Melanie Kennedy
Executive Director
Melanie Kennedy is a Métis woman from Manitoba with roots in St. Ambroise and is currently serving as the Executive Director of Indigenous Languages of Manitoba.
Melanie holds a certificate in Business Analysis with a background in project management and continues to pursue her own learning in linguistics at The University of Manitoba and a learner of the Michif and French languages. Melanie is devoted to the non-profit sector, for her experience in the last several years renews her faith in the dedication and kindness of its people and brings her satisfaction in the accomplishments made by the community as a whole. As a member of the Manitoba Aboriginal Languages Strategy committee, Melanie works collectively with many organizations dedicated to revitalizing, retaining and promoting Indigenous languages and education by working together. Melanie believes strongly that our day-to-day work contributes to a very significant goal for all Indigenous peoples, reclaiming our languages and identity one speaker at a time.
Contact:
204-989-6392 | mel@ilmb.org
Linda Anderson
Administrative Assistant
Linda Anderson is a Ininew Iskwéw from Selkirk, Manitoba, and originally from Arborg, Manitoba and is the oldest of four siblings, that includes two sisters and one brother, who were all raised by her mother Joyce; originally from God’s Lake Narrows. Linda grew up hearing the Cree language from a young age around her family, and began learning about her culture, traditions and language to better understand herself as an Indigenous woman, which she continues to pass onto her daughter Anna. Linda is trained in Customer Service from Red River College, Mental Health First Aid, Conflict Resolution and is continuing her learning to gain effective and comprehensible skills within her day-to-day work in the non-profit sector, including her position as a Board Member with the Selkirk Community Renewal Corporation and up until last year as the president of the Army and Navy Ladies Auxiliary. Linda is currently working at Indigenous Languages of Manitoba and the Manitoba Indigenous Cultural Education Centre as an administrator and remains committed to ensuring her work preserves and advances Indigenous languages.
Contact:
204-989-6392 | linda@ilmb.org
Morgan Jachetta
Community Outreach Coordinator
Tánsi, boozhoo, wotziye, waaciye, taanshi, hau/han, tungasugit, hello!
Morgan is the Community Outreach Coordinator at Indigenous Languages of Manitoba Inc. She graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a degree in English and a double minor in French and Linguistics. Through her studies she focused on social, political, and economical issues and zoned in on Indigenous language revitalization. She is passionate and motivated about the amplification of Indigenous voices through the sociolinguistic lens of language reclamation and revitalization. As a Manitoban community member and an ally to Indigenous Peoples, she firmly believes that to change the narrative we must change the discourse and that it is time to shine light on the endangered and dying Indigenous languages to assist in a future toward reconciliation.
Kinanaskomitin, miigwech, ghaniih, miikwehc, marsii, pidamiye, quryanarq, thank you.
Contact: 204-989-6392 | outreach@ilmb.org
Summer Fisher
MALS Program Assistant & ILMB Program Assistant
Summer Fisher is an Anishinaabe Kwe from Nipissing First Nation. She graduated from Algonquin College with her Diploma in Tourism, Travel Services. Summer is currently working for Indigenous Languages of Manitoba and the Manitoba Aboriginal Languages Strategy. As a member of the Manitoba Aboriginal Languages Strategy committee, Summer works collectively with many organizations dedicated to revitalizing, rejuvenating and promoting Indigenous languages and education. Specifically, her work with Indigenous Languages of Manitoba consists mainly of assisting the Program Coordinator in planning and developing new programs, complete the necessary administrative work, and help coordinate events and gatherings. She has worked extensively with language in her community, receiving many language awards, and being the First Youth Chief of Nipissing First Nation. Summer is dedicated in continuing her work in the preservation of Indigenous languages and sharing her language and culture with all.
Contact: 204-989-6392 | assistant@ilmb.org
Elora Cromarty
Summer Student - Resource Developer
Elora Cromarty is an Ininêw Iskwêw from Winnipeg, Mb and is a member of Kinosêw Sîpî (Norway House Cree Nation), located in Treaty 5 territory. She is currently a student at the University of Manitoba, working towards an Honours BA in Linguistics and a minor in Indigenous Languages, with a focus on Ininîmowin (Cree). Elora started her language and cultural journey in her early years of highschool, and now works and studies in the field of Indigenous Language Revitalization. She has done most of her work in resource development for both Indigenous Languages of Manitoba, and the University of Manitoba. Elora is committed to the revitalization, documentation, and expansion of Indigenous Languages and places an importance on encouraging other youth to learn their traditional languages.
Contact: 204-989-6392 | developer@ilmb.org
Jewel Starr
Project Coordinator
Jewel Starr is the Project Coordinator, and an Ojibwe woman from Sandy Bay First Nation Treaty 1 territory. Jewel has a background in Child and Youth Care and has a beginner certificate in the Ojibwe Language. She is currently working towards a BA in Indigenous Studies. Retaining her language and culture and passing it down to her 7 children is her number one goal. Jewel is an activist and is an advocate for Indigenous rights/movements.
Contact: 204-989-6392 | projects@ilmb.org
Vacant Position
Program Coordinator
This position is currently vacant. You can always submit an application through our Jobs page under "About Us"
For all programming inquiries, please email assistant@ilmb.org
Contact:
204-989-6392
We Are a Team!
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Honouring our Languages Gathering 2023
Our gathering supports, strengthens and celebrates our Indigenous languages and our theme Bringing Our Languages Home combats the standstill of intergenerational transmission and focuses on bringing the languages back to our communities and our homes.
To learn more and to register via online registration, click the button below: