UNews - Aboriginal

Creating opportunity

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:52:23 +0000

Christie-Dawn Ladouceur is used to helping people resolve challenges – she works as an employment counsellor – but receiving the inaugural Métis Scholar Graduate Studies scholarship helped her solve a very significant challenge of her own: how to fund the balance of her master's degree studies.

On Wednesday, Jan. 25, officials from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge welcomed members of the Métis Nation of Alberta to campus to jointly announce the creation of a scholarship fund for Métis undergraduate and graduate students, including Ladouceur, who is completing her master's degree in counselling psychology through the U of L's Faculty of Education and Campus Alberta.

The $500,000 gift will be endowed in perpetuity and will, through matching funds, support the creation of a $1 million endowment fund. This will help ensure more students of Métis heritage complete their post-secondary education.

Christie-Dawn Ladouceur (left) and Audrey Poitras, president of the Métis Nation of Alberta, celebrate the creation of a scholarship fund to support graduate and undergraduate Métis students at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Originally from the Lac la Biche area in northern Alberta, Ladouceur is now based in Edmonton, and works as a project manager for a not-for-profit Aboriginal organization where she develops employment and education training programs for youth to improve their career and employment prospects.

"I have three more semesters to complete, and this award will ensure that I can focus on my studies and finish my research," says Ladouceur, moved to tears during her comments at the launch event.

Ladouceur is producing a manual that other counsellors can use to properly identify the challenges faced by urban aboriginal youth, and the gaps and barriers in the various counselling models used to support them.

"I am focusing on the differences that are often overlooked by counsellors if they do not accurately understand the culture of a First Nations, Métis or Inuit student. My hope is that counsellors will be able to better identify and assist young people with their needs, and recognize that the different cultures require different approaches."

Ladouceur says that her master's degree will enable her to move forward within a profession she loves, and deal more directly with young people.

There is $25,000 in scholarship funding available this year – six $2,500 awards to undergraduate students and $10,000 awarded to graduate student Ladouceur.

"The Métis Nation of Alberta, through the Métis Education Foundation, has set up nine endowment funds that total more than $13.3 million," says Audrey Poitras, the president of the Métis Nation of Alberta. "These are more than gifts or donations. These endowments are investments in Métis students."

"Education is a necessary tool for Métis people to prosper and grow, and the U of L is committed to ensuring Métis students will have the financial means and the opportunities to achieve success in their education and their lives," says U of L President, Dr. Mike Mahon. "There are approximately 100 Métis students currently enrolled at the U of L. We would like to see this number grow as we continue to increase access and support programs. This gift from the Métis Nation of Alberta is a significant step in that direction."

The inaugural Métis Scholar undergraduate recipients are:

Jared Anderson, (Raymond, Alta.) enrolled in a Bachelor of Science program, Aaron Hamonic, (Lethbridge, Alta.) enrolled in a Bachelor of Health Sciences program, Charlene Lambert, (Lethbridge, Alta.) enrolled in a Pre-Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education program, Jolan Naismith, (Leduc, Alta.) enrolled in a Bachelor of Management program, Nicole Robinson, (Lethbridge, Alta.) enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing program (NESA), Amy Smith, (The Pas, Man.) enrolled in a combined Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education program.

This story first appeared in the February 2012 edition of The Legend. To view the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Métis Nation of Alberta creates U of L endowment fund

trevor.kenney — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:52:18 +0000

On Wednesday, Jan. 25, officials from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge welcomed members of the Métis Nation of Alberta to campus to jointly announce the creation of a scholarship fund for Métis undergraduate and graduate students.

The $500,000 gift will be endowed in perpetuity and will, through matching funds, support the creation of a $1 million endowment fund. This will help ensure more students of Métis heritage complete their post-secondary education.

There is $25,000 in scholarship funding available this year, including six $2,500 awards to undergraduate students and one $10,000 award to a graduate student.

"The Métis Nation of Alberta, through the Métis Education Foundation, has set up nine endowment funds that total more than $13.3 million," says Audrey Poitras, the President of the Métis Nation of Alberta. "These are more than gifts or donations. These endowments are investments in Métis students."

"Education is a necessary tool for Métis people to prosper and grow, and the U of L is committed to ensuring Métis students will have the financial means and the opportunities to achieve success in their education and their lives," says U of L President, Dr. Mike Mahon.

"There are approximately 100 Métis students currently enrolled at the U of L. We would like to see this number grow as we continue to increase access and support programs. This gift from the Métis Nation of Alberta is a significant step in that direction."

In addition to $15,000 directed to six undergraduate students, Christie-Dawn Ladouceur will receive $10,000 toward her master's degree in counselling psychology, a program she is completing through the U of L Faculty of Education and Campus Alberta.

Originally from the Lac la Biche area in northern Alberta, Ladouceur is now based in Edmonton, and works as a project manager for a not-for-profit Aboriginal organization, where she develops employment and education training programs for youth to improve their career and employment prospects.

"I have three more semesters to complete, and this award will ensure that I can focus on my studies and complete my research," says Ladouceur.

Ladouceur is producing a manual that other counsellors can use to properly identify the challenges faced by urban aboriginal youth, and the gaps and barriers in the various counselling models used to help them.

"I am focusing on the differences that are often overlooked by counsellors if they do not accurately understand the culture of a First Nations, Métis or Inuit student. My hope is that counsellors will be able to better identify and assist young people with their needs, and recognize that the different cultures require different approaches."

