February 10th , 1:30 p.m.  to 2:30 p.m. 

February 22nd, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

The program will only be offered in English.

Location:  Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum, 494 Tache ave, Winnipeg, R2H 2B2

Let yourself be guided by Barb & Clarence Nepinak into the world of storytelling and legends. Come in and make yourself comfortable as you settle into Winnipeg’s oldest building.

This activity is free of charge and is intended to children and their parents. All are welcome!

Barbara Nepinak, a Cultural Awareness Coordinator, is a band member of the Pine Creek Ojibway First Nation.  She resides in Winnipeg with her husband, Clarence and family.  After retirement from the federal public service of 35 years, she continues to serve on various boards and committees.  Barbara is a past member of the Special Advisory Council to the Police Chief of Wpg. and twice was recognized with the Mayor’s Citizenship Award for her contribution to the Advisory Council.  She is also the Founder and Coordinator (along with her husband, Clarence) of the Summer Bear Dance Troupe, a First Nation performing group formed in 1992 with the support of family and friends.

Ms. Nepinak is the recipient of numerous awards and credits related to her positive work around cultural awareness.  Some of these include the Recognition Award for “Honouring Women of Distinction”, a recognition by the Inter-provincial Association of Native Employment in Manitoba for her support of Aboriginal employment and her contribution as a role model, the Knowledge Keepers Award from the Circle of Educators and the Grand Mothers award for Keeping the Fires Burning with Ka ni kanichihk Inc.  Both Barb and her husband, Clarence received the Queens Jubilee Award in 2012.  They have formed wonderful partnerships in public education with schools in Manitoba including the Seven Oaks School Division.

Clarence Nepinak is a member of the Pine Creek First Nation and resides in Winnipeg with his life partner, Barbara.  They have four daughter and two granddaughters.  Clarence retired from the federal public service after serving 25 years.  Clarence is a co-recipient, along with his wife Barbara, of the Knowledge Keepers Award and the Queens Golden Jubilee Award for being Cultural Ambassadors.  As a part of this role, he has served on a number of boards including the Healthy Aboriginal Network (based in Vancouver); the Elders Advisory Council on the Governance Program at the University of Winnipeg and the University of Brandon’s Indigenous Peoples’ Education Circle; the Community Comprehensive Initiative as a member of the Cultural Advisory Council of the Circle of Life Thunderbird House; and, the Indigenous Advisory council for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Clarence and Barb provided Ojibway language commentating for the 2010 Olympics for APTN on the Pairs Skating competition.  Recently, he established a company named Anishinabe First Speakers.  Clarence also works with Barbara in schools within  Manitoba providing cultural awareness and teachings.  This has included Ojibway speaking classes within the Heritage Language Program in the Seven Oaks School Division.

 

Best regards,

 

Merci, Thank you, Miigwetch!