It’s fitting, then, that the Bison Spirit Indigenous Leadership Program draws its name from this mighty animal. A new co-curricular program at the University of Manitoba (UM), Bison Spirit allows Indigenous students to explore their strengths and potential as leaders, both on UM campuses and in community.

“This strength-based program will provide a supportive, identity-affirming space where Indigenous students can develop their leadership potential and expand their network by connecting with other student leaders on campus,” says Sadie Lavoie, Indigenous leadership program coordinator.

Designed specifically for Indigenous UM students who have completed less than 30 credit hours of coursework, Bison Spirit will enable students to hear from and connect with Elders, Knowledge Keepers and Indigenous leaders in different sectors. They will also have the opportunity to participate in skill-building workshops, like public speaking.

Sadie Lavoie, program coordinator

“We’ll be exploring what it means to be a leader and discovering opportunities for students to get involved [in community],” says Lavoie. “In other words, what type of leader are you and how can we build that capacity?”

Participants will gather twice a month during the academic year. Each gathering begins with a shared dinner, followed by sessions on leadership, team-building activities, workshops, and/or check-ins. Applicants are encouraged to review the gathering dates to ensure they can commit to them.

Cree student Brooke Anderson Baptiste was looking for an Indigenous student leadership program when she transferred from the University of Alberta to UM last year, but didn’t have enough credit hours to join the Indigenous Circle of Empowerment* yet. She says an introductory leadership program like Bison Spirit would have helped fill the gap and given her more time to immerse herself in the Indigenous campus community.

“That would have meant a lot [to me] to get comfortable,” says Anderson Baptiste, a political studies and economics student from Samson Cree Nation in Alberta. “For a lot of students coming from the reserve, it’s important to know you’re not alone and your experiences are valid. You find other students to grow with through your leadership journey.”

Bison Spirit is open to full-time Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) students who have completed under 30 credit hours of coursework (with a minimum GPA of 2.5). Applications for the 2024/25 cohort are open until Sept. 16. Apply today!

*For students who have completed more than 30 credit hours of coursework and are looking for a leadership development program, the Indigenous Circle of Empowerment (ICE) is also accepting applications until Sept. 16. Stay tuned for a UMToday article summarizing highlights from the 2023/24 ICE cohort!

“Amidst all the challenges that our students were faced with in their final year of high school during the pandemic, they demonstrated much resilience and drive,” says Jane Lastra, associate registrar and director, Financial Aid & Awards. “Each and every student interviewed is worthy of recognition— the interview panel was unanimously impressed with their academic, personal and community strengths. There is no doubt that these scholars will achieve all of their academic hopes and dreams.”

2022 BMO Financial Group Indigenous Leader of Tomorrow Scholarship recipients

Iman Jarkas (Fort Richmond Collegiate), Keenan Karish (Gimli High School) and Kiana Mercredi (Daniel McIntyre Collegiate)

Iman Jarkas was born and raised in Winnipeg. An active member of the Indigenous Circle at her high school, she was determined to bring more awareness to Indigenous health issues. She participated in the Breaking Barrier, Building Bridges initiative, which brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to participate in team building events, gain leadership skills, build connections and help students gain insight about Indigenous culture and history.

An academic tutor and member of the Manitoba Islamic Association, she also represents her high school as a member of the Pembina Trails Indigenous Youth Leadership Development Group (IYLDG), advocating for Indigenous students by providing insight on how to improve the education of present and future Indigenous students.

“I want to be a doctor because I would like to be an advocate for Indigenous communities,” Jarkas explains. “I have witnessed first-hand the health disparities present in my family and my Indigenous community, which has higher rates of diabetes and mental health illnesses. I would like to gain an education in psychiatry to help provide mental health supports for youth, since Indigenous youth have a higher risk of suicide in Canada.”

On receiving the scholarship, Jarkas says it “will make a big difference on improving my post-secondary education moving forward. Not only will it help support me financially, but it will also help me succeed academically. Because of this award, I feel motivated and excited to start my post-secondary education and give back to my Indigenous community.”

2022 BMO Financial Group Leader of Tomorrow Scholarship recipients

Armaandeep Dhanoa (Maples Met School), Nathan Varghese (Westwood Collegiate), Rebekah Soneye (Murdoch Mackay Collegiate), Reva Trivedi (St. John’s Ravenscourt), Rhea Gupta (St. John’s Ravenscourt), Sarah Marks (Gray Academy of Jewish Education) and Kethan Nutakki (Craig Kielburger Secondary School)

“To me, receiving this award is an affirmation that I will have the proper resources to pave my path to a career in the sciences,” says Rhea Gupta. “Not only is the financial burden relieved, but a door to increased opportunities is opened too. Further, the award rewards my extracurricular efforts throughout high school, and motivates me to continue to put community service and extracurriculars on the same pedestal as academics.”

Gupta has been serving as the leader of the Green Team club at St. John’s Ravenscourt, as well as the Youth in Philanthropy Club (YiP), which receives support from The Winnipeg Foundation to provide grants to various philanthropic organizations in Winnipeg. Outside of school, she spoke at the National Youth Forum for Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto in 2019, where she helped organize forums to present to young children, tackling critical topics such as homelessness and Islamophobia.

