This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Department of Indigenous Studies – a milestone born from courage, resilience and vision.

“Today, we are not only celebrating,” said Department Head Lorena Fontaine at the recently held 50th anniversary celebration. “We are also remembering a history born out of pain. This department exists because students refused to be ignored.”

Lorena Fontaine, Head of the Department of Indigenous Studies

Her words carried the room back half a century – to the moment when a small group of Indigenous students decided that their languages, laws and histories deserved a place in the university.

Their voices would ultimately reshape the institution.

Pictured here are the founding members of the Indigenous Manitoba Engineering Student Association (IMESA). Front row, left to right: Reg Blackbird, Public Relations; Ovide Mercredi, President; Albert Stevens, Vice-President. Second row, left to right: Emile Garson, Committee Chairman; Yvonne Monkman, Secretary; John Allooloo, Member.

1970s–1980s — Carving space out of Silence

In 1970, the University of Manitoba – located on the original lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis – had more than 13,000 students, but fewer than 50 were Indigenous.

They learned about “exploration” and “civilization,” yet rarely did classroom lessons include Indigenous perspectives or experiences.

In 1971, a racist article published in The Cursor, the engineering student newspaper, became the catalyst. Eleven students from the Faculties of Arts and Education formed the Indian, Métis and Eskimo Student Association (IMESA), demanding accountability and change.

“We had no textbooks, no mentors, no role models,” remembered Ovide Mercredi , then IMESA president. “All we had was each other – and one belief: our voices belonged here.”

UM held its first campus pow wow in 1972. Since then, Indigenous graduates have had the opportunity each year to celebrate their academic achievements and excellence at the annual Grad Pow Wow.

In 1972, UM held its first campus pow wow. Three years later, the Department of Native Studies was formally established – the second of its kind in Canada. “That day, we were no longer guests,” said Mercredi. “We had truly come home.”

In 1982, the department faced closure due to budget cuts. It survived only because Professor Emma LaRocque, alongside students and community allies, organized petitions and public appeals.

“We had to prove, again and again, that our existence mattered. If we had stayed silent, this department would not exist today.” — Professor Emma LaRocque

Left: Professor Emma LaRocque

1990s–2020s — From the margins to the mainstream

By the 1990s, the department launched one of the first master’s programs of its kind in Canada, later expanding to the PhD level and becoming a national leader in Indigenous graduate research and studies.

In 2021, the Faculty of Arts introduced the Indigenous content degree requirement, calling for all Arts undergraduate students to complete at least three credit hours of Indigenous course content in their studies to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Members of the Indigenous Studies department have been instrumental in developing, evaluating and delivering the courses which cover a variety of areas of study such as history, political science, sociology and women’s and gender studies.

The requirement seeks to give every future graduate an understanding of the place of Indigenous people in Manitoba’s and Canada’s history, and how that is woven into contemporary society, especially our workplaces. Since it has been introduced, other Faculties at UM have also implemented the requirement.

At the 50th anniversary celebration, the Department of Indigenous Studies gathered in Marshall McLuhan Hall with alumni, friends and long-time supporters.

Today, more than 3,200 Indigenous students are studying at the University of Manitoba. Across the university, 127 students – both Indigenous and non-Indigenous – are pursuing majors or minors in Indigenous Studies, Indigenous Governance or Indigenous Language programs.

The Department of Indigenous Studies has continued to expand its academic offerings. In addition to degrees in Indigenous Studies and Indigenous Governance, the department delivers a range of language courses, including two new micro-diplomas in Anishinaabemowin and Cree that support language learning and revitalization.

Regular colloquia and international conferences also create spaces for scholars, students and community members from around the world to gather, exchange ideas and learn together.

Faculty members take pride in the diverse accomplishments of their graduates, who can be found in every field – from health care, education, business and the arts to public service, law and counselling.

Professor Niigaan Sinclair

“Without the Department of Indigenous Studies, none of what exists today would have been possible – not the Indigenous Student Centre, not the Vice-President (Indigenous), not the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation,” said Professor Niigaan Sinclair. “All Indigenous progress at UM has grown from here.”

He also spoke about the deeper purpose behind studying Indigenous Studies.

“Don’t let fear guide your life; let love guide it. Taking Indigenous Studies is an act of love – not just for Indigenous peoples, but for this country.”

