When knowledge comes from the land
By the age of 30, Marika Schalla (BSc 17, BEd 19, PBDE 23) has already built an impressive career as an author, educator and TEDx speaker. Yet awards and accomplishments only tell part of her story. At the heart of everything she does, is a commitment to helping young people connect with their identity, culture, and the land while embracing the strength of walking in two worlds.
“Growing up in my culture, in my community, I really walked in two worlds,” said Marika (White Cloud Woman) a proud Métis and Anishinaabe educator. Raised between Winnipeg’s North End and the shores of Lake Manitoba in St. Laurent, she learned to navigate both Western and Indigenous ways of knowing and being.
Living in poverty, Marika never dreamed she would attend university. But when she became a mother at age 17, she was determined to create new opportunities for herself and to provide a better life for her son.
“I really loved science and I wanted to become a doctor at first,” said Marika, who describes herself as hardworking and a high achiever. “But my guidance counselor said, ‘Maybe that’s not a good job for a young mom.’”
Ultimately, Marika found a different calling: a career that would allow her to inspire young people to honour their identities and pursue their dreams.
She pursued a Bachelor of Science and then a Bachelor of Education where she combined her passion for science with her natural ability to connect with young people. Because she loved the University of Winnipeg so much, she then obtained a Post Baccalaureate Education Diploma in the Indigenous Knowledge stream.
The University of Winnipeg showed me that it (Indigenous Education) mattered and was truly needed in our communities.
Marika Schalla
“When I first graduated with a Bachelor of Science, I did not know that Indigenous education mattered,” said Marika. “But the University of Winnipeg showed me that it mattered and was truly needed in our communities.”
In 2021, Marika founded Heartberry Education, an organization dedicated to Indigenous curriculum development, workshops, facilitation, land-based camps, youth programming and educational consulting.
Whether teaching from the land, or in the classroom, Marika finds ways to weave Indigenous knowledge and culture into her teaching practice. With her passion for supporting students and educators, she has travelled across Turtle Island, sharing her curriculums with organizations such as Amazon Future Engineer Day and Your Voice Is Power.
“Some of my land-based learning comes from my science degree,” said Marika. “There’s so much that we can do with the land and being outside that can help our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual beings.”
For Marika, the goal has never been to choose between Indigenous and Western approaches. Instead, she strives to bring them together.
“I love being able to take the Western view of the world and the Indigenous view and see through both eyes in a way that we can honour both ways of knowing.”
This fall, Marika stepped into a new role as an Indigenous Grad Coach at St. John’s High School as a part of the Winnipeg School Division, Divisional Indigenous Education team.
“To me, education truly means every child matters.”
It is this philosophy that shapes everything Marika does. Her work is grounded in belonging, identity and holistic well-being.
“As educators, we are there to care for the children, making sure that every child that walks into our building knows they belong and that they matter.”
Although her career continues to evolve, Marika remains deeply connected to the institution that helped shaped her journey. She regularly returns to the University of Winnipeg campus as a guest lecturer and hopes to one day become a UWinnipeg instructor.
The University of Winnipeg really strengthened my foundation to become the educator I am today.
Marika Schalla
“It’s so important for me to stay connected to the University of Winnipeg,” said Marika. “I was given this knowledge and now I need to give back that reciprocity. The University of Winnipeg really strengthened my foundation to become the educator I am today.”
Marika is already a proven leader in inspiring the next generation to embrace every part of who they are. As she prepares to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award in the One to Watch category, she is reminded that she is making a difference and that her hard work matters.
“Through hard work and through a lot of healing from the land, I am where I am today. I want to show my two young sons that anything is possible. They too have bright futures.”
The University of Winnipeg is proud to honour Marika Schalla with the One to Watch Distinguished Alumni Award at the Distinguished Alumni Awards Night on Thursday, October 29. Everyone is welcome to join the celebration at the WAG-Qaumajuq. Tickets are available now on the Distinguished Alumni Awards website.
