b'JOURNEYSReclaiming and celebratingAmanda Lathlin. Shes the daughterthird year of studying to become Indigenous identityof Oscar Lathlin, who was a Cabineta Phys. Ed. teacher. And there are integral parts ofMinister for many years beforeare very few Indigenous Phys. Ed. reconciliation, especiallyhe passed. She was elected inteachers. Ive raised my son in such in light of the tragic andthe same constituency that hea way that he fully understands assimilative history of therepresented. I was elected thedecolonization, racism, and the residential school system.year after, but in the urban area.importance of having Indigenous What legislative andIts incredibly important to havepeople in the education system. curriculum changes can weIndigenous people elected in everyThats where you see that transfor-implement to redress thesesingle legislature, in parliament,mative change. harms, given that provincesand across our territories. Thats and territories often havewhen those legislative and policyIts the same as Indigenous women very different approacheschanges will be reflected.seeing themselves reflected in to Indigicentric legislationpolitics. Now, theyre more actively education? An Indigenous Education Ministerengaged. They want to run for would likely prioritize curriculumoffice, volunteer and vote. There For Indigenous legislation to driveare immense possibilities for transformative change, it needs todevelopment that supports recon- legislative transformative change come from Indigenous membersciliation and Indigenous childrenas we continue on this path to of legislative assemblies. Only ourseeing themselves reflected. Thatreconciliation.people can bring forward thatwould support more Indigenous legislation to address what we livefolks to get involved in education.Did you have a mentor who and breathe every day.My youngest son is currentlycontributed to your personal In April 2015, the first Indigenousapplying for an Indspire bursary toor professional growth? woman was elected for Manitoba,support his education. Hes in hisWhat meaningful lessons continue to guide you? All my learnings have come from Indigenous women in my life (my sacred circle). But many people have played a role in setting me on the course that Im on today.At 10 years old, I left Winnipeg and moved to Montreal to live with my father. My mom was no better. She beat the living crap out of me day in and day out. She was sexually exploited on the streets, and we never had food. I moved out on my own when I was 15. By the time I was 18, I was a drug addict and alcoholic. One night when I was 20 years old, I almost had an overdose. Thats when I realized that I had become exactly what I never wanted to be: an addict. I decided to go back home to Winnipeg, after being gone for 10 years. My uncle Vince Fontaine (producer and founder of the bands Eagle and Hawk and Indian City, who just passed away in January), and his wife took me in. I had no intention of quitting drugs. In fact, I brought 24indspiration2022'