Alumni, faculty and friends reunited to honour five decades of Indigenous scholarship—some embraced after years apart, while the new generation carried the spirit forward.

The future — The drum continues

Today, generations of Indigenous scholars are following the paths their mentors cleared – continuing to learn, research and create on their own land and in their own classrooms.

Sarah Hourie, Métis scholar, Assistant Professor in City Planning and PhD candidate in Indigenous Studies, said: “I was very excited to take my own language… through the Indigenous Studies department, through a lot of hard work through people who came before me.”

Adrienne Huard, Anishinaabe Two-Spirit curator, writer and Instructor in the department, also a panelist at the 50th anniversary celebration, added: “Our bodies and our art are archives. Every performance is telling the world – our very existence is knowledge.”

From left to right: Elder Carl Stone, Adrienne Huard, Rhianda Redhead and Sarah Hourie.

As the celebration drew to a close, Elder Carl Stone honoured Mercredi, Moses Okimaw, Edwin Jebb, LaRocque and Sinclair with a song.

“Everything that I know about me, and the love I have for myself, the knowledge I have about my people and the love that I have for my people, came from my own people,” he said, pausing as his eyes filled with tears.

Beyond the hall, the rhythm of the drum continued on a new platform.

First-year Indigenous Studies student Rhianda Redhead took over the UM Indigenous social-media account that day, writing in her closing post:

“It was an unforgettable afternoon – we’ve come so far from our ‘humble’ beginnings, and we’ll keep moving forward.”

In that moment, the drum and the words resonated together.

Fifty years of echoes became a new beginning. From resistance to resurgence, from the margins to the centre, the Department of Indigenous Studies continues to write its living story – a true House of Knowledge for all.

Each year on September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation reminds Canadians to honour Survivors, remember the children who never returned home and confront the deep wounds of colonial history.  

Across UM campuses this fall, students, faculty, staff and community members will pause, reflect and respond in diverse ways. 

At the Indigenous Student Orientation, UM first-year student Shylo Cloud said, “I just wanted to take a moment to express myself.”

Elders’ fire 

At Migizii Agamik, UM Elder-in-Residence Kookum Karen Courchene is leading an orange shirt origami activity open to all. From now until September 28, participants can fold, write or draw their messages and display them on the Indigenous Student Centre’s windows. On September 29, the shirts and cards will be placed in the fire, carrying memory and prayer to the spirit world. 

“I hope those who know this history continue to tell the story. I hope those who don’t will learn it. And I hope we never forget.” — Kookum Karen

From left to right: Dr. Cary Miller, organizer of the Teach-In for Reconciliation; Survivor Astrid MacNeill, sharing her healing journey at the Heart Garden; and Elder-in-Residence Kookum Karen Courchene, leading the orange shirt origami activity.

Survivors’ voices 

Since its launch in 2023 by the Office of the Vice-President (Indigenous) (OVPI), the Heart Garden has become one of UM’s most symbolic reconciliation spaces. On September 25–26, it will once again gather messages of remembrance, reflection and commitment.

Residential school Survivor Astrid MacNeill will share her healing journey, which began in community-led ceremonies.

“Healing is possible when conditions are right. Accommodation, truth and respect.” — Astrid MacNeill

From Churchill, Manitoba, proud York Factory Cree woman Antonina Kandiurin says taking the brave step into post-secondary at 17 opened doors to growth, helping others, and building connections worldwide.

Students’ journeys 

For many students, reconciliation is both personal growth and collective strength. 

Master’s student in Medicine and Indigenous woman Antonina Kandiurin recalls arriving at UM with little expectation of how her identity would be shaped. She faced discrimination but also found support and belonging alongside growing resources for Indigenous students. 

Kandiurin describes her experience as “transformative, grounding, empowering” and affirms: “Reconciliation is ongoing work, not a checklist. It must be realized through action, not just statements.” 

Dr. Niigaan Sinclair, Professor of Indigenous Studies at UM, is a leading scholar, writer and public intellectual dedicated to revitalizing Indigenous knowledge, language and history.

Academic and institutional change 

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Department of Indigenous Studies. Scholar Dr. Niigaan Sinclair notes that Indigenous knowledge was once confined to “small classrooms and small courses” but is now embedded in daily conversations and institutional planning. 

He points to initiatives such as the Summer Institute, led by Dr. Cary Miller, which builds Indigenous literacy among faculty and staff, and the Indigenous Credit Requirement for all Faculty of Arts students — evidence that reconciliation is becoming integral to UM’s teaching and learning. 

