MDP - Indigenous Development- UWinnipeg

MDP - Indigenous Development- UWinnipeg The University of Winnipeg is part of a global network of universities educating a new generation of development practitioners. For more info: mdp.uwinnipeg.ca

The UWinnipeg program uniquely focuses on Indigenous development. The Masters in Indigenous Development is a professional interdisciplinary degree that equips graduates to practice environmentally-sustainable and indigenous-guided development. The MDP approach examines development across the following four pillars: health, management, natural, and social sciences.

🌿 Tânsi, Taanshi, Boozhoo, Hau! 🌿The 2026 MDP Indigenous Development Cohort has officially completed orientation, and we...
09/04/2026

🌿 Tânsi, Taanshi, Boozhoo, Hau! 🌿

The 2026 MDP Indigenous Development Cohort has officially completed orientation, and we are excited and ready for the semester ahead! 🎓

While many of us entered orientation eager to learn more about our upcoming academic journey, we quickly discovered that this experience would be about so much more than academics. We are looking forward to a semester filled with learning, growth, connection, and meaningful personal journeys.

During our first week, we had the opportunity to ask questions and learn from MDP alumni, University of Winnipeg faculty and staff, and the Louis Riel Institute. These conversations provided valuable insight as we prepare for the year ahead.

Our second week brought us to Fisher River Cree Nation, where we had an incredible and deeply meaningful experience. We are so grateful for the opportunity to learn, connect, and spend time together as a cohort while building relationships that we hope will continue throughout our journey. ❤️

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make this orientation possible, and a special thank you to Fisher River Cree Nation for being such wonderful and welcoming hosts. Your generosity and hospitality made our experience truly memorable.

We are grateful for the connections we have made, excited for what lies ahead, and wishing everyone a successful and fulfilling academic year!

Kinanâskomitin, Maarsii, Miigwech, Phidamaya do!

— 2026 MDP Indigenous Development Cohort
The University of Winnipeg Master's in Development Practice (MDP) Global Student Network The University of Winnipeg Global College @ University of Winnipeg Graduate Studies

Today we’re handing the mic to Joellee Delaronde whose work with Geoffery’s Garden and the Two Bears Sun Dance shows wha...
09/01/2026

Today we’re handing the mic to Joellee Delaronde whose work with Geoffery’s Garden and the Two Bears Sun Dance shows what Wahkohtowin truly looks like in action kinship, connection, and relationship lived on the land.

Joellee supported one of the most sacred Anishinaabe ceremonies through cultural leadership, land‑based preparation, and community care. As the Head Woman, she coordinated daily ceremonial activities, guided Sundancers and visitors through protocol, and ensured the Sundance Leader could carry out her responsibilities without interruption. She helped gather medicines, prepare the grounds, transport Knowledge Keepers, and support participants who were fasting offering doctoring, emotional grounding, and problem‑solving when challenges arose.

Her work reflects the heart of Geoffery’s Garden: ceremony, healing, and cultural revitalization.

Check out this Online course folks!This is an important opportunity to explore the 231 Calls for Justice and strengthen ...
08/13/2026

Check out this Online course folks!

This is an important opportunity to explore the 231 Calls for Justice and strengthen community‑driven responses to the systems impacting Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

This fall, join Sandra DeLaronde for “231 Calls for Justice: Developing Community‑Based Responses” — an online MDP course diving into the history, findings, and pathways for action from the National Inquiry.

A powerful opportunity to learn, reflect, and contribute to meaningful change. Open to community members, UW undergrad and graduate students.

For details email: [email protected]

We’re excited to highlight Fiona’s practicum placement with Zoongizi Odé (ZO), an Indigenous-led organization in Winnipe...
08/01/2026

We’re excited to highlight Fiona’s practicum placement with Zoongizi Odé (ZO), an Indigenous-led organization in Winnipeg’s North End doing vital advocacy and community work. Fiona shared her experience so far:

“I have the pleasure of working with Zoongizi Odé, formerly known as Fearless R2W. ZO, for short, is located in the North End of Winnipeg. It supports and advocates for families and youth dealing with Manitoba’s child welfare system. Since the start of my placement, it has been an interesting journey. I’m fortunate to be in a space where I feel valued, where everyone is invested in my learning. I’m learning about leadership, organization structure, community work, and professional responsibility in an Indigenous, women-led organization, and what that looks like in the Winnipeg’s inner-city. With the challenges faced in Winnipeg with poverty, addiction, homelessness, and family separation, ZO’s work uses both proactive and responsive approaches to combat these inequities. And I get to be a part of that! The work I do is practical and reinforces theories learned in my MDP program. For example, I’ve been helping in various parts of ZO’s organizational development as it grows: formalize policy procedures, organize internal documents, develop safety and cultural protocols, support research and planning, and I’ve led the development of a SOPs Handbook. ZO is also in the process of relocating to a new organizational home. The new space is bigger, with lots of natural light and lots of potential. I continue my placement until August and I’m grateful to be with everyone in seeing this amazing organization grow, continue to support families, and also to experience how an organization itself works as a family through its Wahkotowin (Kinship) Policy―a way of doing family governance, matriarchal leadership, and community self-determination as an Indigenous organization. Thank you.”

We’re proud of Fiona’s work and grateful for her contributions as she continues learning, growing, and supporting ZO’s mission.

Here with another MDP placement update folks! Today highlighting Shynnia — her passion, her leadership, and the incredib...
07/20/2026

Here with another MDP placement update folks! Today highlighting Shynnia — her passion, her leadership, and the incredible work she’s stepping into with Southeast Child and Family Services. Read below to see what she is up to.

