Minwaajimo: Recent Episodes
The First Peoples' Centre at Canadore College
Minwaajimo means 'to tell a good story' in Anishinaabemowin, and that is exactly what we hope to do in this podcast! Minwaajimo is a show highlighting Indigenous student success stories from Canadore College in North Bay, Ontario. Namely, Minwaajimo is hosted by the First Peoples' Centre at Canadore College, and has invited Indigenous student alumni, and current students, as well as the staff, faculty, and leadership team at Canadore College to share in the celebration of Indigenous students, and who each assist in making Indigenous student success stories possible. So biindigen (come on in) and join us as we cheer on the Indigenous students at Canadore College!
Indigenous Education is Justice with Mary Wabano
Guest Bio:
Mary Wabano-McKay
Vice-President Nyaagaaniid - Anishinaabe Initiatives, Equity and Student Success
Mary Wabano-McKay is a member of Attawapiskat First Nation and has worked in the fields of education, health and social policy with over 20 years of experience in academic leadership. With a strong focus in Indigenous education, she has developed and provided oversight of culturally appropriate student services, program quality assurance, curriculum development, program design and community partnerships and research involving Indigenous peoples. Working with Indigenous advisory councils, she continues to lead in Indigenous Education, Community Outreach, Student Success and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Mary is devoted to decolonizing spaces and advancing Reconciliation, working to develop strong relationships between the university and various stakeholders in the community to continue the journey of healing. Her lived experience as O’Mushkego Anishinaabe and first generation Residential School survivor guides her both personally and professionally. Her approach to her work is grounded in Anishinaabe Seven Grandfather Teachings of the Three Fires Midewiwin and her understanding of our inherent responsibilities to the earth and to one another.
Mary holds a Bachelor of Social Work (Laurentian University) and Master of Social Work Degree (Carleton University) as well as designation as a Master Trainer for the Mental Health Commission of Canada in the MHFA First Nations program and Trainer for both MHFA Youth and MHFA First Nation programs. She also serves on the board of the Sault Ste. Marie Indian Friendship Centre and Actua, a national STEM charity.
Minwaajimo Social Media Handles:
Follow Minwaajimo on Facebook and Instagram @minwaajimo
Credits:
Special thanks to Canadore College and the First Peoples’ Centre for making this podcast a reality!
Logo Design and Social Media Promotion by Ange Miller (angegraphix@gmail.com)
Episode Produced by Shanna Peltier, Owner – Velvet Tine Productions, and Gerard Peltier, Recruitment Officer – Canadore College.
Audio Engineering and Post-Production by Velvet Tine Productions (velvet.tine.productions@gmail.com) & Pat Peltier Music.
Music Written and Produced by Pat Peltier
Finding the Best Version of Ourselves with Shawnesia Ottawa
In this episode, Shanna and Gerard speak with Shawnesia about her time at Canadore College and the First Peoples Centre. Shawnesia was a lively and passionate employee of the First Peoples Centre. She reflects on her experiences at Canadore, which made her into the "best version" of herself. A pursuit she continues striving to be every day.
Guest Bio:
Shawnesia Ottawa is an Anishinabeikwe from Kitigan Zibi, which is located in Quebec and is on traditional Algonquin territory. Some of her interests include: being on the land, working with birchbark and singing. Shawnesia graduated from Canadore’s Indigenous Wellness and Addictions Prevention program in 2020. She is currently a part of the “Nigan Odji” Mental Wellness Team, where she is a Mental Health and Addictions Counsellor with a specialty in culture at the Maniwaki Native Friendship Centre.
Minwaajimo Social Media Handles:
Follow Minwaajimo on Facebook and Instagram @minwaajimo
Credits:
Special thanks to Canadore College and the First Peoples’ Centre for making this podcast a reality!
Logo Design and Social Media Promotion by Ange Miller (angegraphix@gmail.com)
Episode Produced by Shanna Peltier, Owner – Velvet Tine Productions, and Gerard Peltier, Recruitment Officer – Canadore College.
Audio Engineering and Post-Production by Velvet Tine Productions (velvet.tine.productions@gmail.com) & Pat Peltier Music.
