Celebrating Indigenous Wisdom: Insights from Renée McGurry

June 21, 2025

Indigenous Peoples Day is a holiday honoring Native Americans, the original inhabitants of North America. We had the privilege of spending time with Renée McGurry last week, an educator dedicated to integrating Indigenous perspectives into education and training. Renée has been celebrated by Manitoba Education as an Aboriginal educator of the month and has received the Trailblazer and Leadership Award from the Aboriginal Circle of Educators.

Our time with Renée was enlightening and impactful, emphasizing the integration of Indigenous knowledge into education. We discussed the importance of mindfulness in connecting with the land and each other, fostering respect and diversity in learning. Renée guided us in land acknowledgments, shared stories of Indigenous resilience, and highlighted the need for equity in education and community building.

We explored sacred medicines and smudging, understanding their spiritual significance in healing. Discussions on Indian residential schools deepened our awareness of Indigenous trauma and the journey toward reconciliation. Renée taught us to be better allies, encouraging us to acknowledge knowledge gaps in mainstream narratives about Indigenous peoples.

We are grateful for Renée’s wisdom and are committed to advocating for a more inclusive and understanding world. We also want to express our gratitude to Access Credit Union for making this opportunity possible!