Honouring Elder Dan Thomas

Fri. Jan. 26, 2018

On January 10th, 2018 the MDP program hosted a Winter feast in the UWinnipeg Aboriginal Students Services Centre (ASSC) where the esteemed Elder Dan Thomas was honoured for his contributions to the MDP.  He was gifted with a ribbon shirt made by Roxanne Shuttleworth, a local Indigenous designer.

Since the winter of 2013, Elder Dan has taught the MDP course “Indigenous Thought and Worldviews: Sustainable Understandings.” It is a foundational course that provides MDP students with a grounding in Indigenous culture and knowledge.

Elder Dan introduces students to Anishinaabe stories, teachings and ceremonies such as the sweat lodge and Sundance. Students, year after year, comment on how important his course is to their learning journey within the MDP program and in their own personal lives.

"Elder Dan Thomas has played, and continues to play such an important role in the MDP program, not only in terms of his teaching, but by setting the tone amongst MDP students, faculty and staff around kindness and the important role of cultural traditions within post secondary institutions. As MDP staff, we were so pleased to see the MDP students participate in hosting the feast at the Aboriginal Student Services Centre and expressing to Dan how meaningful his participation in the program is to them." Acting MDP Director Jaime Cidro

Thank you, Elder Dan, for being an indispensable part of the MDP!