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#myCMUlife: Learning on Estamos - the special, the scary, and the silly
This past fall, eight students traveled to Guatemala as part of CMU's Estamos program. They lived, worked, and studied there for three months. Now that they've returned, the Estamos cohort is sharing their experiences with the broader CMU community. Here are some highlights and memories from their time in Guatemala.
One of my highlights from living in Guatemala this past fall was when I moved locations in November to complete my practicum credit. I lived in Santiago during this time, which is a smaller Indigenous community. Every morning, I looked out of my window and had a view of Lake Atitlán and a nearby volcano. I grew so close to my host family during this time. I lived with two sisters and their parents who all cared for me. I am so grateful for the opportunity I received to live with them and learn about their Indigenous culture and ways of life. One month is short, but I will always remember the meaningful time I spent with this family and how warm and loving they were with me. At the end of November as I was preparing to return home, my host family gave me a gift so I could always remember our time together. They embroidered a Quetzal, Guatemala's national bird, on the back of my jean jacket. As I traveled home with this new embroidery, I was reminded of why I had come to Guatemala in the first place: to connect and learn from people who are different from me in many ways, yet also so similar. The Quetzal is a symbol of achieving this goal. It represents the many lessons, memories, and relationships I gained from this experience that are now a part of who I am.
CMU faculty, students, alumnus thrilled to participate in Indigenous opera premiere
Li Keur: Riel's Heart of the North premiered last month in a rush of vibrant colour, rich story, and lively music and dance. The production, performed by Manitoba Opera, sold out each of its three performances at the Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg on November 18, 22, and 24.
Li Keur is the first full-scale Indigenous-led opera to be presented on a Canadian mainstage. "I wish to place the beautiful Indigenous languages, cultures, and narratives of the central continent—those that have been relegated to a historical footnote at best, a nuisance or a threat at worst—to their rightful place at the heart of cultural institutions of the region," said Métis poet and scholar Dr. Suzanne Steele.
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Winnipeggers teach anger management course to Palestinians (Winnipeg Free Press)
For people living in the Palestinian territories, anger and frustration are daily experiences. That's why two Winnipeggers went there in late July to teach a course on conflict-resolution skills.
Karen Ridd, who teaches conflict resolution studies at Canadian Mennonite University, and Izzy Hawamda, a teacher at Maples Collegiate and an instructor at CMU visited An-Najah University in Nablus in the West Bank.
The goal was to teach the 22 students who signed up for the course about ways to deal with their anger, both internally and inter-personally, and to help others manage their frustrations with daily living under occupation.
Continue ReadingSpiritual care director program seeks to fill crucial need (Winnipeg Free Press)
A growing need for spiritual care directors in Winnipeg hospitals and faith-based personal care homes has prompted the creation of a new program at Canadian Mennonite University.
The master of arts in spiritual care is being offered in collaboration with St. Boniface Hospital and Selkirk Mental Health Centre.
The need became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when half of 49 positions in the capital city became vacant due to retirements, said Kathleen Rempel Boschman, lead for spiritual care services at Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
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CMU student-athletes awarded for leadership and community work
CMU Blazers athletes were two of only six students across the country to receive a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Torchbearer Scholarship last year.
The award recognizes student-athletes who exemplify leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship in their schools, sports teams, and wider communities.
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