Aboriginal Education Research Forum
Elder Biographies
Don Robertson
Don Robertson is a Cree from Norway House. He retired as the Executive Director for the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre. He received his education at Cook Christian Training School, Phoenix Junior College in Arizona and at Union College in British Columbia where he was ordained as a United Church Minister. His subsequent theological training concentrated on clinical counseling at Brandon General Hospital and the Calgary Pastoral Institute. He served pastorates in Melita and Russell, Manitoba. He received an honorary doctorate from Brandon University in 1992 and from the University of Manitoba in 2007.
Don received the order of Manitoba in 2004. He is currently the president and chair of the Median Credit Union.
Within the field of education, Don was Education Superintendant of the Manitoba Indian Education Board and was previously employed by Brandon University as a counsellor and coordinator of the Indian-Metis Project for Action in Careers Through Teacher Education (IMPACTE) program; Director of the Brandon University Northern Teacher Education Program (BUNTEP); Coordinator of Community and Program Liaison for Special Projects. For the province of Manitoba, Department of Education, he was Coordinator of Program Support Services and Education for the Core Area Training and Employment Agency. He was also Director of Education for the Island Lake Tribal Council. He was Chair of the Council on Post-Secondary Education and Chair of the Implementation Team for the University College of the North.
Before coming to Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre, he was Dean of Aboriginal Education and Institutional Diversity and Red River Community College.
George Fleury
George is one of the founding members of the MMF, and has been very instrumental in the Manitoba Metis Federation.
August 17, 1968 was the first formal election for the Southwest (SW) Region, at which time three people ran for the position of vice-President, George Fleury was elected. These three elected people worked constantly to organize the Metis people in the SW Region and to form locals in the region.
In the early years, so much work had to be done, including the fight with governments to recognize the Metis people as their own identity. As well, building a constitution that would guide future generations. All of this work was done in a way that provided Metis people a united force to be reckoned with. Many of the struggles of the past are the struggles of today – housing, education, economic development, child welfare, preserving Metis culture and language. When you worked at what you believed in, people followed what you believed in.
George believed that the Metis people needed a base from which to build Metis independence – an economic base for future growth and sustainability, and to this end, the SW Region was among the first regions to own its own building in Brandon
George has spent many years in other fields, after leaving MMF politics in 1979, he started work in 1980 as an Addictions Counselor with the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba. George has devoted many years to helping people work through many difficult situations in their lives.
Since his retirement in 1999, George has been dedicating his time to his music and has begun to sing some of the old songs in Michif. He remembers many songs from his youth, that he had not sung in a very long time. Today, George is very active working to preserve the Michif language and speaks fluently. Working with the Michif Language Committee for the MMF he is teaching Michif classes across the province.
George is a great role model for the Metis Nation and for non-Metis people alike. George has always believed in equality and in the betterment of the Metis Nation and has always led from the heart.
George is a devoted family man, a proud father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
John Martin
John is a residential school survivor from the '50's. Over the years he has worked as welder for 9 Years in Winnipeg and in 1973 began working with Moose Lake Loggers. He also became involved in local politics in Moose Lake as a Councillor for 20 years.
John became interested in his culture and traveled to learn from the Elders. From these teachings, his life experiences and his cultural work he has received recognition from his community as an Elder. He performs sweat lodge ceremonies, feasts and traditional weddings; and also holds a license to do wedding ceremonies.
At the request of Manitoba Corrections, John has worked with inmates at The Pas and Egg Lake Camp, and has also traveled to Headingly, Stony Mountain, Portage La Prairie and various youth centres for seven years. He was also asked to work with Community & Youth Corrections (Probation), which he did for 6 years.
In 1998, John was asked to work at KCC (now UCN) as an Elder to work with staff, management, students, and communities. At UCN, he has provided cultural camps for students and staff, tepee teachings, medicine wheel teachings, and teaches Traditional Change courses. He speaks at conferences on Elders perspectives and research, education, treaties, etc. In addition, he is currently involved with the UCN Council of Elders plus other Elders' councils with other organizations.
The Honourable Levinia Brown
Levinia Brown was born in Dawson Inlet - just south of Whale Cove, in 1947. At a time when there were no nurses, doctors, or government services in that area, she was delivered by her father.
After completing her early education at schools in Chesterfield Inlet and Churchill, Manitoba, Ms. Brown became the first teaching aid in Rankin Inlet. A graduate of St. Anthony Hospital in La Pas, Manitoba, Ms. Brown has worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant in the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, and Alberta.
In 1978, Levinia Brown received her certification as a Northwest Territories Classroom Assistant and was instrumental in establishing an eastern board program (EATEP) in Iqaluit, and in 1980 she became the first chairperson of the Keewatin Regional Education Authority.
After serving as an information officer, chairperson of the local housing authority, and deputy mayor, Levinia Brown became the first woman mayor of Rankin Inlet. Establishing working relationships between government agencies and community governments was a high priority during her term.
A successful career in municipal politics provided a natural step to territorial politics for Ms. Brown.
Elected Member for Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove on February 16, 2004, the Honourable Levinia Brown was selected by MLAs to sit on the Executive Council. On March 9, 2004, Premier Paul Okalik named Ms. Brown Deputy Premier..
The Honourable Levinia Brown is a role model and leader for Nunavut's youth. Dedicating her life to the development and promotion of community capacity building for health and social services, she projects a positive outlook on life. Her belief that life is a precious opportunity that should not be wasted is clearly expressed in her thirst for education, strength in leadership, and compassion for social issues.
Levinia Brown is married to Ron Brown. Together, they have 7 children and 3 custom adopted children.
Mary Guilbault
Mary Guilbault is from Fisher River Cree Nation. She is a retired social worker from the Manitoba Department of Health and Social Services. She worked in this position for twenty six years. She has been involved and was instrumental in the start of all types of organizational structures that are presently ongoing today. Some of these organizations include: Indian and Metis Friendship Centre, Manitoba Metis Federation, Provincial Upgrading Program which is now a national program and at the University of Manitoba, organizational structures that include Faculties of Social Work, Education, Engineering and Nursing. Mary was also instrumental in the Kindergarten program at the Friendship Center which was taught by Yvonne Monkman. Mary was present at many negotiating tables and she also worked with the inmates from Stony Mountain through the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre.
Mary’s’ grandmother was instrumental in her progressive thoughts in education and encouraged her to strive and attain high standards in education. Her grandmother encouraged Mary to maintain her cultural and traditional life which would give Mary insight into all aspects of life. She was taught to never give up on your faith in all that you do. Mary is the mother of five daughters who were all successful in attaining their education. She is also the grandmother of nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.