REMEMBERING LIFE SPEAKER NOEL STARBLANKET
Life Speaker Noel Starblanket served as an Elder in Residence for the Faculty from Sept . 2016 to April 2017 . He walked alongside us to provide wisdom , guidance , and care as we Indigenized our space , curriculum and practices . Noel was especially significant as an advisor in the creation of the Nanatawihowikamik Healing Lodge , a SHRF- and Facultyfunded project that took Dr . JoLee Sasakamoose and Dr . Angela McGinnis over two years to complete . Noel was also an advisor to the ongoing Horse-Human Relationship research being done by
Dr . Angela McGinnis and grad student Kelsey Moore .
Among his many teaching activities , Noel participated in # treatyedcamps , the Resistance and Reconciliation Fishbowl Panel , Kairos Blanket Exercises , and the Walking Together Day of Education .
Faculty Reflections " Noel is now an “ atayohkan ” ( star / soul where stories reside in the celestial ). From where Noel sits now we are still connected . He hasn ’ t left . I ’ m very fortunate to have met such a brilliant human being . Noel is a leader / storyteller / healer / brother / horse-whisperer / friend / grandfather and Teacher ."~ Knowledge Keeper Joe Naytowhow
" We remind ourselves that a year has gone by since the passing of an Elder who was held close to the Faculty of Education . A person who provided us with thoughtful and insightful guidance as we stumbled toward reconciliation . But it was his steady hand , strict teachings , and supportive
actions that left a lasting mark on all of us . We miss him dearly and honour his memory in the work he influenced us to take up in life ’ s journey . Blessed be ." ~ Patrick Lewis
" After being a part of a Kairos Blanket Exercise with Life Speaker Noel in the room , I thanked him for the early days and the political organizing and activism that he engaged in . He laughed and accepted my words , and then he told me that he felt that the work he was doing now with students , the bridge building , the teaching , the relationship work , the ceremony work was way more important than anything he had done before . He had this way of offering the deepest of truths , explaining Cree culture / values / beliefs / practices without diminishing anyone or their beliefs . He made space for anyone to be in the circle with him , and because of his generosity , his invitation to attend to Cree ways of knowing / being could be accepted by non-Indigenous students , without feeling like they had to give up who they were or their beliefs ."~ Mike Cappello
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