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Full Circle for Indigenous Education is a name that speaks of our Spirit partners, and the gifts and capacities that are developed as a life form matures. Through learning and challenge, wisdom is accumulated from all parts of the journey, and finally that life form comes home to remembering who she is, and why she is here. This name has been independently received from two different Grandmothers and has been gratefully honoured in Ceremony and has been Feasted.
It is our intention to support learning in regard to history, culture, language, Indigenous pedagogy and Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being. Through that learning, the growth of the whole person is supported, and the full story of our shared history is acknowledged. Within that growth, we move closer to reclaiming lost aspects of self, family, community and healthy relationships with ourselves and all that surrounds.
As an Indigenous organization, we have sought support and partnership from the Spirit World through Ceremony and listening to guidance. A Red Tree in a Circle with a Blue Background stepped forward and offered 3 concepts that would be our foundation, and the ground from which all intentions and actions are to spring.
Thank-you to All Nations Print for the beautiful logo design.
Our Council and Working Group work to make decisions by consensus, in relationship with Spirit, and with guidance from our Council’s Grandmother.
Pahan Pte San Win – Grandmother is Lakota, Cree & Métis with roots that reach back to Wood Mountain, SK. With a degree in social work from the University of Calgary, Pahan has worked in the role of spiritual caregiver to incarcerated youth and provided counseling support to residential school survivors, traumatized women and incarcerated men. Her storytelling pursuits include producer of the Good Medicine Radio Show for CKLB Radio in Yellowknife, NT and a blog, www.IMarriedaHolyMan. She also contributed to the anthology, “Keetsahnak / Our Missing and Murdered Indigenous Sisters (2018). Pahan’s vision to have a Sundance of Women that honours our stolen sisters was realized in 2017 and continues until 2020. She is also a business owner of www.bearpawtipi.ca.
Renée McGurry is presently working for the First Nations in Treaty 2 Territory (FNT2T) government as the ‘Earth Lodge Development Helper’. She also works as a support teacher and workshop facilitator for the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba. She is a member of Treaty 2, Pinaymootang Reserve in Northern Manitoba. She retired from St. James-Assiniboia School Division in Winnipeg in 2016. In her 35 years as an educator, she has worked as the Indigenous Education Coordinator for the school division. She has been recognized by Manitoba Education as one of their ‘Aboriginal Educators of the Month’ and has been the recipient of the ‘Trailblazer/Lifetime Achievement’ award from the Aboriginal Circle of Educators in 2013. Renée is presently on the Board of Directors for the non-profit organizations ‘Live Different’ and the ‘Indigenous Circle of Educators’. As a former colleague stated, “Renée McGurry has been guiding the journey of many, who collectively will have a profound effect on Indigenous youth and educators for years to come.”
Mona is Métis from the Red River. She grew up in the French community of LaBroquerie, MB. She is a 6th year high school Social Studies teacher in the Division Scolaire Franco Manitobaine (DSFM). Mona served as Vice-president for l’Union nationale métisse Saint-Joseph du Manitoba from the years of 2014-2017, and then began representing Full Circle on the Indigenous Inclusive Directorate Advisory Council. She has worked on French Indigenous pedagogy activities for ACELF and AEFM, and was an advisor for the French curriculum of Grade 12 Current Topics in First Nations, Métis and Inuit Studies course. Mona strongly believes in continuation education and is currently enrolled in her post-bac at the University of Manitoba.
Jenna is an Annishinabe woman living in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her ancestors are from Kinosota and Ebb & Flow. Jenna grew up in the city, disconnected from her Indigenous roots. Today, she gravitates to connection to our traditional ways and roots herself in our ancient knowledge.
Jenna has been a leader in Indigenous Education in her schools. Always seeking to support the comfort and confidence of Indigenous students and families, she has helped develop resources, supported research, and held space for colleagues wanting to learn how to walk in good relationship. Jenna hopes to inspire educators to make Indigenous Education meaningful, empowering and validating in their classrooms, as she is living proof of the outcomes.
Ben Nein is a Métis teacher in Seven Oaks School Division. A teacher since 2005, they have been walking with community and working to decolonize their thinking and teaching since 2015. To further that, Ben has begun work on a Master’s degree in Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning with a focus on helping schools have the important conversations with their Indigenous community members and non-Indigenous teachers about how to enact education for reconciliation. They work to create space for Indigenous Ways-of-Coming-to-Knowing and Indigenous voice, and seek to bridge Western and Indigenous ways of teaching and learning to reach towards Elder Albert Marshall’s idea of “Two-Eyed Seeing.”
Jennifer is a non-Indigenous educator and helper, who is committed to offering and supporting experiences that bring people together and nourish the heart. Her life has been immeasurably enriched through 25 years of walking in community.
Jen worked for 15 years in various areas of K-8 education, including 11 years as a Student Services Teacher. These years awakened her attention to the colonial-driven inequities, visible and invisible burdens experienced by Indigenous students and families.
A ‘healer-type’ at heart, Jen worked to create safer spaces at school, and more honest dialogue among colleagues and with families. Since moving from Education to a private healing practice, Jen brings her care for Indigenous Education to Full Circle.
Carlie Kane currently resides on Treaty 1 territory and is a proud member of Lac Seul First Nation on Treaty 3 territory. Carlie has obtained an Advanced Bachelor of Arts in Native Studies, and is a current law student at the University of Manitoba. Carlie assists Full Circle for Indigenous Education as a contracted project assistant helping in the areas of social media and administration.