With support from the OVPI, Dr. Miller will also host a Teach-In for Reconciliation on September 29, offering the UM community another opportunity to deepen understanding and engage in meaningful dialogue.

Commitment to the future

UM leadership echoes this shared vision.

Vice President (Indigenous) Dr. Angie Bruce adds that as UM has a unique responsibility to transform commitment into action through education and research.  

“At UM, Truth and Reconciliation is not accomplished through a single day of events, but through an ongoing responsibility. Guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Framework, we are embedding Reconciliation into teaching, research, policy and partnerships with community. Our goal is to ensure that Reconciliation is part of the university’s everyday practice, not just marked once a year.”

As orange paper shirts turn to ash and heart cards rest quietly in the garden, these acts of remembrance remind us that reconciliation is not a single day or week but an ongoing journey — one that UM continues to walk every day.

The Faculty of Education hosted an impactful program day for B.Ed. students this winter term. The day featured Indigenous educators and non-Indigenous allies facilitating workshops focused on such topics as: Treaty Education, anti-racism, residential schools, and educator settler-colonial positionalities.

With an emphasis on truth, justice, and the role of education in Reconciliation, these workshops provided students with important and meaningful insights. Facilitators explored Treaties, Indigenous-led education initiatives, and pathways towards transformative educational change. Students walked away with deeper understandings of intergenerational trauma, the significance of land acknowledgments, and their responsibilities as humble and respectful future educators.

Confronting Important Topics

A highlight of the day was the morning’s moderated panel discussion with Valley of the Birdtail authors Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Douglas Sanderson, alongside faculty member Dr. Frank Deer, PhD student Amy Carpenter, and B.Ed. student Caleb Rondeau. The discussion was held at University Centre in a packed room with over 400 people in attendance. The book, which was read and discussed in advance by B.Ed. students, faculty and staff members, examines historical and continuing systemic injustices impacting Indigenous communities, while shedding light on the complex legacies of colonialism.

Impactful Student Reflections

Students returned to the Faculty of Education for the afternoon where they attended more illuminating sessions. “I enjoyed learning about the two historical timelines and how impactful treaties were and are,” shared one student. “This is a useful way to discuss history with students and connect it to lived experiences.”

Another student reflected on a session about Indigenous land-based programming: “I am learning how to truly foster a relationship with the land, the real meaning of land acknowledgments, and how to form a connection with the land. A single story can change your perspective on history. The land encourages us to see ourselves.”

A Commitment to Indigenous Education and the Path Forward

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Partnerships, Dr. Wayne Serebrin, orchestrated the day’s events. “Bringing together such a dynamic group of presenters,” he noted, “reflects the faculty’s strong commitment to preparing future teachers for integrating Indigenous-led ways of knowing, being, and doing into their pedagogies, and in bringing Truth and Reconciliation knowledge and actions into their classrooms.”

“As educators engaged in the ongoing work of Truth and Reconciliation, we have a major responsibility to commit ourselves to continuous learning with and from our FNIM and non-Indigenous ally leaders,” said Dr. Serebrin. “This Program Day was one small step on this journey.”

Thank You to our Facilitators

Miigwetch to our incredible facilitators:

Renée McGurry
Dr. Maureen Matthews
Allen Sutherland
Sarah Gazan
Kaila Johnston
Dr. Marc Kuly
Andrea Gallagher-Courteau
Stephanie Fredrickson and Kevin Lopuck
Kylie Bard, Laura Boyle, Hannah Chambers, MacKenzie Kreitz, Holly Laninga, Jonah Powell, and Rebecca Schellenberg
Naomi Dennie and Kim Crass
Ed Neveau
Kathleen F. Wilson
Sean Oliver
Trish Wilson
Véronique Reynolds

Special thanks also to Robson Hall’s Faculty of Law for co-sponsoring the Valley of the Birdtail authors’ visit to the University of Manitoba Fort Garry campus.

Niigaan and Dan talk with former Manitoba premier and former Canadian ambassador to the U.S. Gary Doer about Trump, tariffs and how Manitoba can become the “Costco of Critical Minerals”.

To listen to their conversation, please follow the link to the Winnipeg Free Press.