She explains: “The scholarship will help me immerse myself in a more rounded university lifestyle, in which I can focus on academics, gain hands-on experience, and involve myself in the community as well. For instance, I may be able to invest in spending more time at a lab, which will allow me to acquaint myself with research and perhaps, find a mentor too. As the scholarship celebrates leadership potential, it will also encourage me to strive for leadership positions in university, which can better prepare me for my career life. Overall, this scholarship validates my goals and gives me the confidence that I can achieve them.”

Nathan Varghese has been an active member of his school student council and has been volunteering as a Recreation Assistant at Deer Lodge Centre. A founding member of the Westwood Historical Society, he and a friend competed in the Manitoba Caring for Our Watersheds (CFOW) Contest in 2021, winning first place for their innovative proposal for the creation of an Augmented Reality app to bring experiential learning to students.

“My goal is to pursue an education that provides opportunities to learn and grow through research, exploration and new connections,” Varghese explains. “I am planning to enter a career that will allow me to make positive, tangible differences in the lives of others.”

Varghese is interested in scientific research and is passionate about people-focused work, hoping to pursue a career in health and social services.

“Helping others achieve their goals and overcome challenges is something that I am passionate about and hope to continue doing throughout my career journey,” says Varghese. “This scholarship provides the opportunity to pursue quality education at UM, establish relationships and connections, engage in research and contribute positively to the university community.”

“Education is a key driver in BMO’s Purpose-driven commitment to grow the good for an inclusive society,” says John MacAulay, Regional President, Prairies Central Region at BMO. “It’s our privilege to partner with the University of Manitoba in supporting these young leaders whose contributions will enrich our society and help pave the way toward a collective brighter future.”

Become a BMO Financial Group Leader of Tomorrow
Visit the Financial Aid and Awards website for more information on the BMO Financial Group Leader of Tomorrow scholarships and the BMO Financial Group Indigenous Leader of Tomorrow scholarships.

To explore these ideas about youth in democracy and the role of the media in 2020, the James W. Burns Leadership Institute is hosting Who are you in the democracy? on December 2, from 5 p.m.-6 p.m. on Zoom.

The panel discussion will feature Kevin Chief, Principal of Chief Partnerships Manitoba Incorporated and former MLA for Point Douglas, Lisa Kassenaar [BComm(Hons)/88], Manhattan-based, senior editor at Voice of America and co-founder of Bloomberg News’s global women’s project, and will be moderated by Dr. Suzanne Gagnon, Canada Life Chair in Leadership Education, Associate Professor, and Director of the James W. Burns Leadership Institute.

Chief will speak about his life experience in politics and the importance of young people getting involved in our democracy.

“Young people have a natural ability to create and influence change,” says Chief. “Democracy works best when people are engaged; their involvement is critical to give us a better path to the future.” 

Kassenaar will draw on her journalism career to speak of the importance of being media literate and why assaults on media are dangerous to a healthy democracy.

“We owe it to each other, as citizens, to be mindful of where we get our information,” says Kassenaar. “A fair, free press is essential to democracy and the news media needs our support and attention.”  

Dr. Suzanne Gagnon

After initial remarks from the panelists, Dr. Gagnon will guide the conversation to the importance of leadership in a democracy. “Every vote counts and being aware and engaged is an excellent way to show leadership,” says Gagnon.

The hour-long event is open to all and will also have a question and answer portion. Rector Chris Adams of St Paul’s College and the UM Political Studies Department will also be in attendance to deliver a message of thanks to the speakers.

To participate, register on Zoom: https://bit.ly/35IGNvV

The recipients are high school students who showed continued community involvement, academic giftedness and outstanding leadership potential in order to receive the scholarship. Recipients were required to present a minimum 90% average based on a specific list of grade 11 courses. Each scholarship is valued at $16,000, allocated over four years of study.

“Our recipients this year made impactful impressions on the interview panel,” said Jane Lastra, Director, Financial Aid and Awards. “They demonstrated countless hours of community engagement and strong leadership qualities. Each one of them show far-reaching abilities, and the passion to be future leaders of tomorrow. They are excited to begin their studies with the University of Manitoba and continue to volunteer both on and off campus.”

The 2020 BMO Financial Group Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship recipients are Aya Alshareh, Chinemerem Chigbo, Toni Koshowski, Liat Schultz, Hayley Turner, and Josephine (Sijun) Zhao.

“This will make my university path much easier,” said Leaders of Tomorrow recipient Aya Alshareh. She plans on eventually applying for a master’s degree and says this will help her get there financially, “I don’t have to delay my graduation by adding extra years because of the pressure of working and studying at the same time.”

Alshareh will be pursuing her dream of becoming an engineer with the goal of one day helping rebuild infrastructure in cities devastated by war and unrest. Originally from Syria, Alshareh spends her time supporting refugee children and students through volunteering as a group leader with Kurdish Initiatives for Refugees Assocation. “Being involved in these leadership activities allow me to give back to newcomers who may be experiencing challenges like I did when I first arrived in Canada.”

