Connecting Identity, Culture and Sport
An Indigenous Youth Discussion Panel
Hear from Indigenous coaches and player from Winnipeg about their journey in sport and why representation matters.
Robyn Boulanger - University of Winnipeg Women's Basketball Team / CEO Zaagi'idiwin Sport Performance
Emily Mandamin - University of Manitoba Women's Basketball Team
Anna Kernagan - University of Winnipeg Women's Basketball Team
Tréchelle Bunn - (Moderator) Manitoba Indigenous Youth Achievement Award winner
The evening will conclude with a question and response time with our guests.
Date: June 20th, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Sport Manitoba Hall of Fame (145 Pacific Avenue)
This panel is free and open to all athletes, coaches and parents. Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike. Join us for an evening of discussion, collaboration and learning.
Discussion Panel Registration:
Robyn Boulanger
Robyn Boulanger is from Berens River First Nation, Manitoba and is a teacher, athlete, coach and business owner with a passion for Indigenous Education. She has a B.PHE and a B.Ed from the University of Winnipeg. She is currently doing her Masters of Education, specializing in Indigenous Education at the University of British Columbia. She focuses her study on examining the benefits of integrating Indigenous knowledge with sport. Robyn is also the founder of Zaagi’idiwin Sport Performance which is a platform for Indigenous and non-Indigenous athletes to access in-person and online sport training services aimed to improve performance on and off the court.
Anna Kernaghan
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Kernaghan is Metis on her father's side, St. Laurent Region. She grew up playing with Winnipeg Fury, Centre for Performance (TAP), and the Manitoba Provincial Team in the summer time. She attended Sturgeon Heights Collegiate and was named the 2019 Provincial AAAA Female Basketball Player of the Year. Kernaghan then committed to the University of Winnipeg, where she was honoured to be named to the U-Sport All Rookie Team in her first year. She has now just finished her fourth year with the Wesmen. This year, she earned the honours to be named team captain and awarded team MVP. She also enjoys coaching and helping out with Zaagi’idiwin Sport Performance in her spare time!
Emily Mandamin
Originating from Iskatewizaagegan 39 Independent First Nation, Emily Mandamin discovers solace and empowerment through basketball. Her evolution, from combating solitude to attaining self-assurance, epitomizes the sport's transformative influence. Mandamin now shares her basketball journey to motivate Indigenous youth across Canada, emphasizing its crucial role in providing hope and opportunity amid intergenerational trauma. Her path in basketball has traversed Turtle Island, including three years in the United States before joining the University of Manitoba Bisons, where she has found both a home and a vital role within her team. Her advocacy highlights Indigenous communities' resilience and the necessity for representation in sports. Mandamin's narrative shines a light on basketball's profound impact and her unwavering commitment to uplifting the next generation through the game.
Tréchelle Bunn
Tréchelle Bunn, hailing from Wampum, Manitoba, and a proud member of Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation, is an accomplished athlete, academic, and advocate. In 2022, Tréchelle founded the Reconciliation Run, Canada's first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation half-marathon, to honour residential school Survivors and those who never made it home. This annual event has united hundreds of participants across Turtle Island to reflect, learn, and heal on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. An award-winning university hockey player, law student, and Youth Chief, Tréchelle is the humble recipient of numerous accolades, including the Manitoba Indigenous Youth Achievement Award and the University of Manitoba Indigenous Award of Excellence. Tréchelle's work is dedicated to advocating for and inspiring the next generation.
