By Erika Vas, MDP student
Boozhoo, Tansi, Aaniin, Wotziye, Ho/Han,
Tanshi, Asujutilli, Hello!
As mentioned in my previous blog post, I
completed my domestic field placement working with University of Winnipeg (UW)
and Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) co-creating and assisting in the
delivery of the first-ever Human and Indigenous Rights Executive in Residence
Program in Canada. A key component of this program were the featured presenters
both local and national, some of whom I knew personally. The relationships I
have made during my studies have been foundational in my life in Winnipeg. The
support and mentorship from individuals has allowed me to become a part of some
amazing communities, and to learn from and with them. These people have made
Winnipeg feel a lot more like home. Through my work in creating and
implementing the Executive Leadership Program, I hoped that I could share with
the participants some of my learnings and experiences from these communities.
A highlight of the placement was my
responsibility for planning and organizing a line-up of speakers to complement
the curriculum and modules. I am grateful to the individuals I’ve met during my
time in Lethbridge and Winnipeg who presented at the program and demonstrated
what “leading by example” could look like in a wide range of areas. The
significant contributions of Theodore and Morgan Fontaine, Michael Redhead
Champagne, Jenna Liiciious, Mitch Bourbonniere, and Alex Neve contributed to
the program’s success and presented several experiential learning opportunities
in the community. Together, the participants had the opportunity to learn from
these leaders about Residential Schools, Truth and Reconciliation, Leadership
and Engagement, and Human and Indigenous Rights and Intersectionality.
The
“Community Engagement & Relationships” module, which I was responsible for
creating, drew from community capacity and the expertise of those in the
community. It consisted of engaging with community and learning how to
establish relationships based on respect, relevance, reciprocity and
responsibility. This included a panel conversation about leadership and
community engagement with Michael Redhead Champagne, Jenna Liiciious, and Mitch
Bourbonniere, local leaders who are making a difference in the community,
nationally, and internationally. To take learning beyond the walls of the
museum, the participants also had an evening outing to Meet Me at the Bell
Tower in Winnipeg’s North End. They were welcomed by Michael, Jenna, Aboriginal
Youth Opportunity (AYO!) leaders, and community members.
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| Meet Me at the Bell Tower |
Meet Me at the Bell
Tower was created to foster a greater sense of community in Winnipeg’s North End.
Every Friday at 6pm, rain, snow, or shine, the community comes together to
explore a wide range of issues such as child and family welfare, violence,
racism, education and reconciliation. The Executive Leadership participants had
an opportunity to be a part of the community, observe youth leadership,
participate in the Bell Tower raffle, and assist with kitchen activities.
While this program was a memorable for
participants, it was a memorable time for me as well. It marked my first summer
in Winnipeg and gave me so many opportunities to learn from and with
participants, presenters, and community and create new friendships. It is
opportunities in the MDP Program such as this domestic field placement that
have influenced my learning journey and lead me to new paths.
To all of you who have helped me along the
way, I am forever grateful.