The Harper government had sparked #IdleNoMore, one of the longest-sustained chains of Indigenous protests across the country. It was a reaction to omnibus legislation that, in part, deregulated environmental protections under the Navigable Waters Protection Act.

”Justin Trudeau was elected,  in the wake of the biggest cacophony of Idle No More,“ said Niigaan Sinclair, a professor at the University of Manitoba and panelist on APTN News’ Truth and Politics segment.

To read the entire story, please follow the link to APTN News. 

The podcast features: Vice-President (Indigenous) of the University of Manitoba, Angie Bruce and Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori, Te Kawehau Hoskins at the University of Auckland. 

To listen to the conversation, please follow the link here with Times Higher Education.

Today, MP Terry Duguid – alongside President Michael Benarroch and principal investigator Dr. Katherine Starzyk – announced $206,029 will be awarded to the Reconciliation Barometer under the Canada History Fund Program to help develop an advisory group for the project that includes Elders, Traditional Knowledge Keepers, Survivors, and youth and to develop learning materials in the form of infographics, info sheets, and tool kits for educators. The ceremony was opened by Grandmother-in-Residence Elder Karen Courchene who brought greetings and a blessing to those in attendance.  

Dr. Starzyk and team. Credit: J. Ogbonnaya

“Our government’s support for the Canadian Reconciliation Barometer Project reflects our unwavering dedication to advancing the vital process of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. This new funding will strengthen initiatives aimed at enhancing our understanding of this important journey,” said MP Duguid.   

“What Reconciliation and decolonization means to people can be difficult to measure, but it is essential that we track progress—and hold ourselves accountable—which is why today’s funding announcement is so very welcome: The Reconciliation Barometer is a key tool for us all,” said UM President Michael Benarroch. “I am grateful to be a part of many positive events celebrating our ongoing commitment to advancing Reconciliation.”

“We have focused on understanding what truth and reconciliation means to Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada on an ongoing and evolving basis and respectfully tracking progress using the best practices,” said principal investigator and Professor of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts Dr. Kathrine Starzyk. “To the Government of Canada and especially Canadian Heritage, for this support, we say thank you, merci, miigwetch, maarsi, háw’aa! Because of this funding, we can continue to shed light on where we are in the long and winding path toward reconciliation and foster mutually respectful relationships at both personal and systemic levels so that Indigenous peoples and others in Canada can enjoy the good life.” 

More than half of the research team is Indigenous (Anishinaabe, Cree, Haida, and Métis). They also have many non-Indigenous identities. Collectively, through each of their lived experiences, the team seeks to understand what reconciliation means to Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada, on an ongoing and evolving basis.  

Read the latest annual report and learn more about the Canadian Reconciliation Barometer. 

We asked Niigaan Sinclair, professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba, to tell us the best places where visitors can explore Winnipeg’s Indigenous history. For Sinclair, a member of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) Nation, Winnipeg remains an epicentre of Indigenous values. And because the city is home to the largest Indigenous population in Canada, where one in five people are Indigenous, he believes it is ground zero for reconciliation between cultures.

“Name me a place where reconciliation has been in activity the longest, and it’s Manitoba,” says Sinclair, noting the first of the numbered treaties (Treaty 1) between the Canadian government and Canada’s Indigenous people was signed in 1871 at Lower Fort Garry, 20 miles north of Winnipeg. “I do all the things that I do because I think Winnipeg is a remarkable place.” 

The full article can he be found here on the BBC page.

“I encourage all UM community members to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by participating in events and taking time to reflect on our past while thinking about change for the future,” says Michael Benarroch, president and vice-chancellor at the University of Manitoba. “Our journey to Reconciliation is progressing but is far from over, and I want to thank Indigenous partners for leading the way as we move down this path together. As a settler, it is my duty to continue to learn so that I can help lead change. That is what I plan to do this week and ask others to do the same.”