Music Written and Produced by Pat Peltier
Indigenous Student Recruitment with Roxane Shawana
In this episode, Shanna and Gerard speak with Roxane about her work in Indigenous student recruitment which involves travelling all across Ontario and visiting Indigenous communities. Roxane and Gerard share a few laughs from their time on the road and reflect on the importance of Indigenous student recruitment and supporting them through the process.
Guest Bio:
Roxane Shawana is from Wikwemikoong Unceded Territory located on the beautiful Manitoulin Island. She is the Indigenous Student Recruiter at Conestoga College, and she helps prospective students learn more about post secondary education and the programs and services at Conestoga. She is proud to be able to provide this service, as an Alumni of Conestoga College and a community member of the Kitchener Waterloo Region.
Roxane started her career path with Conestoga as a first-generation learner who pursued an advanced diploma in business administration with a focus on accounting. Her experiences at Conestoga have led her to her current role at the College where she has been able to pass along her passion for post-secondary for more than a decade to current and prospective students. Roxane has been heavily involved with the Aboriginal Post-Secondary Information Program (APSIP) for over 10 years, sharing post-secondary knowledge throughout Ontario. She enjoys showing students the career possibilities and opportunities that furthering your education can provide.
https://www.apsip.ca/
Minwaajimo Social Media Handles:
Follow Minwaajimo on Facebook and Instagram @minwaajimo
Credits:
Special thanks to Canadore College and the First Peoples’ Centre for making this podcast a reality!
Logo Design and Social Media Promotion by Ange Miller (angegraphix@gmail.com)
Episode Produced by Shanna Peltier, Owner – Velvet Tine Productions, and Gerard Peltier, Recruitment Officer – Canadore College.
Audio Engineering and Post-Production by Velvet Tine Productions (velvet.tine.productions@gmail.com) & Pat Peltier Music.
Music Written and Produced by Pat Peltier
Supporting Indigenous Education with Judy, Shawn, and Sarah
Guest Bio:
Brianne Joliceour is a Canadore College Graduate in Indigenous Pre-Health Sciences and Practical Nursing. She has many wisdoms to offer as a mother who completed her post-secondary schooling with great strength and perseverance which involved bringing her little one to night classes!
Minwaajimo Social Media Handles:
Follow Minwaajimo on Facebook and Instagram @minwaajimo
Credits:
Special thanks to Canadore College and the First Peoples’ Centre for making this podcast a reality!
Logo Design and Social Media Promotion by Ange Miller (angegraphix@gmail.com) and Marjorie Nashkawea.
Episode Produced by Shanna Peltier, Owner – Velvet Tine Productions, and Gerard Peltier, Recruitment Officer – Canadore College.
Audio Engineering and Post-Production by Velvet Tine Productions (velvet.tine.productions@gmail.com) & Pat Peltier Music.
Music Written and Produced by Pat Peltier
Supporting Indigenous Education with Judy, Shawn, and Sarah
In this episode, Shanna and Gerard speak with some of the leaders in Indigenous education at Canadore College!
Guest Bio:
Judy Manitowabi is originally from Wikwemikong Unceded Territory, Judy is a mother of two sons, and Grandma to Maximus, she lives on Nipissing First Nation, just outside the city limits of North Bay. Judy is the Director of the First Peoples’ Centre and has been working for the College for almost 13 years now and has been an educator for 43 years.
Sarah Julian is the Manager of Community Based & Contract Training at Canadore College’s First Peoples’ Centre, where she works in partnership with Indigenous communities and industry partners in response to employment and training needs.
Shawn Chorney is currently serving his 13th year as Vice President at Canadore College in North Bay, Ontario. Over that last 13 years, Chorney has collaborated with and led a team of dedicated and talented staff to establish Canadore as a college of choice that supports its learners as unique stakeholders of their college. This work has included the adoption of same-day mental health triage support services, progressive approaches to embracing and living reconciliation through Indigenous Education, the adoption of aggressive strategic enrolment management frameworks and retention strategies and the creation of class-leading programs, services and student engagement initiatives.
Minwaajimo Social Media Handles:
Follow Minwaajimo on Facebook and Instagram @minwaajimo
Credits:
Special thanks to Canadore College and the First Peoples’ Centre for making this podcast a reality!
