Ashley Hayward

Ashley Hayward is a doctoral student in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Manitoba. She has broad interests in Indigenous health, the social determinants of health, and culture as a health intervention. She completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Conflict Resolution Studies at the University of Winnipeg and obtained a Master of Arts degree through the joint University Winnipeg and University of Manitoba Peace and Conflict Studies program. Ashley has won numerous awards including the 2019-2020 University of Winnipeg Weweni Future Scholars Award, the 2019-2020 Sol Kanee Fellowship, 2019 Nahlah Ayed Prize for Student Leadership & Global Citizenship, and was recognized by the University of Manitoba with an Indigenous Award of Excellence: Trailblazer for visionary thinking that has resulted in advancing Indigenous engagement, leadership by example, and mentorship. Ashley works collaboratively with Indigenous organizations such as the Manitoba Association of Friendship Centres and Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre of Winnipeg, Inc.

Past Coordinators

Jasmin Winter

Hello! My name is Jasmin Winter, and I am thrilled to be joining the Aabijijiwan team.

I am from Vancouver, located on the unceded lands of the Coast Salish peoples - the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations, and have ancestry from Hong Kong and England.

I am a graduate from the Master’s in Development Practice program at the University of Winnipeg, and spent the last 3 years working for the First Nations Technology Council in British Columbia. In August, I completed the Vancouver Film School’s VR/AR Design and Development program. 

I am passionate about increasing access to technology and leveraging digital tools to amplify diverse voices and worldviews, and look forward to seeing you at the Lab soon!

Marieke Gruwel

Marieke Gruwel holds a Master’s Degree in Art History from Concordia University and a Bachelor’s Degree (hons) from the University of Winnipeg. Her master’s was funded by awards from SSHRC and Concordia University.

Marieke works on projects with the Winnipeg Architecture Foundation as an architectural historian. She has held positions at the Manitoba Crafts Museum and Library, Gallery 1C03, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. She is a past recipient of the Mayor’s Medal, presented by the University of Winnipeg and the the City of Winnipeg.

Larissa Wodtke

Larissa Wodtke is Senior Research Associate with the Kishaadigeh Collaborative Research Centre. She holds an MA in Rhetoric and Communication Design from the University of Waterloo, a BA (Hons) from The University of Winnipeg, and a Creative Communications Diploma from Red River College. She has been engaged in Indigenous community-based research for over eleven years while working at The University of Winnipeg, including managing the Indigenous community-based research project that produced the Pīsim Finds Her Miskanaw picture book, teacher’s guide, and app. She has worked collaboratively with the Manitoba Aboriginal Languages Strategy and worked on research and resource development for the Nisichawayasi Nehetho Culture and Education Authority and O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation. She is also a member of the Centre for Research in Cultural Studies at The University of Winnipeg and publishes her own research on popular music, memory, irony, temporality, labour, and digital texts.