Each week, the Indigenous Health department highlights good news stories from the North and from across the country.
Qaumajuq exhibit honours the creation of Manitoba and the Red River Metis' role in its founding
A new art exhibit from the Winnipeg Art Gallery called Qaumajuq has recently opened. The exhibit is meant to highlight Manitoba’s history and its creation. The artwork includes contributions by Métis, First Nations, and non-Indigenous artists.
The exhibit was originally intended to open in 2020 to commemorate Manitoba’s 150th anniversary but was postponed dues to the pandemic. This did not deter the curators or artists, however, who looked at it as an opportunity to spend more time perfecting the exhibit.
Cathy Mattes, who is Red River Métis of Manitoba, notes the exhibit is seen through the Métis lens and seen as dialogue between the forces of colonization and the forces of resilience and resistance of the Métis.
Read about the exhibit and what it represents for the Métis people from CBC Indigenous.
Miawpukek chief talks about new Demasduit Regional Museum
A museum in Newfoundland has changed its name and many are calling it a sign of progress. Located in in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, the museum was originally named Mary March Museum and will now be called Demasduit Regional Museum.
Chief Mi'sel Joe of the Miawpukek First Nation feels it is about time the people are recognized. He noted it’s been a long time coming for the original people of the land. But this is a step in the right direction.
Watch Chief Mi'sel Joe’s discussion around the importance of this change as a positive step in reconciliation for Indigenous Peoples in Canada on CBC Newfoundland and Labrador.
Cree high school grads can now start college-level education at home
John Abbott College, in collaboration with the Cree School Board off northern Quebec, have partnered to offer Cree high school students a one-year online program that will support them to start their post-secondary education. This allows the students to not only study Cree history, but to be supported by family while doing so. This program can help students to eliminate some of the stress and culture shock they can experience leaving their land and family for the first time, while providing access to education that helps to reinforce their Identity.
The content reinforces Cree history and identity with courses on land-based learning, sub-arctic literature, and humanities.
Nian Matoush, Cree School Board director of adult education noted, “It's entirely based on Cree history... using Cree sources to develop the content itself.”
Read more about how this educational opportunity offers a new approach for Indigenous students from CBC North.
The 2022 Indigenous Peoples Day of Wellness Grants are now open
First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is providing Indigenous Peoples Day of Wellness Grants to support community-led celebrations and events, in alignment with public health guidelines, in honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, 2022.
The theme for 2022 is Celebrating Generations: Honouring our ancestors, Elders, youth and our future generations through culture, language, and traditions.
Visit FNHA’s website to see full grant criteria and to learn more.