Awarded on: 2013-05-22
Stella Blackbird
(Elphinstone, Manitoba)
Stella Blackbird is a healer and teacher of traditional medicine, respected for her ability to build trust and understanding across cultures and nations. Since 1995, she has served as Elder for the Urban Circle Training Centre, in Winnipeg's North End, making it one of the most successful Aboriginal training centres in Canada. In 2005, Stella envisioned an intergenerational children's centre where youth and families of Aboriginal students could follow the traditional Indigenous way of life and teachings on a daily basis. She has also served as resident Elder with the Ontario Native Education Counselling Association, in Sudbury, and provided mental health services based on traditional methods for the Ojibway Tribal Family Services Sacred Circle, in Kenora.