Events and opportunities

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50th Anniversary Event

  • University of Manitoba logo with additional wording, Indigenous Studies, 50th anniversary.

  • Thank you for joining us to celebrate this momentous occasion on October 15, 2025.

    This was a moment to honour the past and reconnect with those who have shaped the department over the last five decades. We welcomed back members of the first Indian, Métis and Eskimo Student Association (IMESA) established in 1971, BA, MA and PhD alumni of the program, and long-time supporters of the department’s growth.

    On October 15, we came together for an afternoon of connection, reflection, celebration, and a hopeful look toward the future. We enjoyed seeing familiar faces and hearing your thoughts on where the department has been and where it is headed.

Agenda

12:30 p.m. - Doors open
1:00 p.m. - Welcoming remarks
1:30 p.m. - Looking back and looking to the future panel discussion with Ovide Mercredi, Edwin Jebb and Moses Okimaw
2:30 p.m. - Announcements
3:00 p.m. - Reception

Thank you for visiting our display of archival materials celebrating the formation of the department and the past 50 years. 

IMESA

Original members of the Indian, Metis, and Eskimo Student Association (IMESA) formed in 1971.

    • Ovide Mercredi (1st president 1971-72)
    • Moses Okemaw (2nd president 1971-72)
    • Edwin Jebb (3rd president 1972-73)
    • Stan Harper
    • Judy Courchene
    • Marlene Courchene
    • Ken Linklater
    • George Shingoose
    • John Alooloo
    • Sharon Thibeault
    • Shirley Olson
    • Elijah Harper
    • Yvonne Monkman

Questions?

For questions or further information, please send us an email with the subject line: “50th anniversary event”.

Indigenous Studies Colloquium

Join our weekly panel discussing and visiting with some of the best speakers, leaders and researchers in Indigenous Studies on Turtle Island.

For more information contact indg.grad@umanitoba.ca.

Monday, November 24, 2025
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
409 Tier building

Don't 'Cut' My Hair: Rethinking the Cutting of Indigenous Actors Hair for Residential School Films
Payton Whitehead, MA Indigenous Studies student

"Daani Gigkendaan: One Woman's Journey" exploring the challenges and rewards in developing a land-based outdoor learning space within a school system
Shirley Thompson, PhD Indigenous Studies candidate

Two 30-minute presentations followed by a discussion period. 

Past Events

Winter 2025 schedule

  • Tasha Hubbard in Conversation with Melody McIver at 307 Tier Building, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Singing Back the Buffalo screening at The Winnipeg Art Gallery. Part of the Decolonizing Lens film series, 7:00 PM
  • Crystal Gail Fraser Book Launch for By Strength, We are Still Here at room 108, St. John's College, University of Manitoba, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Fall 2024 schedule

  • "Ways of Knowing: A Message to Students", Wab Kinew, Premier of Manitoba
  • "Who We Are: Four Questions for a Life and a Nation", The Honourable Murray Sinclair, Mizanay Giizhik
  • TBA
  • "The Trudeau Indigenous Record: 2015-2024", Niigaan Sinclair, University of Manitoba Indigenous Studies
  • "Remembering Indigenous Data, Research and Spectrum Sovereignty", Ashley Daniels, University of Manitoba Indigenous Studies
  • "Queen’s Metis?: A Review of the Queen’s Indigenous Identity Fraud Report as it Pertains to Metis Identity” Ally Freedman, University of Manitoba
  • "Indigenous Fathers and CFS in Manitoba", Leona Huntinghawk, University of Manitoba Indigenous Studies
  • "Restorying of the Sandy Bay Indian Residential School", Jamie Nienhuysen, University of Manitoba Indigenous Studies
  • "Haunted Homelands: 'Housing' and 'Home' in Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg", Sarah Hourie, University of Manitoba Indigenous Studies
  • "Beyond Repatriation of Indigenous Ancestral Remains and Heritage", Pahan PteSanWin, University of Manitoba Indigenous Studies
  • "Brown Tom's Schooldays", Mary Jane Logan McCallum, University of Winnipeg
     

Winter 2024 schedule

  • INDG Indigenous Languages roundtable
  • “Indigenous Administration and INDG” Angie Bruce, VP Indigenous, University of Manitoba
  • “Michif Storytelling and the Writing of Home” Matthew Terault, University of Manitoba
  • “Beyond Educational Genocide” Samara Hand, University of New South Wales, Australia
  • “Plundering the North: Colonialism, Corp. Welfare and Food Ins.” Kristina Burnett, Lakehead University and Travis Hay, Mount Royal University, held virtually
  • “Can Storytelling Bridge Conflicts between indigenous Communities?” Kristina Bidwell, CRC in Indigenous Storytelling, University of Saskatchewan
  • “A Comparative Analysis of Louis Riel and Li Keur” Nicole Stonyk, University of Manitoba
  • “Introducing New Introductory Courses for Indigenous Studies” Laura Forsythe, University of Winnipeg
  • “Defining History and Manitoba’s First Indigenous Premier” Jean and Gerald Friesen, Historians

Fall 2023 schedule

  • Surveillant Metrics: Technologies of Whiteness and the Production of Food Insecurity in Winnipeg; Dr. Merissa Daborn, University of Manitoba; Room: 409 Tier
  • Washagay: Generative Sites of Knowledge Transmission and Generous Reciprocity; Dr. Cathy Mattes, University of Winnipeg; Room: 409 Tier
  • “In-Between Erotics: Two-Spirit, Trans, and Queer Indigenous Creative Expression and Sleeping Anishinaabe Epistemologies; Adrienne Huard, University of Manitoba; Room: 307 Tier
  • Mlte Achimowm and research methodology; Dr. Lorena Fontaine, University of Manitoba; Room: 409 Tier
  • “Women hold that in their hearts and their bodies": Talking Politics with Métis Women; Dr. Jennifer Adese, University of Toronto; Room: 207 Isbister
  • Bizindaadiwag: Indigenous Language Ecologies and Public Art in wínipék; Dr. Patrizia Zanella, University of Manitoba; Room: 207 Isbister
  • Blackness and Indigeneity: historical relationalities; Dr. Aileen Moreton-Robinson, University of Queensland; Room: 207 Isbister; Start time of 5:30 p.m. CT
  • “Racialization, Possession, and Elimination: Theorizing Right Wing Anti-Indigenous Politics”; Dr. Kyle WiIlmott, Simon Fraser University; Room: 307 Tier
  • “Indigenous sovereignty and fish: thinking through research-creation approaches to studying Métis-fish relations”; Dr. Zoe Todd, Simon Fraser University; Room: 207 Isbister
  • TBD; Melody McKiver, University of Manitoba; Room: 307 Tier
  • Beadwork is Medicine; Tammy Wolfe, University of Manitoba; Room: 307 Tier
  • Restor(y)ing gendered polykinetic relations through historical analyses of the Iron Alliance; Iapi debwewin aansaamb, University of Manitoba; Room: 409 Tier

Indigenous Language Drop-ins

Open to students, academics and staff from all Faculties.

A time to practice conversational language, ask questions or learn new words.

Currently on hiatus.