Logo Design and Social Media Promotion by Ange Miller (angegraphix@gmail.com)
Episode Produced by Shanna Peltier, Owner – Velvet Tine Productions, and Gerard Peltier, Recruitment Officer – Canadore College.
Audio Engineering and Post-Production by Velvet Tine Productions (velvet.tine.productions@gmail.com) & Pat Peltier Music.
Music Written and Produced by Pat Peltier
Apply, Apply, Apply! with Macho Commonda
In this episode, Shanna and Gerard speak with Macho Commonda about the ups and downs of post-secondary school. Macho speaks to important characteristics which helped him through college such as stubbornness. He describes hardships which greatly challenged his potential for completing school and encourages all students to apply for scholarships and bursaries!
Guest Bio:
Macho Commonda (He/His) is a proud Algonquin member of the Kitigan Zibi First Nation. Macho grew up in Ottawa and Kitigan Zibi, where he has close ties to both. He recently graduated from Nipissing University with a Science Degree in Environmental Biology and Technology and a diploma in the Environmental Technician Program from Canadore College.
Minwaajimo Social Media Handles:
Follow Minwaajimo on Facebook and Instagram @minwaajimo
Credits:
Special thanks to Canadore College and the First Peoples’ Centre for making this podcast a reality!
Logo Design and Social Media Promotion by Ange Miller (angegraphix@gmail.com)
Episode Produced by Shanna Peltier, Owner – Velvet Tine Productions, and Gerard Peltier, Recruitment Officer – Canadore College.
Audio Engineering and Post-Production by Velvet Tine Productions (velvet.tine.productions@gmail.com) & Pat Peltier Music.
Music Written and Produced by Pat Peltier
Episode Title: Home Away from Home with Shannon Manitowabi
Episode Description: In this episode Shanna and Gerard introduce Shannon Manitowabi, another Canadore College Alumni! Shannon is a graduate from the Small Business Management program and she graduate is 2011 with Academic Honours. This episode covers Shannon’s story, including her inspiration for going back to school and how she persevered through grief to finish. She was vibrant presence at the First Peoples’ Centre Canadore College, and we share a lot of laughs throughout!
Guest Bio:
Guest Social Media: Follow Shannon on Instagram @shannon_manitowabi and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/shannon.manitowabi
She is also an active wear seller! You can reach out at: https://www.mycanadazyia.com/MANITOWABI?fbclid=IwAR29WLSz-VZBRUds7rciTu4CmhjKZmcXsUngZXYn6GmVC3CflZOfXTs4uhM
Minwaajimo Social Media: Follow Minwaajimo on Facebook and Instagram @minwaajimo
Meet the Hosts:
Gerard Peltier
Currently works as a Recruitment and Retention Officer at the First Peoples’ Centre, Canadore College. He is also a proud member of Wikwemkoong Unceeded Territory
Gerard has been sharing the message on education to Indigenous students for over 30 years. 15 years in his home community from 1992 and 15 years at Canadore College since 2007.Gerard has held many hats over the last 15 years, coach, mentor, event planner, pow wow coordinator, land-based learning excursion coordinator. Coming from a competitive sporting background, Gerard understands the discipline and hard work it will take to succeed and move forward. Some of Gerard’s accomplishments in sport include being a 3 time All Canadian In College Hockey, Memorial Cup Champion. But, Gerard will be quick to share his greatest memories and moments come from his family of 4 boys and wife, Maxine, of nearly 30 years. And now his 4 grandchildren. Family is everything.
Shanna Peltier
Shanna Peltier (she/her) is an Anishinaabe kwe who grew up in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory located on the beautiful Mnidoo Mnis (Manitoulin Island), Ontario. Shanna has a B.A. in Psychology from Laurentian University, and a Masters in School and Clinical Child Psychology from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) - University of Toronto (UofT). Currently, Shanna is a Ph.D. student in the School and Clinical Child Psychology at OISE-UofT. Working under the supervision of Dr. Jeffrey Ansloos, she hopes to explore and conceptualize a critical stance on Indigenous mental health in the areas of suicide prevention, structural violence, and life promotion, especially as it pertains to Indigenous children, youth, and their families. Shanna holds various advisory and representative positions with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and Ontario Indigenous Youth Partnership Project (OIYPP). She is an editor, producer and show host for Communities of Wealth, and Minwaajimo: A Podcast by the First Peoples’ Centre at Canadore College.
