Campus Manitoba serves the peoples living on the land known as Manitoba. As discussed in the Pulling Together: Manitoba Foundation Guide (Brandon Edition):

In the subtitle, we struggled with the name “Manitoba.” On the one hand, it is a name applied to a bordered area created through colonization. On the other hand, it is a name that has been adapted from Indigenous language and, as has been observed, was suggested by Louis Riel himself—acclaimed Métis leader and founder of the Province of Manitoba.

Manitoba: The most common and widely accepted source of the name is from the Cree words ‘manitou’ (Great spirit) and ‘wapow (sacred water)’, or the Ojibway word ‘Manito-bau’. These names refer to the narrows of Lake Manitoba, where waves dashed against rocky shores of Manitou Island. These sounds were thought to be sacred beats that dashed throughout Creation and created beauty, definition and meaning. It is the voice of the Great Spirit, Manitowapow (Sinclair & Cariou, 2011, pp. 4–5).

Our administrative office is on Treaty 2 territory, with offices in Treaty 1 territory. Treaty 2 territory is the traditional territory of the Dakota Oyate, Anishinaabeg, and the National Homeland of the Métis Nation. Treaty 1 territory is the traditional territory of Anishinaabek and the National Homeland of the Métis Nation. We thank the Indigenous communities of Turtle Island for both the historic and ongoing stewardship and protection of the land we collectively inhabit today.

As an organization, we recognize the past and present systemic injustices that exist for the First Peoples of this land. Let this land acknowledgement be a call for all of us to learn more about the land we live on and envision a way to challenge racism, inequality and colonialism. Working alongside all Nations, Indigenous and non, we strive to provide access to education – reducing barriers and lifting our community as a whole.

Explore these resources to learn more about Indigenous history and work towards truth and reconciliation:

Learn the land you are situated on:

• Native Land
• Whose Land

Learn about Indigenous history and Truth & Reconciliation:

• Pulling Together: Manitoba Foundations Guide (Brandon Edition)
• National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR)
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
• Indigenous Resources – Background, Policy, Analysis: Language at Brandon University

Learn about Manitoba Indigenous Organizations:

• Manitoba Métis Federation
• Manitoba Inuit Association
• Dakota and Dene Peoples in Manitoba
• Directory: Indigenous Organizations in Manitoba

Learn about Canadian Residential Schools:

• Understanding Residential Schools – The Manitoba Museum
• Pulling Together: Manitoba Foundations Guide (Brandon Edition) – Residential schools

Learn about Indigenous educational opportunities:

• eCoursesMB – Manitoba’s post-secondary online course directory
• Teaching Indigenous Languages program at the University of Winnipeg
• Native Studies – Brandon University
• Certificate In Teaching Ininimowin – University College of the North
• Indigenous Languages of Manitoba
• Indigenous Canada Course – by University of Alberta

Learn about action in Manitoba’s Post-Secondary institutions:

• Assiniboine Community College Indigenous commitment
• National Day for Truth & Reconciliation at Brandon University
• Reconciliation at Canadian Mennonite University
• Truth & Reconciliation Week events at Manitoba Institute of Trades & Technology
• Truth and Reconciliation at Red River College Polytechnic
• University College of the North’s Reconciliation, Research and Academic Innovation
• A dialogue with Indigenous Peoples at Université de Saint-Boniface
• Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba
• Indigenization at the University of Winnipeg
• Manitoba Collaborative Indigenous Education Blueprint

Learn about Friendship Centres:

• Manitoba Association of Friendship Centres
• National Association of Friendship Centres
• Winnipeg Indigenous Friendship Centre
• Brandon Friendship Centre

Learn with children on Truth and Reconciliation Week:

• Indigenous heritage videos with CBC kids
• Truth and Reconciliation Week-Remembering the Children-NCTR programming for grades 1-12