MFNERC is proud to welcome our newest departmental leads of the Language and Culture Department, Director Davin Dumas and Assistant Director Jennifer Williams.
Davin Dumas will be joining us on December 7, 2020, as the Director of Languages and Culture. Davin is a member of the Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation. Born in Vancouver, B.C., he moved home early and learned to speak his language in an immersed environment. Along with this, his understanding of the connection to the land grew and continues to grow. Before obtaining an education degree, he worked as a home and school coordinator and enrolled in the PENT program. As a certified teacher, he has been working in education for over 20 years. During this time, he has taught various grades and subjects, has been a vice-principal, a principal, and a Director of Education. As an Ojibway speaker, Davin values culture, local history, and family. He is a husband, a father and a moshom. Davin believes that educational leadership must focus on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong.
On October 26, 2020, Jennifer Williams started as the Assistant Director of Language and Culture in Instructional Resource Development. Jennifer Williams is originally from O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation. She comes from a traditional fisherman family, spending her childhood in northern Manitoba. Like most students from the north, she came south and graduated from Fort Richmond Collegiate here in south Winnipeg, then earning an Arts Degree from the University of Manitoba. She completed her education degree through the Kenanow Education Degree Program at University College of the North. She has worked in the education field for over 20 years in different capacities, as Director of Education for her home community, an educator for Mikisew Minaw Head Start. Before joining our team, she taught Cree Language and Indigenous studies at R.D. Parker Collegiate. She started at the Resource Centre as a First Nations studies facilitator. She brings a passion for empowering youth to learn their language and proudly learn about their communities’ rich history and the unwavering resilience of Indigenous peoples across Canada.
Both Davin and Jennifer bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, and leadership to their new roles with MFNERC, and we are pleased to work alongside them in these new roles.
Welcome, Davin and Jennifer!