ON CAMPUS

Engaging in Economic Reconciliation presented by the Faculty of Law, The Law Society of Manitoba, The Manitoba Bar Association, and Manitoba Law Foundation 
Sept. 20, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In person at Robson Hall, 224 Dysart Rd or online viewing 
Register: https://educationcentre.lawsociety.mb.ca/events/homecoming-2024-engaging-in-economic-reconciliation/

Public Lunch and Learns hosted by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR)
Sept. 23-27, daily at various times
Learn more: Truth and Reconciliation Week 2024 Public Lunch and Learns Registration

Beaded Orange Shirt Pin Workshop hosted by University of Manitoba Indigenous Student’s Association (UMISA) and UMSU Indigenous Community Representative
Sept. 25, 12 to 5 p.m.
UMISA Lounge, 113 Helen Glass Building, 99 Curry Pl.
Drop-in for students and staff to come and go as they like.
If you have any questions, email Indigenousrep@umsu.ca 

Teach-in for Reconciliation hosted by the Department of Indigenous Studies in collaboration with the Office of the Vice-President (Indigenous)
Sept. 27, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (doors open at 12:30 p.m.)
Atrium, Faculty of Architecture, John A. Russell Building, 84 Curry Place
Registration is not required.

10th Annual Orange Shirt Day Walk hosted by the Nursing Students Association, College of Nursing, UMSU
Sept. 27, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Helen Glass Centre for Nursing – Atrium, 89 Curry Place
T-shirts will be handed out starting at 9:45 a.m.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Lunch and Learn hosted by the Manitoba Indigenous Law Students’ Association
Sept. 27, 12 to 1 p.m.
Common Room, 203 Robson Hall, 224 Dysart Rd.
Traditional feast offered.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation event presented by Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health & Healing
Sept. 27, 11 a.m to 1 p.m.
Brodie Atrium & Mishkiki Gitigaan (Medicine Garden)

Orange Shirt Day Event hosted by the Science Students Association
Oct. 1, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
SSA Lounge 209E Armes Building

OFF CAMPUS

Reconciliation Run hosted by Tréchelle Bunn, UM Alum and current student
Sept. 20 to 30
Virtual and In Person – ruins of the former Birtle Residential School (registration required)
Learn more: Reconciliation Run

Craft & Chat hosted by Anish Healing Centre 
Sept. 24, 12 to 3 p.m. 
Kekinan Centre, 100 Robinson St.
Registration required: email registrations@anish.ca or call 204-334-9395 
Painting project donation for upcoming Truth & Reconciliation Art Gallery https://www.facebook.com/anishxcorp 

The Colour Orange, An Indigenous Art Gallery in the Forest in Support of The Akiing Onji Foundation hosted by Anish Healing Centre and Pineridge Hollow   
Sept. 29, 5 to 8:30 p.m.
Pineridge Hollow, 67086 Heatherdale Rd, Oakbank MB 
Learn more: https://pineridgehollow.com/products/the-colour-orange-2024 

Beading Workshop with Laurie McDougall hosted by Dalnavert Museum and Visitors’ Centre  
Sept. 29, 1 to 4 p.m.
61 Carleton Street 
Registration required: https://www.friendsofdalnavert.ca/calendar/2024/9/29/beading-workshop-with-laurie-mcdougall-culture-days

Remembering the Children hosted by National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
Sept. 30, 3 p.m. EDT
Parliament Hill (Ottawa), Live Broadcast
Learn more: Parliament Hill – Truth and Reconciliation Week (nctr.ca) 

4th Annual Orange Shirt Day Healing Walk hosted by Wa-Say Healing Centre, The Forks, City of Winnipeg, True North Sports and Entertainment, Canada Life Centre 
Sept. 30, 10 a.m.
Starting at Oodena Circle (The Forks), 1 Forks Market Rd.
Learn more: https://wa-say.com/event/orange-shirt-day-2024/

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation event hosted by Winnipeg Art Gallery – Qaumajuq in partnership with Hey Cuzzin!
Sept. 30, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Winnipeg Art Gallery – Qaumajuq, 300 Memorial Blvd. (Winnipeg)
Learn more: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation » WAG

4th Annual Every Child Matters Youth Gathering hosted by Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre
Sept. 30, time TBA (morning)
Gathering Place for Truth & Reconciliation (445 King Street, Winnipeg)

Treaty Right to Education, Residential Schools and Reconciliation hosted by Treaty Relations Commision of Manitoba
Sept. 30, 2 to 4 p.m.
Agowiidiwinan Centre at the Forks
Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/trcm1871

Orange Shirt Days: Every Child Matters 
Sept 30 – Oct 2, various times
Manitoba Museum, 190 Rupert Ave. 
Free admission. Learn more: https://manitobamuseum.ca/manitoba-museum-honours-national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation/  

Visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website to learn more about work being done to support truth, reconciliation and healing across Canada.

*Note: event details may change after publication. Please check links directly for any updates.