National Indigenous Peoples Day (NIPD) marked its 29th anniversary on Saturday, June 21, celebrating First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultures. The day is rooted in a 1996 proclamation and ongoing reconciliation efforts by former Governor General Roméo LeBlanc.
As part of Indigenous Month celebrations, CBC Manitoba spoke with Indigenous scholars driving change in the broader community. Over the years, both academic and non-academic Indigenous leaders have engaged the younger generation in developing stronger leadership.
Here at U of M, Justin Rasmussen, an Indigenous scholar, has been a major contributor to Indigenous leadership. As one of the Indigenous scholars invited to speak, Rasmussen joined CBC Radio’s Talk Noon with Marjorie Dowhos, where he reflected on the significance of NIPD and shared his ongoing work with the Indigenous Leadership Program (ILP) at U of M.
“I try to create programs that focus on leadership development and community connection […] Two of our core programs are the Indigenous Circle of Empowerment (ICE) and the Bison Spirit Indigenous Leadership Program,” he said.
The ILP aims to support Indigenous students through culturally-centered leadership development and community engagement. ICE, as one of the core programs, seeks to provide a wide range of activities designed to nurture leadership development and build community and involvement.
Since its development in 2009, the program has provided Indigenous students with exceptional leadership development opportunities. Applications for the 2025–26 ICE program is open until Sept. 16.
Rasmussen said, “these programs are about creating opportunities for students to discover their gifts […] A lot of students come with a lot of strengths to the university. It talks about building relationships and learning from elders and Indigenous leaders in different sectors of our society.”
He expressed appreciation for the “students, advocates, faculty members, and staff over the years, that have made the university a place where students can thrive, and get their degrees, and do so being proud of who they are.”
Rasmussen emphasized the importance of celebrating NIPD. “I feel it’s a time to celebrate […] Indigenous brilliance and […] the incredible diversity and beauty of all Indigenous peoples and cultures.”
For Rasmussen himself, he shared “it also serves as a reminder to me personally, to remember the responsibilities that I carry, and we all carry, to support each other, to protect our languages, to protect the lands, and to move forward with pride in who we are.”
Reflecting on these successes, however, Rasmussen added, “we still have a lot of work to do.” The ILP, founded and sustained through the generosity of the Mastercard Foundation and “dependent on the generous support of the community” currently offers three programs, two of which are under his supervision.
In a recent ceremony at U of M, Rasmussen was one of the recipients honoured for transformative contributions to the Indigenous landscape. The honourees included six students, two staff members, one faculty member and one legacy recipient. Their contributions span a range of fields, including healthcare, science, education, and law. On being acknowledged, he shared, “it means a lot to me. The work we do is very personal because it is about creating spaces where Indigenous students can feel seen, where they can feel supported, and they can feel proud of who they are.”
Rasmussen, director of ILP at the University of Manitoba, is a proud member of the Red River Métis Nation. Born and raised in Île-des-Chênes, Manitoba, his roots continue to inform his work at U of M.
