[Graphic with embellished bottom and text reading: Introducing L'offis Wiichihihwahk - Office of the Vice-President (Indigenous)]

Dear students,

As we begin a new academic year, I’d like to introduce you to a name you’ll be seeing and hearing more often across the UM community: L’offis Wiichihihwahk, the new name of the Office of the Vice-President (Indigenous).

L’offis Wiichihihwahk is a Michif name gifted to our office by Elder Charlotte Nolin with the support of Michif language keeper Verna DeMontigny. It means “the office that helps.” When gifting the name, Elder Nolin shared a simple but powerful teaching: people are the medicine, helping one another.

That spirit is at the heart of L’offis Wiichihihwahk – Office of the Vice-President (Indigenous) — supporting one another, building relationships and creating a campus community where Indigenous students, cultures, languages, Knowledges and Ways of Being are respected and can thrive.

Gifted in Michif, the name honours the Métis Nation and is part of a growing effort to ensure Indigenous names and languages are visible, spoken and honoured throughout our campuses.

I invite you to learn the name and explore the story and meaning behind it:

* Pronunciation: Luff-iss Wee-chay-hayh-wawkhttps://soundcloud.com/um-indigenous/loffis-wiichihihwahk?si=4076634a09254ec5aec1f02b0ac15ebc&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing * Watch the videohttps://youtu.be/BhaUJ4QDV1s?si=bT1b_GWHESBYXV5l to learn more about the new name. * Read "L’offis Wiichihihwahk: UM’s Office of the Vice-President (Indigenous) introduces its new Michif namehttps://umtoday.ca/stories/loffis-wiichihihwahk-ums-office-vice-president-indigenous-introduces-its-new-michif-name” to learn more about the name and Indigenous naming at UM.

I hope that the next time you see or hear L’offis Wiichihihwahk – Office of the Vice-President (Indigenous) on campus, you’ll remember the spirit at the heart of the name: we help one another and no one walks alone. I look forward to seeing many of you at Indigenous Orientationhttps://umanitoba.ca/indigenous/indigenous-orientation on September 16 — a great opportunity to connect with other students, build relationships and experience the Indigenous community at UM. Thank you, Kinanāskomitin, Miigwech, Pidamaya, Máhsi cho, NakurmĪk, Maarsii, Merci

Angie

Dr. Angie Bruce, PhD, MBA Vice-President (Indigenous) L’offis Wiichihihwahk – Office of Vice-President (Indigenous) 202 Administration Building | 66 Chancellors Circle Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2 Angie.Bruce@umanitoba.camailto:Angie.Bruce@umanitoba.ca

[Image]