Inspiring Indigenous youth

Knashton Mason from the Wasagamack Anisininew Nation spent a few afternoons at UM’s College of Pharmacy between Oct. 2025 to Jan. 2026, exploring what a career in health care might look like.  

“Back home, there’s very limited resources, and education is the reason why I came to (Winnipeg’s) Southeast Collegiate – to further expand my knowledge and opportunities,” said the 17-year-old Grade 12 student. 

His school, Southeast Collegiate, is an Indigenous high school campus and lodge, with students coming from First Nation communities throughout southeast Manitoba, many of them from rural and remote areas. 

Mason and his classmates attended a series of hands-on introductory pharmacy sessions at UM’s Bannatyne campus, offered in partnership with the office of community engagement in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, the College of Pharmacy and Ongomiizwin - Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing. 

“It’s been awesome coming here and learning about chemistry and pharmacy – and it’s really nice knowing all the things you could experience and find out,” Mason said.

An inside look at pharmacy professions

The students explored a range of pharmacy areas – from cardiovascular and heart health to inhaled medications and examining neuroscience through microscopes. They also created their own sunscreen and learned about drug overdose.

Another interactive session took them off campus to the St. Boniface Hospital pharmacy, where they learned what it’s like to be in a real-life pharmacy. 

The path to a more inclusive and diverse faculty

Derek Stewner, who is Red River Métis, didn’t start pursuing an undergraduate degree in UM’s Faculty of Social Work until he was in his late 30s, balancing life as a single father to his daughter while working three jobs. He is now the workforce development and pathways program manager in the office of community engagement in the Rady Faculty.

“I’ve had many supports from mentors, instructors and my grandparents throughout my life – even when I didn’t believe in myself. They really encouraged me not to quit,” Stewner said. “In my role, I’m able to pay it forward and give back to others.”

He develops pathway programs for middle and high school students, especially those from underserved and underrepresented groups. The programs use hands-on workshops to introduce health sciences careers in the Rady Faculty: medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, rehabilitation sciences, and community and global health.  

Stewner said marginalized communities have historically faced financial and social barriers to pursuing careers in the health sciences.

“Those groups include Indigenous students – and with an emphasis on rural, remote, isolated northern communities,” he said. “And there’s also our newcomer and refugee populations, our 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and those who live with disabilities.” 

Stewner recalls one student from the Seven Oaks School Division whose career aspirations changed after joining one of the programs. 

“The student said, ‘I wanted to become a psychologist because I want to know how the brain works. But after we went into the microbiology labs and looked at brain cells under the microscopes, I knew it was neuroscience that I needed to get into,’” he said. 

The office of community engagement hopes to bring back the same cohorts of students across school divisions in Manitoba beyond a single school year. 

“We want to increase our diversity and make our campus more inclusive, and we want to better prepare students to hit the ground running when they do enter health care,” Stewner said.  

“When you come here at the Rady Faculty, we have supports for you.”