Urban and Inner-City Studies

In Memory of Claudette Michell

 Claudette Michell receiving her BA Honours from President Lloyd Axworthy

We are deeply saddened to inform you that Claudette Michell, Program Coordinator in the Department of Urban and Inner-City Studies, passed away early in the morning of October 5, 2012. She died of a brain aneurysm. She leaves her four children, Melissa, Vincent, Cheyenne and Kenneth, and two grandchildren. She was the backbone of the Department, and cared deeply and passionately about our students. Many have told us that Claudette changed their lives. Claudette Michell was a remarkable woman. She will be deeply missed and never forgotten by all of us in the Department, both students and faculty.

Her research and publications were: (author) of “Circles of Healing and Transformation: Aboriginal Women and Adult Education.” This is a chapter in the book titled Moving Forward and Giving Back: Alternative Aboriginal Adult Education, which is edited by Jim Silver and will be published by Fernwood Publishing in February 2013. This book will be dedicated to the memory of Claudette Michell. (co-author) of “To Walk in Both Worlds: Ma Mawi Goes to University.” This is a chapter in the same book. (co-author) of Kiskino Mato Tapanask: Intergenerational Effects on Professional First Nations Women Whose Mothers are Residential School Survivors, published by the Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence. This publication also included a digital format, and has been presented more than 50 times in Manitoba and across Canada, including to Justice Murray Sinclair’s Commission on Truth and Reconciliation. Claudette contributed to the research in Lord Selkirk Park that led to the creation there of an Adult Learning Centre called Kaakiyow Li Moond Likol. Kaakiyow has been in existence since 2007, and 42 adults have graduated with their mature grade 12 diploma during that time.

In her traditional life she always strived to learn. She was enthusiastic in asking about the many Cree teachings with her brother Les. She attended many ceremonies and cultural events. She had been invited to many communities to share her story and receive awards. She was in the process of fulfilling her Sundance commitment. She was a pipe carrier. She was very proud of her journey to learning to sing with other women around the Grandmother Drum. She had experienced dreams where she received teachings from the Grandmothers about women sitting around the big Grandmother Drums. She drummed with other women who had similar teachings and dreams.

Some may say this is a terrible loss to the Aboriginal community and her family but it is a huge victory to the people she touched with her smile and kindness, in helping them grow in their lives in a healthy and beautiful way.