Credits:
Special thanks to Canadore College and the First Peoples’ Centre for making this podcast a reality!
Logo Design and Social Media Promotion by Ange Miller angegraphix@gmail.com
Episode Produced by Shanna Peltier, Owner – Velvet Tine Productions, and Gerard Peltier, Recruitment & Retention Officer – Canadore College.
Audio Engineering and Post-Production by Velvet Tine Productions (velvet.tine.productions@gmail.com) & Pat Peltier Music.
Music Written and Produced by Pat Peltier.
Episode Description: In this episode Shanna and Gerard introduce the purpose of the podcast and describe their roles as hosts. They introduce their first guest – Nathalie Wajashk-Restoule – who talks about making the tough decision to leave her community to go to post-secondary. They also discuss her challenges as a student, and the importance of Indigenous success in education.
Guest Bio:
Nathalie Wajashk-Restoule is Anishinaabe kwe, a mother of 2 children. She is a member of Okikendawt Anishinabek (Dokis First Nation) and is from the Eagle Clan. Nathalie is a graduate of the Indigenous Wellness and Addictions Prevention Program at Canadore College, went on to Nipissing University to start her 4-year degree in Psychology. Nathalie is an active learner of the Anishinaabemowin language, participates in land-based learnings, cultural/traditional teachings, ceremonies and community-based research that supports Indigenous revitalization efforts.
Guest Social Media: Follow Nathalie on Instagram @natrest
Minwaajimo Social Media: Follow Minwaajimo on Facebook and Instagram @minwaajimo
Meet the Hosts:
Gerard Peltier
Currently works as a Recruitment and Retention Officer at the First Peoples’ Centre, Canadore College. He is also a proud member of Wikwemkoong Unceeded Territory
Gerard has been sharing the message on education to Indigenous students for over 30 years. 15 years in his home community from 1992 and 15 years at Canadore College since 2007.Gerard has held many hats over the last 15 years, coach, mentor, event planner, pow wow coordinator, land-based learning excursion coordinator. Coming from a competitive sporting background, Gerard understands the discipline and hard work it will take to succeed and move forward. Some of Gerard’s accomplishments in sport include being a 3 time All Canadian In College Hockey, Memorial Cup Champion. But, Gerard will be quick to share his greatest memories and moments come from his family of 4 boys and wife, Maxine, of nearly 30 years. And now his 4 grandchildren. Family is everything.
Shanna Peltier
Shanna Peltier (she/her) is an Anishinaabe kwe who grew up in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory located on the beautiful Mnidoo Mnis (Manitoulin Island), Ontario. Shanna has a B.A. in Psychology from Laurentian University, and a Masters in School and Clinical Child Psychology from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) - University of Toronto (UofT). Currently, Shanna is a Ph.D. student in the School and Clinical Child Psychology at OISE-UofT. Working under the supervision of Dr. Jeffrey Ansloos, she hopes to explore and conceptualize a critical stance on Indigenous mental health in the areas of suicide prevention, structural violence, and life promotion, especially as it pertains to Indigenous children, youth, and their families. Shanna holds various advisory and representative positions with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and Ontario Indigenous Youth Partnership Project (OIYPP). She is an editor, producer and show host for Communities of Wealth, and Minwaajimo: A Podcast by the First Peoples’ Centre at Canadore College.
Credits:
Special thanks to Canadore College and the First Peoples’ Centre for making this podcast a reality!
Logo Design and Social Media Promotion by Ange Miller angegraphix@gmail.com
Episode Produced by Shanna Peltier, Owner – Velvet Tine Productions, and Gerard Peltier, Recruitment & Retention Officer – Canadore College.
Audio Engineering and Post-Production by Velvet Tine Productions (velvet.tine.productions@gmail.com) & Pat Peltier Music.
Music Written and Produced by Pat Peltier.