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

Email+

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

Email+

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

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Brandon University

Julia Stoneman-Sinclair

Email +

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Canadian Mennonite University

Charlie Peronto
Dean of Student Life
204-487-3300 ext. 327

Email +

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Manitoba Advanced Education and Training

Colleen Kachulak, Assistant Deputy Minister of Advanced Education

Email +

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Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning

Helen Robinson-Settee
Director, Indigenous Excellence
204-945-4763

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Manitoba Federation of Independent Schools (ex-officio)

Website +

Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre

Charles Cochrane
Executive Director
204-594-1290 ext. 2068

Email +

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Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology

Rhonda Klippenstein
Manager, Indigenous initiatives & Community Development
204-989-7353

Email +

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Manitoba Inuit Association (ex-officio)

204-774-6848

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Manitoba Métis Federation (ex-officio)

Jesse Gair
Director, Department of Provincial Education

Email +

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Manitoba School Boards Association

Josh Watt
Executive Director
204-594-5162

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Manitoba Teachers’ Society (ex-officio)

Sarah Gazan

Email +

Red River College Polytechnic

Website +

Red River College Polytechnic

Jill Latschislaw (Co-Chair)
Business Development Manager, Corporate Solutions
204-632-2510

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University College of the North

Ramona Neckoway
Associate Vice President, Department of Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation

Email +

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Université de Saint-Boniface

204-237-1818 ext 318 

Website +

University of Manitoba

Angie Bruce, Vice-President (Indigenous)

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University of Winnipeg

Chantal Fiola
Interim Associate Vice President, Indigenous

Email +

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University of Winnipeg

Colin Russell
Instructor and University Registrar
204-786-9337

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Yellowquill University College (ex-officio)

Shirley Myran
Manager of Program Development
204-953-2800

Email +

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Signatory Partners

assiniboine community college
Brandon University
Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre
Manitoba School Boards Association
Red River College Polytechnic
University of Manitoba
Manitoba Government
Indigenous Inclusion Directorate
Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology
University of Winnipeg
University College of the North
CMU
Université de Saint-Boniface