b'2022 INDSPIRE LAUREATESEDUCATIONDr. Annette TrimbeeManitoba Mtis Federation, MB Students coming to university are not just coming for a credential and skills to go on to graduate school or get a job. They want to be inspired, they want to discover and grow their special talents, whether they are a 17-year-old right out of high school or a 50-year-old going back to school. The decision to go to university is more than a practical one; it is a decision of the heart.Dr. Annette Trimbees career exemplifies a deep commitment to education and public service, informed by the teachings of her Mtis grandmother. Although her original dream was to become a biology professor, she became passionate about public policy while completing post-doctoral studies on water. Dedicating over 25 years to the Alberta civil service, she served in multiple depart-ments, including as Deputy Minister of Advanced Education. In 2014, she became President of the University of Winnipeg, where she focused on student well-being and building relationships and partnerships, including a historic 10-year research agreement with the Manitoba Mtis Federation. Trimbee oversaw the development and imple-mentation of one of the first mandatory Indigenous course requirements in Canada and the launch of Build From WithinOzhitoon Onji Peenjiiee, a program that removes barriers for Indigenous students who want to become teachers, enabling them to access the Faculty of Education at the University of Winnipeg. She was appointed President of MacEwan University in 2020 and continues to create pathways for educational success.HEALTHMelanie MacKinnonMisipawistik Cree Nation, MBIt became very clear to First Nation healthcare leaders that we needed to make sure our communities did not fall through the cracks between the provincial and federal healthcare systems. Dont forget where you come from; be who you are and look after your people.Melanie MacKinnon considers her many caregiving responsibilities to be sacred duties, following in the footsteps of her grandmothers and mother who served as humble helpers to their community. The Head of the Indigenous Institute of Health & Healing (Ongomiizwin) at the University of Manitobas Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, MacKinnon is a nurse who has provided frontline healthcare to First Nations communities for years. She has extensive health systems and policy experience and consistently creates opportunities for high-quality medical care for Indigenous communities. During 2020-2021, MacKinnon served as the co-lead of the Pandemic Response Coordination Team to address the new COVID-19-related challenges for Indigenous communities. She brought together complex, multi-jurisdictional healthcare service organizations to work collectively. Her leadership of the Rapid Response Team, an inter-professional group of healthcare providers that could be deployed within 24 hours to First Nations communities during outbreaks, resulted in a streamlined and prioritized vaccine rollout. She has received numerous awards for her advocacy and was named one of WXNs Canadas Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2021. In everything she does, MacKinnon continues to push for equity in care for Indigenous communities.26indspiration2022'