Le Cercle de gouvernance

Mme Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux, Ph. D., a occupé pendant trois ans les fonctions de vice-rectrice aux Initiatives autochtones à l’Université Lakehead. En septembre 2016, elle est devenue la première présidente autochtone pour la Vérité et la réconciliation au Canada et elle continue de tracer la voie vers la réconciliation au Canada.

Mme Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux est membre du conseil d’administration de l’organisme sans but lucratif Teach for Canada, qui répond aux besoins des écoles autochtones dans le Nord de l’Ontario. Elle a été désignée « témoin honoraire » par la Commission de vérité et réconciliation du Canada et préside le Cercle de gouvernance du Centre national pour la vérité et la réconciliation de l’Université du Manitoba.

Elle est membre de la Première Nation des Chippewas de Georgina Island en Ontario, où elle réside, et consacre sa vie à créer des ponts pour favoriser la compréhension entre les peuples. Elle accorde un mérite incontestable au rapprochement entre les personnes de diverses cultures, de divers âges et de divers horizons pour engager un dialogue constructif et lancer des initiatives de recherche appliquée. Elle a profondément à cœur l’éducation publique et la mobilisation des jeunes de toutes les cultures et de tous les milieux.

Mme Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux est cofondatrice d’un projet jeunesse mis en œuvre à l’Université de Toronto, à l’Université de la Saskatchewan et à l’Université Lakehead.

Andrew Carrier est titulaire d’un baccalauréat ès arts et d’un diplôme en administration des affaires. Il est formateur professionnel agréé et intervenant en ressources humaines certifié.

Andrew Carrier a travaillé pendant 30 ans dans la fonction publique manitobaine et effectue actuellement son 5e mandat auprès de la Fédération des Métis du Manitoba.

De plus, M. Carrier a été nommé président du conseil d’administration de l’Indigenous Leadership Development Institute en 2010 et est membre fondateur du World Indigenous Business Forum. En 2016, le Ralliement national des Métis a nommé Andrew Carrier comme représentant métis au sein du Cercle de gouvernance du Centre national pour la vérité et la réconciliation. Andrew Carrier a survécu aux traumatismes subis durant son enfance alors qu’il fréquentait une école de jour catholique.

Angie Bruce, Vice-President (Indigenous), University of Manitoba, is a proud Red River Métis woman tied to her home community of St. Laurent, Manitoba. Ms. Bruce grew up in the Métis culture and credits the strong maternal figures in her family for instilling a connection to the land, community, culture and spirit. She holds a master’s degree in business administration from UM’s Asper School of Business [MBA/09] and is currently a PhD Candidate at Nipissing University.

An impactful and collaborative leader, Ms. Bruce brings experience and success working with First Nation, Inuit and Métis people and Nation, communities, local, regional and federal governments and organizations, and across the non-Indigenous public, private and non-profit sectors. Prior to joining the University of Manitoba on February 1, 2024, Ms. Bruce was the Assistant Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada’s Nòkwewashk sector – the first Government of Canada departmental team to be gifted its name by Indigenous Elders.

Ms. Bruce will advance UM’s policy, research and programming that bolsters Reconciliation and Indigenous self-determination, and continue the legacy of exemplary leadership for the Vice-President (Indigenous) portfolio.

Levinia Brown est une survivante inuite de Rankin Inlet.

En 1978, Levinia Brown a reçu son certificat d’aide-enseignante des Territoires du Nord-Ouest. Elle a joué un rôle essentiel dans la mise sur pied de l’Eastern Arctic Teacher Education Program (EATEP), à Iqaluit. En 1980, elle est devenue la première présidente de l’Administration scolaire régionale de Keewatin. Après avoir occupé les fonctions d’agente d’information, de présidente de l’autorité locale du logement et de mairesse suppléante, Levinia Brown est devenue la première femme élue mairesse de Rankin Inlet.

