b'JOURNEYSWhat would you say toI feel pride in every cell of myWhat do you love most young Indigenous peoplebody when I think about the nextabout doing what you do?who want to pursue theirgeneration of Indigenous youth.I love meeting with different dream career but are unsureI always tell youth to be unapolo- communities. One of the great where to begin, or how togetically proud of who they arethings about being an MLA is surmount barriers in theirand to take up space. As the next journey? Indigenous cohorts of leaders,the ability to meet different thats the only way that things areManitobans, Canadians, and even Just yesterday, my youngest songoing to change.those outside of Canada. Its quite and I were discussing how hard it isa blessing to hear so many different for Indigenous people to get jobs,Yes, our youth struggle. But in thelived experiences and narratives. especially youth. Winnipeg is likelast several years there has been Canadas biggest urban reserve. Butan explosion of creativity in ourThe folks that I love spending if you go to the McDonalds, Timcommunities. Its often led bytime with the most are the youth. Hortons, the new movie theatres orIndigenous women who createI frequently speak at schools the malls, you never see our peoplestunning ribbon skirts or earrings.across Manitoba. Sometimes I go with jobs there. It is so difficult toIts a great example of the physicalto preschools to read to them or get their foot in the door. manifestation of taking up spacespeak at high schools. Thats the and Indigenizing every spacething I love the most.Getting the job is one thing.you go into. And that is being led But as any Indigenous personby youth.Looking ahead to the future, in any profession will tell you,I just hosted our Matriarchwhat are you most excited youre constantly educating andSummit with over 250 matriarchsabout? re-educating non-Indigenousand little matriarchs from across people. It is tiring and taxing. AsCanada. As Indigenous women andThere is one thing thats almost Indigenous people in general, partyouth, we dont celebrate eachbecoming an obsession with me: all of our teachings is to be humble.other enough. Were constantlyI want is to be a grandmother! My But its also OK to go into spacestalking about MMIWG2S and actsoldest is 27 years old, and he wants and say, I deserve to be here. Iof violence. But I wanted us toto get married and have kids. To be am going to stay here and effectcelebrate, centre, and lift up allhonest, thats all I personally care change. I have every right tothat were accomplishing and theabout right now.be here. space were taking up. If you could tell educators one thing about making schools a safer, more welcoming, and more nurturing place for their Indigenous students, what jgferris1959@gmail.com would it be?I have 11 schools in my constitu-ency, and the students are not predominantly Indigenous. Yet, many schools mark September 30 and MMIWG2S.This generation is experiencing education in a much different way than I or my parents did. Theres still work to be done. But the resources and the expertise Ed-Digenous Traditions creates Indigenous Learning Kits forare out there. I know many educa-schools, communities, workshops, conferences andtors who take it upon themselves post-secondary institutions. The kits actively demonstrate andto do this work. They dont wait support the educational concepts being introduced. for the government. And thats a EDUCATING THE FUTURE WHILE PRESERVING TRADITIONS beautiful testament to individuals commitment to reconciliation.26indspiration2022'