keepers, and their strength in the language comes from how they live the culture.”

For Boogie Mann, the course has been equally transformative.

“Taking the Intro first really helped me get the hang of pronunciation and seeing word patterns,” he says. “With Conversational, I was able to practice every night with the CD. Even just a little bit a day – planting that info in the brain – it really adds up.”

He’s already seeing the benefits ripple outward.

“I set up an online server for a small learning community to create a network of learners. And I’ve started teaching my four-year-old some words. She’s getting pretty good.”

Mann, who grew up hearing bits of the language in Lake Manitoba, says learning with Whitford has been a journey of self-discovery. He says that Whitford’s teaching style encourages deep personal reflection and helps students connect with their identity beyond just learning words. He’s looking forward to the third-level course and hopes it will include more immersive experiences and cultural teachings, which he says is essential to grounding learners in their heritage.

Both students pointed to the broader implications of Indigenous language resurgence: from community to post-secondary education, fluency in Anishinaabemowin strengthens cultural identity and builds resilience.

Lands envisions a future where immersion courses are common, where students can take an entire degree in their language, and where institutions like RRC Polytech have dedicated spaces like language rooms, Indigenous libraries, and cultural hubs where Indigenous languages are front-and-centre for students to explore their identities through language.

To register for Conversational Anishinaabemowin at no cost, visit the Course page. Chi-miigwech to CWB Financial for sponsoring Introduction to Anishinaabemowin and Conversational Anishinaabemowin and making language education accessible to the next generation of learners.