Great turnout at lecture exploring Indigenization and resiliency

A crowd gathered at UWinnipeg’s Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall on Friday, March 15 to hear UWinnipeg President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Annette Trimbee’s lecture on Indigenization as a Pathway to Resiliency.

Ernest Anamalu emceed the evening on behalf of the Umunna (Igbo) Cultural Assocation of Manitoba, Inc. The evening began with an opening prayer led by Elder Dan Thomas and opening remarks from Mazi Ugochukwu Udensi, President of the Umunna Igbo Cultural Association of Manitoba Inc, the Honourable Colleen Mayer, MLA for St. Vital and Minister of Crown Services, and Mrs. Titi Tijani, President of the African Communities of Manitoba Inc.

The room got noisy as lecture Series Convener Dr. Michael Eze ushered in the evening in the Igbo fashion, encouraging the crowd to call out acknowledgements of the many nations gathered together in agreement, before welcoming President Trimbee to the podium.

President Trimbee shared a series of photos and slides, as she reflected on best practices toward Indigenization. She looked back on her Métis family history, her early years as a university student and the work that has been done in recent years to develop programs that celebrate Indigenous scholars on campus.

The Igbo Educational Lecture Series (IELS) is hosted by the Umunna Igbo Cultural Association of Manitoba Inc. and UWinnipeg’s Global College.