Levinia Brown a aussi été députée de la circonscription Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove. Le 16 février 2004, l’honorable Levinia Brown a été désignée par les députés pour faire partie du Conseil exécutif. Le 9 mars 2004, le premier ministre Paul Okalik nomme Mme Brown vice-première ministre.

Ayant consacré sa vie au développement et à la promotion du renforcement des capacités communautaires en matière de services sociaux et de santé, elle porte un regard positif sur la vie. Elle croit que la vie est précieuse et ne doit pas être gaspillée. Elle exprime clairement sa soif pour l’éducation, sa force de leadership et sa compassion pour les enjeux sociaux.

Levinia Brown est mariée à Ron Brown. Le couple a sept enfants et trois enfants adoptés selon les coutumes autochtones.

Dr. B. Mario Pinto joined the University of Manitoba’s leadership team as Vice President (Research & International) in October 2022 after having served as Griffith University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor Research (DVCR) and Director of the Gold Coast Health & Knowledge Precinct in Queensland, Australia (2020-2022). Prior to this he served as President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Chair of the Global Research Council, Co-chair of the Canada-India Joint Science and Technology Committee, and Vice President Research and Chair of Chemistry at Simon Fraser University, Canada.

Receiving his undergraduate degree and doctorate from Queen’s University in Ontario, Dr. Pinto has published more than 250 papers in chemical biology and holds a simple but firm view on research. “A recognition of scholarly impact is what counts and quality publication and innovation remain at the core,” he said. “Researchers must take some risks and strive for greater influence in their respective spheres of interest.”

Dr. Pinto holds a Fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada. He has established partnerships between several academic disciplines, and with many industry and commercial leaders, such as the Bombay Stock Exchange and Indian Oil Corporation. He has also shared best research practices with Sri Lanka’s National Science Foundation. Dr. Pinto has a breadth of experience in research commercialization, as one of the founding members of the Centre for Drug Research and Development, Zone Start-Ups India, VentureLabs® and Venture Connection.

Dr. Pinto champions global connectivity to increase the power of the line of sight by embracing diverse perspectives, and is a champion of equity, diversity, and inclusion in research and innovation. He was Chair of the 11th Gender Summit which focused on the theme of pluralism to counter singularity of thought.

Since October 2022, Dr. Pinto has taken up the position of Vice President (Research & International). He is building on significant successes already achieved as DVCR at Griffith University, and Director of the Health & Knowledge Precinct on the Gold Coast, where he worked in partnership with the Gold Coast University Hospital, the Gold Coast Private Hospital, Gold Coast City Council, and the Queensland State Government to attract new developers and industries to the Precinct and create a portal between university/hospital researchers and commercialization partners.

Keith Chiefmoon is a Ga’na (kainai) Sundance teacher and the Indian Residential School Program and Community Engagement worker for the Kainai Wellness Center, Blood Tribe Department of Health. He decided to take on this program after being a classroom teacher on 2 First Nations Reserve and served as a Principal for an Elementary School plus teaching Indigenous courses at the College and University levels.

Keith overcame Sir John A. MacDonald’s policy “to kill the Indian in the child”! his first language is Blackfoot and English is the second language.

The Residential School program was in full force on the Blood Indian Reserve, Keith was taken to both the Catholic and Anglican Residential Schools. He stayed for a few years, and his parents believed that a public-school system would be better; only to be subjected to racism, discrimination, violence and bigotry from the Cardston Schools in Cardston.

With these extenuating contributors to racism, he became a victim of alcohol addictions at a very young age plus the effects of a faith-based community school advocating that Indigenous people were the lowest form of mankind on the face of earth and that the color of their skin was a condemnation of who they were.

In lieu of the uncontrollable variables, Keith completed his academia and received his high school diploma and contrary to the advice of an Indian Affairs Counselor applied to study at a university level.

Keith has been addictions free for the past 4 decades and successfully completed a BA in Native American Studies, a B.Ed. in Social Studies and Indigenous Education plus a MA in Administration and Supervision.