Leslie Kirkness

Hello. I am Leslie Kirkness (He/Him). I’m a member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation and a proud Ininew man. I was born and raised in Opaskwayak and moved to Winnipeg as a teenager. I have a solid connection to my Indigenous community; I have been employed with the Opaskwayak Cree Nation and have worked to serve my people and community.

I have a history of working with various Indigenous groups, such as the Blackfoot Nation. I worked with Indigenous youth living within urban settings and conducted Indigenous-based programming to strengthen and maintain Indigenous teachings. I learned firsthand about Inuit and Metis cultures from my colleagues from the respective cultures. I have experience in Mi'kmaq teachings and culture from the East, and I recently completed an international internship with the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation. I was stationed in Cambodia for a time, where I conducted research in Disaster Management, LGBTQ+2, and Indigenous Peoples, who are referred to as the Khmer Krom. 

I volunteer as an emergency responder at the Canadian Red Cross, as a program developer with Genuine Progress Index Atlantic, and as a training developer with Indigenous Futures Canada, both non-profit organizations on the East Coast. I am currently employed by the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation as a Sustainability and Inclusion specialist, where we work to educate and engage Manitobans on sustainable development goals. During my free time, I like jogging, going to the movies (mainly for popcorn), and going on road trips.

I graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Arts in International Development. I am driven by a profound enthusiasm to continue my education with the Masters in Developmental Practice in Indigenous Development. I am keenly interested in social inclusion and sustainable practices, focusing on environmental and social sustainability. I look forward to making positive strides towards creating an equitable and sustainable future. I am eager to expand my skills and knowledge and excited about the opportunity to learn within the MDP program.