Ladouceur says that her master's degree will enable her to move forward within a profession she loves, and deal more directly with young people.

The inaugural Métis Scholar undergraduate recipients are:

- Jared Anderson, (Raymond, AB) enrolled in a Bachelor of Science program

- Aaron Hamonic, (Lethbridge, AB) enrolled in a Bachelor of Health Sciences program

- Charlene Lambert, (Lethbridge, AB) enrolled in a Pre-Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education program

- Jolan Naismith, (Leduc, AB) enrolled in a Bachelor of Management program

- Nicole Robinson, (Lethbridge, AB) enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing program (NESA)

- Amy Smith, (The Pas, MB) enrolled in a combined Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education program

The inaugural Métis Scholar Graduate Studies recipient this year is:

- Christie-Dawn Ladouceur, (Edmonton, AB) enrolled in a Master of Counselling Psychology program through the U of L Faculty of Education and Campus Alberta.

Resilience celebrates a culture's identity

trevor.kenney — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 20:47:40 +0000

Myths and stereotypes have a way of seeping into our perceptions of Aboriginal Peoples, their culture and their background. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Native Awareness Week, Feb. 28 to Mar. 4, looks to break those beliefs and present a well-rounded view of aboriginal culture and society.

For Linda Many Guns, a professor in the department of Native American Studies, the best way to present a true glimpse of Aboriginal society is to celebrate the strength and spirit of its people. Her fashion show, The Resilience of Blackfoot Identity in Clothing, looks to do just that.

This magnificent Bodmer-period style dress is more than 200 years old. It is just one of the pieces to be displayed at the Resilience of Blackfoot Identity in Clothing fashion show, to be held Mar. 1.

"I personally like to blow up myths about Aboriginal people," says Many Guns. "One of the opportunities we have during Native Awareness Week is the chance to demonstrate outside of classroom discussions, what it is to be Aboriginal. It's not just about reserves and issues it's about people, a way of life and a quality of life. The issues are always centred on poverty and that impoverished image. This week we have the opportunity, through this fashion show, to demonstrate a way of life that has quality, colour, skill and integrity."

The resilience of the Blackfoot women's pride in their identity is captured in the clothing they created and is the central theme of the show, featuring dresses created from three distinct eras of Aboriginal history. The pre-contact era is from the early 1800s, followed by the post-reservation era, from 1870 through the early 1900s, to today's modern era. Contemporary designers Carol Mason, Beverly Hungry Wolf and Gerri Many Fingers will all participate in the show, but it's the appearance of Pauline Dempsey's collection that sets this gathering apart.

"I've seen the pieces she has in her closet but I've never actually seen them out on display, and they really are to die for," says Many Guns. "What we'll be seeing will be spectacular. It's an amazing collection of pieces and the fact that they are not going to be shown again makes this quite an honour that their final appearance will be here."

Dempsey is the daughter of Canadian Senator James Gladstone and the wife of noted author Hugh Dempsey. Her collection has been shown all over the world and her husband Hugh is recognized for his scholarly contributions at the Glenbow Museum.

Many Guns says the event will highlight a people that, despite facing hardship, maintained an active and vibrant culture. It's that spirit of resilience that keeps their culture alive today.

"During the post-reservation period of time, the Aboriginal people were sequestered on reserves and not allowed off," says Many Guns. "So they were taking this incredible dressmaking skill and using anything they could get their hands on, and turning out these absolutely beautiful works of art."

Using scraps of recycled fabric, tin cans, beads extracted from lamps and so on, they found a way to express their identity. It's that identity that is constantly under attack today, and one of the reasons Many Guns introduced the fashion show as a teaching tool to her Native American Health class.

"Identity is a core element in Aboriginal cultural revival," says Many Guns. "When that identity is missing, it's often an underlying factor that contributes to some of the problems that are so prevalent in our communities. These are identity issues and this exercise shows pride in that identity."

Her students will run the show itself. They have been entrusted to research the history of the dresses on display, will co-ordinate the models and announce and describe the collections as they are being presented.

"I really wanted to be involved to learn more about Native American culture," says Kaley Woodman, one of the student researchers who will also be an announcer at the show. "This is a new and innovative way to express one
aspect of what defines their culture."

Student Michelle Leafloor adds that by steering away from issues, and instead presenting Aboriginal culture through its people, bridges of understanding can be constructed.

"This fashion show is a display of the uniqueness, beauty, art and design of Native American people, and it's something to be very proud of," she says. "Maybe an event like this can create a deeper understanding for the campus as a whole and a greater sense of belonging for the Native Americans who may be struggling to find their place in today's society."

For a full list of Native Awareness Week events, follow this link.

GET THE FACTS

• The Resilience fashion show is on Tuesday, Mar. 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the UHall Atrium.

• Noted Canadian historian/author Hugh Dempsey will lead the student discussions throughout the show.

• Contemporary designer, Gerri Many Fingers, teaches on the Blood Reserve. She'll be bringing a Grade 12 class of students to campus to experience Native Awareness Week. "It's a great opportunity for them to come into the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ environment, see other Aboriginal people studying here and that it is a welcoming place for them," says Many Guns.

• Visiting students and designers will be taking a tour of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre, as well as its wardrobe and costume-making department.

• The U of L Women's Centre is also providing volunteers for the show and Morrison Hershfield Engineering Ltd., along with their Aboriginal company, Sikon, is the presenting sponsor.

• An Indian Taco feast with mint tea and berries will follow the show.

For a look at the February issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

UNews - Aboriginal

Creating opportunity

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