Elmwood Community Resource Centre (ECRC)

Gurpreet Kalsi’s field placement at Elmwood Community Resource Centre (ECRC) in Winnipeg took place from May to August 2025, as part of his Master’s in Development Practice (MDP): Indigenous Development program at the University of Winnipeg.

ECRC is a grassroots organization that supports newcomers, families, and youth through culturally safe programming. During his placement, Gurpreet focused on helping newcomer communities build respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples by creating space for dialogue, learning, and reflection. He took part in educational sessions on Indigenous histories, land-based worldviews, and the impacts of colonization, while also attending harm reduction and substance use workshops rooted in community healing. One of the key moments of his placement was presenting at the Still I Rise National Conference, where he spoke about gender-based violence in South Asian families and how these issues intersect with the colonial violence experienced by Indigenous communities.

This placement gave Gurpreet a chance to reflect on the shared experiences of displacement, survival, and resilience between newcomer and Indigenous communities. “What stayed with me,” he said, “was how Indigenous teachings speak to relationships, with people, with the land, and with our own stories. Coming from an immigrant background, I saw so many connections. It made me think differently about what community means. It’s not just about belonging. It’s about responsibility, care, and learning from one another.”