The 2024 Indigenous Summer Scholars

Tansi! My name is Mackenzie Anderson and my true name is Mispon Kisikaw Iskwew or Goonagiizhagokwe. My mother is from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation with ties to O-Pip-Pon-O-Piwin and my father is from Pinaymootang First Nation. I am a recent graduate from the University of Manitoba with my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (Studio) with Honours. I work with the mediums of beading, printmaking and installation and explore themes of intergenerational memory, familial narratives, and materiality. 

This summer I am working alongside Dr. Mavis Reimer and Dr. Melanie Braith on The Six Seasons of the Asiniskaw Īthiniwak project. As a scholar on this project I have had the opportunity to to travel to Thompson alongside the Six Seasons team to meet with community members from O-Pip-Pon-O-Piwin and Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, Additionally, I will be contributing both writing and artwork for a magazine about the project. My work as an artist is based on Indigenous Research methodology centering on intergenerational storytelling. Through this project I have been able to further connect with my community and my language which will contribute to my artistic practice. 

The knowledge and connections I have been able to build through the Indigenous Summer Scholar Program will prepare me for the independence and self-determination needed to successfully pursue my graduate studies.

Research project: Six Seasons of the Asiniskaw Īthiniwak Project
Research mentors: Dr. Mavis Reimer & Dr. Melanie Braith

My name is Alysa Baraniuk and was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I am in my final year of completing a 4-year bachelor’s degree in psychology. I am working with my mentor Jennifer Gibson, the director and curator at the University of Winnipeg, as well assisting Indigenous artist KC Adams, a relational maker and creator, whose work connects to Indigenous knowledge systems of relationality. So far, I have undergone oral history training, attended a field trip to the museum to look at indigenous artifacts that relate to KC’s upcoming project, and learned how to assemble cameras that will be used to film the regalia of dancers in Fisher River First Nations. I will also be undergoing ethics training and learning how to write proposals for art projects. I wanted to be a part of the ISSP program for a second time because of how connected I feel when Indigenous students all come together to work on research together. We all have an opportunity to connect to our culture and each other. In the future, I hope to graduate and enter into a master’s program in either counselling or social work so that I can help our community in a more hands-on, culturally connected way. 

Research Project: Sharing Knowledge About Indigenous Artists
Research Mentor: Jennifer Gibson (Art Curator, Director Gallery 1C03)  

I am Anishinaabe from Minegoziibe (Pine Creek First Nation).  I grew up in my home community, Dauphin, and Winnipeg.

I graduated from Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute. I received my certificate in the Educational Assistant Program from Red River College then I received a certificate in Residential Framing from Assiniboine Community College. As much as I enjoyed my work experience in two completely different fields, I felt like I wanted to go to university.

In 2021, I applied to the University of Winnipeg, and got accepted. I started off by choosing a variety of courses. I told my partner “I am not choosing a major right off the bat, I am going to let the major choose me” and sure enough, I went into my second year of studies as a Psychology Major student. I could not be more content with my choice to pursue a career in this field.

Being in Psychology comes with a lot of research. I had to take research methods and data analysis as part of my requirements so when I heard of this program, I thought it would be a great opportunity to expand my knowledge in research.

Currently I am assisting my previous criminal justice professor in a research project about 911 operators in Canada. We are putting together a paper about the stress that they endure, mental disorders that result from this job and ways to cope. It is very exciting, academically, as this research project relates to my major.

Research project: Occupational Stressors Among Public Safety Communicators in Alberta, also known as Alberta CARES
Research Mentor: Dr. Marcella Siqueira Cassiano

Hello! My name is Abby Cochrane. I am a proud Red River Metis woman who was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Currently I am working on completing my Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies and Anthropology at the University of Winnipeg. Through the ISSP network of Indigenous scholars, elders, and community I have been introduced to the Six Seasons project and have been researching Indigenous plant management with a medicinal focus under the guidance of Professor Roland Bohr. The ISSP has been a wonderful experience that has allowed me to create new connections with other Indigenous people and build upon my own knowledge primarily focused on Indigenous studies and anthropology.

Research project: The Six Seasons of the Asiniska Īthiniwak Project
Research mentor: Dr. Roland Bohr

Hello, my name is Claire. I am going into the last year of my 4-year psychology degree with the goal of working in the area of restorative justice. I have lived in Winnipeg all my life. As a member of the Upper Mohawk band, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, I am committed to working with Indigenous peoples and other underserved constituencies. I hope to be able to connect western therapeutic techniques with Indigenous culture and ways of knowing and being in my future practice. After my undergrad degree, I’m thinking a Master of Social Work (Indigenous Knowledges) would be a good degree for my goals.

