By Sarah Klein
Wab Kinew (HANDOUT)
Local broadcaster and hip hop artist Wab Kinew has been named the University of Winnipeg’s first Director of Indigenous Inclusion.
The former CBC Manitoba reporter, who is also an accomplished record producer, will gather expertise on developing, recruiting and retaining Indigenous talent as well as strategies for working with Indigenous communities.
“Wab Kinew is a dynamic role-model to Manitoba’s next generation of talented Aboriginal youth, and a gifted teacher who connects in an authentic way with young people,” said Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, president and vice-chancellor. “We are honoured Wab can help expand our expertise in Indigenous inclusion by developing workshops, courses, multi-media tools and most importantly, a welcoming place where inner city youth can thrive.”
Funding for the new position comes from private fundraising and will not impact the university’s operating budget.
“In one generation in my family we’ve gone from the residential school era where education was a tool of oppression, to the modern era where it is a tool of self-empowerment,” Kinew said in a release.
