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

Email+

Denise is temporarily on leave. 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.

Sarah Deckert

Research and Special Projects Coordinator
204.296.5676

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Sarah Deckert is a settler who was born in California but who has spent most of her life on Treaty 1 land. As a high school teacher, she saw both the systemic inequities facing Indigenous students and the healing that came when they learned from Elders, participated in ceremony, and connected with Indigenous mentors. This taught her that she could not heal her students but that she could use her skills and passion to support Indigenous-led initiatives that bring substantive equality to Indigenous students in Manitoba. She is honoured to support the work of the Manitoba Collaborative Indigenous Education Blueprint as a Research and Special Projects Coordinator.

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