This summer I am fortunate to be working with Professors Janis Thiessen and Kent Davies on the Manitoba Food History Project. I have been learning the process of auditing transcripts and creating indexes for audio recordings of a number of oral history interviews that past students have done. Being a part of ISSP has been a wonderful experience because I have learned new skills, gained confidence in my research abilities, and met like-minded individuals who have offered me friendship and guidance along the way.

Project title: Manitoba Food History Project
Project mentor: Dr. Janis Thiessen

My name is Emily Fedora and I am a Métis undergraduate student born in Winnipeg. I am majoring in Bioanthropology and have interests relating to forensic methods and human evolution. I have gained experience within the Bioanthropology field in the past three years of my academic journey, including volunteer work in scoring the presence of skeletal elements found in individuals of Mesolithic populations in Portugal, working as a research assistant studying the origins and movements of migrating populations of the Balkan Peninsula in Late Antiquity, and gaining archaeological fieldwork experience in Serbia. This summer, I am researching the presence of Barr bodies in dental pulp tissue as a means of sex identification for the advancement of forensic methods. While this method can be used in modern cases, we hope to extend this procedure to archaeological individuals. After I complete my undergraduate degree, I am planning to continue my education to graduate studies with a focus in a related area. Being an ISSP scholar allows me to engage in hands-on, experiential learning on a topic that I am interested in and gain experience in conducting academic research, thus making me a more knowledgeable and competitive student. Over the past two summers of being an ISSP student, I feel that I have gained this important experience while being prepared for grad school through the beneficial workshops presented in the program.

Research project: Barr bodies in forensics and archaeology
Research mentor: Dr. Mirjana Roksandic

My name is Isabella Gershman. I am Métis and a proud member of the MMF. I was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This year I will be entering my fourth year of Honours Psychology and once I am done I hope to further my studies in a Masters of Clinical Psychology program. I have always been passionate about learning how the brain functions and finding ways to increase people’s overall wellness. Within the ISSP program I have had the opportunity to work with Dr. Jino Distasio and Aynslie Hinds on a project about preventing youth homelessness. Thus far I have conducted literature reviews on data related to youth homelessness within a Winnipeg context as well as on successful methods for preventing youth homelessness in other parts of the world. I have gained valuable skills in conducting research and recording information eLiciently and in using statistical programs outside those I am used to. Through ISSP I have been introduced to resources which have furthered my understanding of what it means to do research in ways that respect Indigenous culture. I joined ISSP to experience Indigenous ways of knowing and to further my research skills. I feel these goals are being met and I could not be happier to be a part of this program.

Project title: Youth Homelessness: Inter-Generational Connections
Project mentors: Dr. Jino Distasio and Aynslie Hinds

Wahpikwanees Mary Kappo nitisiyihkâson, nîya nehiyaw-anishininew iskwêw êkwa Namês Sâhkikan ohchi ayinânêw-tipahamâtowin niya mâka mêkwâc niwîkin Wînipêk. Okâkwîmaw niya, onîmihitow niya, otâpasinahikêw niya, êkwa okiskinwahamâkan niya. My name is Wahpikwanees Mary Kappo, I am a Cree Oji-cree woman and I am from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 8 Territory, but now I live in Winnipeg. I am a mother, dancer, artist, and student.

I am a fourth year undergraduate student at the University of Winnipeg with a special interest in Sociology and Indigenous Studies. Throughout my studies, I have applied my lived experience as a Two-Spirit Indigenous woman who was born and raised in urban communities, to offer an Indigenous perspective to the discipline of sociology as well as further explore my Indigenous identity throughout my academic journey.

For the summer, I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Mary Jane McCallum and Research Director Kathryn Boschmann on the project titled Indigenous Interment: Building Towards a Better Understanding of the Indigenous People Buried at Brookside Cemetery. As a summer student on this project, I had the opportunity to perform historical research by reviewing archival materials and participating in field work as well as develop new skills in data collection and management and historical document interpretation.

Research project: Indigenous Interment: Building Towards a Better Understanding of the Indigenous People Buried at Brookside Cemetery.
Research mentors: Dr. Mary Jane McCallum and Kathryn Boschmann

Hello, my name is Tegan Ledoux, and I am a Red River Métis student. I just completed my fourth year in the Bachelor of Science program in geography at the University of Winnipeg. The project I’m working on with Dr Ed Cloutis is analyzing lunar meteorites. We use a reflectance spectrometer to determine the mineralogy and chemistry of the lunar meteorites based on absorption bands and their band positions. I decided to apply to ISSP 2024 because it provides valuable learning, research, and life skills in their workshops. They create a safe space for indigenous youth to be ourselves and learn more about our cultural ways/practices without feeling judged by others. I am very enthusiastic about participating in the ISSP and I look forward to learning from the mentors and gaining valuable experience that may help me with my career goals in the future.

