Blueprint Structure

The Blueprint is built upon diverse layers of experience and Indigenous knowledge. The Elders Council provides direction, the Steering Committee provides input and guidance, and the Management Team handles daily operations and advances collaborative work.

Elders Council

Our mission is to align strategic paths and foster the flourishing of Indigenous students’ potential. At the very core, the Elders Council directs us, tasked with the crucial role of advising the Steering Committee. This guidance ensures our Blueprint initiatives remain rooted in community values and meticulously attuned to the educational needs of Indigenous learners. In a milestone event, the Elders Council Launch convened in Winnipeg on August 30 and 31, 2023, marking a significant beginning. It was here that the council’s members connected, laying the groundwork for a relationship of mutual respect and shared objectives among themselves, the Steering Committee, and the dedicated Blueprint staff. It was an invaluable opportunity for everyone to delve into the rich legacy of the Blueprint, explore current endeavors, and strengthen their communal bonds. Join us on this visionary path as we endeavor to create a future where Indigenous education is not just a priority, but a celebrated model of success.

MCIEB Staff

Denise Tardiff

Blueprint Manager
204.599.3136

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Denise is a Franco-Métis woman from the Red River Valley who is deeply invested in education being the key to opening doorways. She is committed to promoting inclusivity, diversity and cross-cultural understanding. She has worked collaboratively across Manitoba’s Post-Secondary Institutions to form partnerships with external stakeholders, industry sectors, employers, governments, organizations, and councils on behalf of Manitoba’s Indigenous students to create substantive equality and build a vibrant, prosperous Manitoban landscape for all.

Katie Currie

Program Administrator
204.997.7908

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Katie Currie is the Program Administrator for MCIEB and assistant to Denise Tardiff. Katie is a settler living and working on Treaty 1 Territory. She came to MCIEB from Manitoba Industry-Academia Partnership (MI-AP) where she began working on Horizon Ecosystem Map in 2021 and she is still the current website administrator for https://horizonmap.ca/ . Katie is dedicated to working in good ways with Indigenous people and particularly loves the work she gets to do with Elders through the Blueprint Elders Council.

Nicole LeClair

Communications Coordinator
204.509.6807

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Nicole LeClair was raised in Winnipeg on Treaty 1 territory and is Red River Métis ancestry. She is an experienced professional with over 25 years of expertise in advertising, marketing, and communications. She holds diplomas in Public Relations, Marketing, and Management from the University of Winnipeg.

Steering Committee

Assiniboine Community College

Kris Desjarlais
Director, Indigenous Education
204.725.8700 ext. 6045

Blueprint Structure

Elders Council

MCIEB Staff

Steering Committee

Signatory Partners