One Day Indigenous Awareness Seminar

About this Seminar

Content will include terminology, demographics, Treaty and Aboriginal rights and obligations, Métis history, the Indian Act and residential schools, working with Indigenous people and reconciliation. Participants will receive a certificate of completion.

Registration fee will be refunded upon completion of the seminar.

Presenters

About John Lagimodiere

President/Owner of ACS

John Lagimodiere is the President/Owner of ACS and a well-respected Saskatchewan entrepreneur. He has been facilitating and hosting Indigenous awareness seminars for a variety of organizations since 1997. John is a member of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, CUMFI Local #165.

John has a Sociology degree from University of Saskatchewan with a focus on Aboriginal history and issues. As a business owner and employer of Indigenous and non- Indigenous people, John is aware of the challenges faced by both employees and employers in the workplace. John also has experience working in a unionized environment including Co-Chair of the Occupational Health and Safety Committee, and contract negotiator representing 250 employees, was on the Employment Insurance Board of Referees and was on the Board of Affinity Credit Union.

John had a 25-year career in the media as Publisher/Editor of Eagle Feather News, a monthly newspaper and daily news website. EFN is the largest independent Indigenous media outlet in Saskatchewan. He handed off the newspaper to a new team of owners in 2022. He also had many experiences with CBC where he was a guest host of The Current, hosted his own national summer replacement radio show ‘As If” and was featured in the 8th Fire. He is often called upon for opinion and commentary on Indigenous issues across all media.  

John has facilitated Indigenous awareness training for clients such as SaskTel, the Province of Saskatchewan, SaskHousing, Saskatoon Police Service, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, WCB, Nutrien, CIC and the University of Saskatchewan. He is a recipient of the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal, the 2006 of the City of Saskatoon Living in Harmony Award, and the Queens Jubilee Medal in 2012. ACS received the 2009 ABEX for Aboriginal Business.

About Winston McLean

Mr. McLean is from the James Smith Cree Nation. He is a fifth generation descendent of Treaty 6.

After leaving the University of Saskatchewan with a B.A. in Philosophy, he joined the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN). While with the Federation he gained experience in lands and resources, international affairs, and economic development. He was a member of the team that negotiated the Saskatchewan Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement in 1992. Later, Winston was worked on the First Nation and Metis Justice Reform Commission in 2002 as their Director of Operations.

It was in connection with his work in land claims and in justice that Mr. McLean developed a profound respect for the building of bridges between mainstream and First Nation communities. Much of his work now is as a facilitator, working with corporate Canada and governments to deliver Indigenous awareness training. But he also volunteers helping his First Nation deal with a major mining project that will have generational impacts.

He lives in Saskatoon, has children, practices a martial art, and refuses to learn the banjo.