The 2020 BMO Financial Group Indigenous Leader of Tomorrow Scholarship recipients are Amanda Chambers (Métis), Elora Cromarty (First Nations), and Alicia Jost (Métis).

“To me, this award means that all my hard work has finally paid off,” said recipient Elora Cromarty. “I am so grateful for this opportunity. This award will allow me to focus on my studies instead of worrying about financial issues.”

Cromarty plans to utilize the supports provided by Migizii Agamik – Bald Eagle Lodge, Access Program, and other supports for Indigenous students at UM while pursuing linguistics.

“The linguistic program works with Indigenous languages in the area of Manitoba, which is important to me because my mother tongue is the N dialect of Cree in Northern Manitoba.” Cromarty hopes to better understand how languages are structured, so she can hopefully one day develop resources and prevent the extinction of Indigenous languages.

UM is excited to announce its first BMO Financial Group National Leader of Tomorrow Scholarship recipient, Habibba Mohamed.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming Habiba to the University of Manitoba this fall,” said Kerri Gregoire, Lead Student Recruitment Officer. “As our first national recipient we are excited to diversify our Leaders of Tomorrow society and we know Habiba will represent us well back in her hometown, Surrey BC.”

Habiba Mohamed lived in Egypt during her middle school years and saw first-hand how many people were living below the poverty line. After witnessing how impoverished her community was, she began volunteering for numerous non-profits including the Egyptian Food Bank. In the past year, she raised over $2000 and has traveled to Egypt to distribute meals for those in need.

“This award is undoubtedly an exceptional foundation for me to build on and will definitely help me in taking steps to pursue my career goal to establish a non-profit to rally against the injustices keeping so many people living in poverty.”

Become a Leader of Tomorrow
Visit the Financial Aid and Awards website for more information on the BMO Financial Group Leader of Tomorrow scholarships and the BMO Financial Group Indigenous Leader of Tomorrow scholarships.

To return to the main page, click here.

Importance of Teaching Multicultural Dance

As a teacher, it’s important to remember that everyone CAN dance. By using an approach that provides an opportunity for guided movement expression, all students can bring their unique abilities to create movement.

http://www.phecanada.ca/programs/dance/5-reasons-teach-dance

http://www.phecanada.ca/sites/default/files/physical_literacy/Teaching_Dance41.pdf

Multicultural Dance Ideas:

https://www.thepespecialist.com/dance2/

http://www.pecentral.org/lessonideas/searchresults.asp?category=56

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Qysz2O7lU (Japanese Fan Dancing)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14yKrNcJskk (Chinese Fan Dancing)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w6WJxNgSmY (La Bastrigue -French Canada)

https://www.pinterest.ca/hilda1099/teach-kids-cultural-dances/

The 4th annual MPHETE Student Leadership Conference, “Affirming Identities” will focus on diversity and inclusion within physical education.  This conference is a Student Leadership Conference, for Physical Education students and Education students.

See the activity and speaker schedule below.

Registration Fees: (EXTENDED EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION PRICE)
Before January 15, $20+GST

Week-Of/At The Door: $30+GST

To register for the conference, please click here for the REGISTRATION PAGE.

Once you have registered for the conference, you’re invited to fill out the following two forms, to save time when you arrive at the registration desk at the conference.  Filling out the forms will also ensure we can accommodate your dietary needs on the day of the event.

Photography & Media Release Form (Conference)

Registration Form (Conference)

To reserve a hotel room at the special conference rate, please click this link:  MPHETE Conference  (Please note, this special rate will only be available until January 10, 2018, after which any rooms booked will be at the regular rate.)

For further 2018 conference information not listed here, please email PHESLC[at]umanitoba[dot]ca.

CONFERENCE RESOURCES

Click here for a list of conference resources.

SPEAKER LIST 

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

Dr. Jepkorir (Rose) Chepyator-Thomson, PhD, Professor of Physical Education and Sports Management, University of Georgia

“Building a Community of Learners Through Physical Activity and Culture”

WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS

-Rupal Malik, Teacher, Pembina Trails School Division 
Multicultural Dance 

-Simrit Deol, PhD Student, Faculty of Kinesiology & Recreation, U of M 
Immigrant Students & Physical Education 

-Blair Robillard, Instructor, University of Manitoba 
Aboriginal Games & Activities 

-Kathy Issac, Professor, Faculty of Education U of M
The Importance of Physical Activity for Optimal Cognitive Development  

-Andrea Bedard, Instructor, University of Winnipeg 
Adapted Physical Education 

-Deryk Tufford & Bud Penner, Teachers, Hanover School Division 
Warrior Fitness- Leveraging Digital with Optical Heart Rate Monitors for the Purpose of Assessment

-Emma Laferiere & Caelen Thomson, Faculty of Education Year 2 Students 
Physical Education Escape Room 

-Bryan Vermeylen & Curt McKinnon, Teachers, St. James Assiniboia School Division 
Circus Art 

-Sarah Halas, Circus Performer
Circus 

-Arlana Vadnais, Wellness Specialist, University of Manitoba 

Mental Health and Wellness