Chief Donovan Fontaine, Chief of Sagkeeng First Nation (left), Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Winnipeg (centre) and Grand Chief Ron Evans, Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (right.)WINNIPEG, MB – Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Winnipeg, was inducted as an honourary citizen of Sagkeeng First Nation on Saturday, July 31, 2010. Sagkeeng First Nation is located 120 kilometers northeast of Winnipeg on the shore of Lake Winnipeg.
The honour includes a new Ojibwe name for Axworthy – Waapshki Pinaysee Inini – which means White Thunderbird Man.
“This is an incredible sign of trust by the community, stemming from our mutual efforts to create an open and trusting relationship,” said Axworthy. “The things that are especially meaningful to me are the words of the Elders, the Members of Council and Chief Donovan Fontaine. Their confidence in UWinnipeg to work with First Nations in a true partnership through our outreach and community learning initiatives and new academic programs means what we have been doing together over the past several years is building a lasting and deep bond.”
New Initiatives
New initiatives include a new Master’s in Development Practice (MDP) program focusing on Indigenous Development to be offered in September 2011. UWinnipeg joins a world-class network of 22 universities that will prepare future leaders with the skills to take on challenging problems and find innovative solutions. Students will study health sciences, natural sciences, social sciences and management as well as politics, development practices, policy-making within an interdisciplinary framework. For information email mdp@uwinnipeg.ca.
Along with the MDP program, UWinnipeg offers other innovative programs, such as Bachelors and Masters degrees in Aboriginal Governance and a Bachelor degree in Urban and Inner-City Studies,; a Community-based Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (CATEP), a diploma in Aboriginal Information & Communications Technologies and an Indigenous Police Preparation Diploma.
Approximately 10% of UWinnipeg’s student population identify as First Nations, Metis and Inuit. This makes UWinnipeg one of the top four universities in Canada for Aboriginal student enrolment.
Financial Assistance
UWinnipeg believes in access and excellence and so financial assistance is also available. Last week, UWinnipeg announced two new scholarships valued at $5,000 each, created to honour and support Indigenous students who are descendants of survivors of residential schools or who themselves are residential school survivors. Access the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Scholarship application form here.
UWinnipeg has also created a unique Opportunity Fund.
MEDIA CONTACT
Diane Poulin, Communications Officer, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7135, E: d.poulin@uwinnipeg.ca