Research project: Analysis of meteorites in support of asteroid sample return mission
Research mentor: Dr. Edward Cloutis, Centre for Terrestrial and Planetary Exploration and Geography

Hello! My name is Cassidy. I was born and raised in Winnipeg. My Indigenous ancestry comes from the Ojibwe and Peguis first nations. I am a fourth-year undergraduate student studying psychology at the University of Winnipeg. I am working towards graduating with an honours degree in the next few years and I hope to attend graduate school thereafter. My future academic and career goals involve studying topics of child development and learning. I hope to become a school psychologist in the future because I am eager to provide additional support for children within the early childhood education systems. I decided to be a part of ISSP 2024 in order to learn more about my Indigenous culture and to receive more guidance on applying for graduate studies. I am very grateful for the opportunity that ISSP has provided for me to engage in research while working within a psychology lab this summer. I am currently being mentored by Dr. Brandon Goulding on a project about children’s thinking and reasoning about the future. My lab team has been visiting several daycares this summer to gather data for our studies from children, with their parent or guardians’ approval. Overall, I am enjoying the experience as an ISSP scholar and I am excited to continue learning more this summer.

Research project: Children's Future Thinking: Time and Space
Research mentor: Dr. Brandon Goulding

Hello. My name is Chloe Stimpson. I am a Métis woman who was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I am currently enrolled in the Integrated Education Program at the University of Winnipeg. My major is Kinesiology, and my minor is Biology.

This summer I have been working with Brenton Button and Will Burton. We are exploring children’s play during both indoor and outdoor recess. I have had the opportunity this summer to complete data analysis, completed transcriptions and interviewed participants. 

I decided to be a part of ISSP 2024 because I thought it would be an incredible opportunity to learn more about the academia side of education and to pursue research in my intended field. 

Research project: From four walls to open skies: exploring indoor and outdoor recess in school children
Research mentor: Dr. Brenton Button

Taanishi, Leena Tetrault dishinikaashoon. I am Red River Métis from Rosewood, Manitoba, with my family being from St. Pierre-Jolys. I am currently pursuing my Bachelor of Science with a major in Biochemistry and a minor in Indigenous Studies. My research project for ISSP has focused on investigating parasites in fish species from across Manitoba. This has been done by first finding parasites in the fish during dissection, either by light microscopy or by the naked eye. Then, the parasites are chemically preserved and prepared for staining. With the aid of the stain, the parasites are identified by observing key features and comparing them with those in taxonomic guides. Additionally, their impacts on fish and humans can be evaluated by searching through previous academic literature for potential pathology in the populations. I decided to join ISSP 2024 because I loved the lab portion of my previous science courses and wanted to apply the skills I had learned in them in an environment where I could still grow as an academic. Additionally, this project interested me because I wanted to see how communities were being impacted by what is in their food. After graduating, I intend to pursue a career in medicine as a family doctor in Northern Manitoba with an integrative approach that weaves together Western medical practices and Indigenous knowledges and medicines.

Research project: Parasite load in sauger
Research mentor: Dr. Caleb Hasler

My name is Kyle Wittmeier, and I am a 4th-year Red River Métis education student. I was born and raised in Transcona and spent a small period of my life living in Beausejour. I have just completed my undergraduate degree in physics, my teachable major is physics, and my teachable minor is mathematics.

This summer, I am working with Dr. Evan McDonough studying primordial black hole formation and their role as possible dark matter candidates. This research includes evaluating and assessing early universe models and understanding how given factors and conditions play a role in the formation of primordial black holes during an epoch of cosmological inflation in the early universe. My daily tasks include participating in the Winnipeg Institute of Theoretical Physics group meetings where we discuss relevant industry papers, coding both in-house and incorporating similar works, reading relevant cosmology papers, and collaborating with various contributors to the project.

I decided to join the ISSP to further my connection with my Indigenous ancestry while continuing my interest in physics. Throughout the program, I have met many like-minded individuals who share a multitude of similar values while expressing their own interests in their respective fields. After finishing my education degree, I plan to return to school for a master's program in physics, with the hopes of one day pursuing a PhD.

Research project: Cosmological Perturbations and Primordial Black Holes
Research mentor: Dr. Evan McDonough