-----------------------------------------------------------

My first field placement is with the Family Preservation Unit, a department within Southeast Child and Family Services.

As a First Nation MDP Indigenous Development student with work/lived experience it is important for me to be in a place that allows various areas of growth, development, and critical thinking skills.

I am feeling grateful and excited to have the opportunity
to grow, learn, develop and build upon my own leadership skills.

My role during this time is to develop a Youth Girls Indigenous leadership program, this program carries relationships, connection to land, spirit, community and much more.

I am beyond excited to see the outcome of this program and its implementation. I do not want to share too much but I am proud of the program development thus far!
Receiving feedback from my placement has created space for growth, new connections and encouragement on other core areas of Indigenous development which were goals I set out for myself prior to starting and is a crucial part of my field placement.

With that, I am thankful for this opportunity and looking forward to sharing more.

Here we are with another amazing MDP Placement folks! Read on for more info on Rayna Daniels MDP Placement.-------------...
07/14/2026

Here we are with another amazing MDP Placement folks! Read on for more info on Rayna Daniels MDP Placement.
----------------------------------------------------------

I feel so grateful to be wrapping up my Master’s in Development Practice placement here in Colombia. For the past two months I’ve been living in Sesquilé, Cundinamarca, with one more month to go. While based in Sesquilé, I’ve also had the chance to explore Bogotá, Villa de Leyva, San Andrés, Barichara, Raquira, Guatapé, and Medellín — each place with its own beauty and lessons.

The Muisca are the Indigenous peoples of this region, and I’ve loved learning about their traditions. From raising animals to preparing foods like empanadas, papa rellena, and envueltos, their way of life feels deeply connected to the land. I’ve even tried my hand at making some of these dishes myself!

My placement work focuses on Indigenous tourism in Sesquilé. I’m studying models and principles from other communities to see what might support sustainable tourism here. Along the way, I’ve made wonderful friends, including my colleague Leslie Kirkness, and I’m slowly picking up Spanish. I’ve also been honored to join ceremonies such as the tezmacal, cusmüy, and hoska.

This experience is bittersweet — it marks the end of my program, but also the beginning of new work ahead.

Here with another practicum update folks! Check out what Emanny A-izzy is upto this summer------------------------------...
06/29/2026

Here with another practicum update folks! Check out what Emanny A-izzy is upto this summer
-----------------------------------------------------------

I’m excited to share an update from my practicum placement, where I’ve been supporting the planning and coordination of the upcoming African Indigenous Knowledge Research Network (AIKRN) Conference taking place at Carleton University this August.

This conference is an important initiative aimed at revitalizing and recentering Indigenous Knowledge Systems within Africa

So far in my role, I’ve had the opportunity to:
• Coordinate the abstract review process
• Correspond with registered participants and presenters
• Support the planning committee with logistics and conference activities

It’s been inspiring to contribute to a gathering that is highlighting the richness of African Indigenous knowledge systems.

Feeling grateful, and excited for what’s ahead as we move closer to the conference dates (August 25th to 27th 2026), in Ottawa Canada.

Here with another amazing practicum placement, this time with Jackie DormerRead caption for more about this placement --...
06/25/2026

Here with another amazing practicum placement, this time with Jackie Dormer

Read caption for more about this placement
--------------------------------------------------------
For my 2nd year summer work placement, I am working at the Endangered Language Project (ELP) as a Summer Intern. ELP is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization supporting the revitalization of Indigenous and endangered languages around the world through resource development, mentorship, training and learning opportunities, and advocacy.

In my short time working here, ELP’s core values of integrity, relationships, and collaboration have been evident. My supervisors, Anna Belew and Amanda Holmes, have been incredibly supportive and encouraging with all aspects of my work. I am excited to continue supporting ELP’s projects and programs, applying my learning from the past two years, and seeing the positive impacts they are making in communities around the world. Kihchi marsii to Anna, Amanda, and the staff at ELP.

Learn more about the great work that ELP’ does at https://www.endangeredlanguages.com/

Back with another MDP practicum update folks! Read on to see what Gurpreet is upto for his practicum.-------------------...
06/20/2026

Back with another MDP practicum update folks! Read on to see what Gurpreet is upto for his practicum.

----------------------------------------------------------

Sometimes the most meaningful learning does not come from classrooms or books. It comes from real conversations that change how you see people and education.

For my final placement I am working virtually with Vikashalaya, a non-profit initiative based in Santiniketan, India.

What stands out is not just their work in nature-based and child-centered education. It is the thinking behind it. Education is not only about results or success. It is also about helping children stay connected to curiosity, community, culture, and the natural world.

Conversations with the team makes me think about how learning changes when it is built on care, belonging, and respect instead of pressure and comparison.

I am also learning about the Santal or Santhal community, the largest Indigenous tribal group in West Bengal. Their life is closely connected to land, stories, and community living.

As part of the final stage of my MDP program, I recently began a learning journey focused on nature-based and community-centered education. These experiences are helping me understand how Indigenous knowledge and community practices carry lessons about balance, sustainability, and human connection.

I am grateful to Asit Ghosh and thank the rest of the Vikashalaya team ( Kapil, Purnima, Mayra) for their welcome and openness. Thank you to the MDP team for their support.

Address

515 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB
R3B2E9

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+12042582998

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when MDP - Indigenous Development- UWinnipeg posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to MDP - Indigenous Development- UWinnipeg:

Shortcuts

Share

Category