Paskwamostos Wawiyaw Indigenous Leadership Program

"The Indigenous Circle of Empowerment is incredible. It was my first experience being apart of such a group and needless to say, it changed me. I find myself being more confident in academia, in my cultural identity, and in leadership roles. I was honoured to be surrounded by other like-minded individuals throughout my year with ICE who have become great friends of mine and I know we will continue to support each other throughout the rest of our academic and professional careers. ICE gave me the opportunity to hear from inspiring Indigenous professionals in numerous fields who are passionate about the work they do for community which I found deeply moving. With ICE, I had the chance to volunteer with Siloam Mission, attend the Inaugural Inspiring Women’s Awards ceremony, and create an event for Indigenous youth in the city to attend university for a day. The preparation and execution of our group project was an experience I will not soon forget and let me put the public speaking and leadership skills we had been working on into practice. Being a part of ICE has been a rewarding experience that has allowed me to find my voice as an Indigenous leader."

- Lauren Hallett, ICE '23

"ICE was an incredible program! What I enjoyed about ICE is how it fosters an environment that promotes collective leadership, allows students to share ideas, emotions and stories in a non-judgmental environment and inspires students to connect to themselves in a deeper way by engaging with stories from inspirational Indigenous leaders in Manitoba and our country. As well, Justin does an amazing job of not only coordinating the program, but attending to the needs of each individual student. He really was interesting in getting to know me and my needs and interests as a student. I recommend this program to all Indigenous students!"

- Bryden Bukich, ICE ‘22

"The Indigenous Circle of Empowerment provided a safe space for me to connect with fellow Indigenous students and grow throughout my first year at the University of Manitoba. ICE is much more than a student group; it is a community. ICE allowed me to gain confidence in myself as a leader while greatly enhancing my communication skills. ICE provides the opportunity for young leaders to connect with trailblazers and other notable leaders and inspires students to continue to strive for excellence in all aspects of life. ICE is an uplifting collective I am forever grateful to be a part of, as the teachings and lessons I gained through ICE continue to impact my daily life."

-Tréchelle Bunn, ICE '22

"Being a part of ICE has been an amazing experience. Not only have I grown as a leader in so many ways through meeting and learning from other Indigenous leaders in my community, but I have also been able to connect with my Indigenous culture even further. This program is great for Indigenous students that are looking for ways to get involved in the community on campus and meet other leaders that empower them."

- Dr. Gillian McIvor, ICE '18, '19, '20

"ICE has significantly increased my confidence in all aspects of life. It has allowed me to strengthen both my personal identity and my Indigenous identity, and now I have a greater understanding of my purpose in life. ICE has given me the opportunity to meet life-long friends, connect with inspirational leaders in the community, increase my communication skills and to travel. It is a comforting and safe place to retreat when life gets overwhelming,"

- Dr. Gabrielle Wilson, ICE '18

"I love ICE! This program has helped develop my leadership skills, alongside some of the most incredible individuals I have met on campus. My favourite memories are rooted in the many opportunities afforded to us: attending sweats, learning about culture, volunteering, meeting the mayor, learning from phenomenal guest speakers, practicing public speaking and off-campus team-building fun. I even got to travel to Montreal in 2017 and Ottawa in 2018 to attend meaningful conferences in my field of study. This circle encourages, inspires, and gently pushes us to be our very best. I'm grateful to be a part of it."

-Charlene Hallett, ICE '17

"The Indigenous Circle of Empowerment provides a safe space on campus to excel. Space where you are surrounded by driven, successful Indigenous students striving to improve not only their lives but also the lives of others. The collective lifts each other up by providing support and celebrating accomplishments. Each meeting, we grow as individuals while making connections in industry, politics and the academy. I have thoroughly enjoyed both of the years I have been involved in ICE and look forward to years to come."

- Dr. Laura Forsythe, ICE '17