An inspiring student receives an honour

October 30, 2013 —

Indspire announced the 14 outstanding Indigenous Canadians who have been selected as the recipients of the 2014 Indspire Awards and who were acknowledged in the House of Commons on Oct. 30.

University of Manitoba Metis student Christie Lavallée received honours in the Youth – Metis category.

Lavallée was diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was three-years-old, and after surgery and 14 months of chemotherapy she was left with a lifelong visual disability. That has never set her back, and at 18 she is an honours student, a Canadian National 3D Indoor Archery Champion who is ranked #1 in Canada in the Women’s Junior Compound, and she is Youth Coordinator at the St. Ambroise Manitoba Métis Federation Youth Centre. She currently studies in the Faculty of Science at the U of M with a goal of becoming a pediatric oncologist. As a cancer survivor, she continues to give back and has led the Annual Terry Fox Run at St. Laurent school since 2001. She is also a traditional hunter and Metis square dancer, performing regularly throughout Manitoba.

Formerly called the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, the Indspire Awards have celebrated the significant contributions of Indigenous people in Canada for 21 years. The Awards are aligned with Indspire’s mandate to provide educational support and programs for future generations to succeed. Lavallée receives her award at the Indspire Awards on March 21, 2014, in Winnipeg. Prior to this event, on March 20, the U of M is hosting Indspire’s Soaring conference.

The Indspire Awards promote self-esteem and pride for the Indigenous community and provide outstanding role models for Indigenous youth. They recognize the success of individuals who have the discipline, drive and determination to set high standards and accomplish their goals.

Congratulations Christie.

Indigenous, Students

Learning about land and place

Offered by Community Engaged Learning, the Land and Water program at UM brings together students, community members, knowledge carriers and Elders for immersive urban land-based experiences. Using a decolonizing approach to education, it provides the opportunity for participants to learn about Indigenous Peoples’ enduring relationships with land and place.

Annual Traditional Graduation Pow Wow to celebrate 35th year

Every year, the University of Manitoba and broader communities gather at the Fort Garry campus to celebrate Indigenous graduates at the Annual Traditional Graduation Pow Wow. While the faces may change from year to year, one thing remains the same: the sense of excitement in the air.

Introducing Residential Schools 101

As the community engagement and education program coordinator at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR), Sandra Bender has seen a growing demand for presentations on the topic. As a result, the NCTR team is now offering free monthly Residential School History and Legacy 101 webinars on an ongoing basis.