Creating Miracles: Raising Profiles

Pat Bowslaugh

This story is a tracking of what some of our colleagues described as an “outside the box” project. The events, which you are about to read, took place in a two year span and morphed into results of which we became very proud even though they were equally unexpected. Background information includes reviewing the RTAM goal of recognizing our Indigenous youth by creating a one thousand dollar award for a student at Manitoba’s University College of the North. Following the first award presentation in June 2019, the recipient, Brie Phillips, graciously responded with a lovely letter of appreciation. Attached to her letter was an 8.5 by 11 inch sheet of paper with three unique pictures and a manuscript that she had created in response to one of her class assignments. As this item was passed around to each member of the RTAM Public Relations Committee, the potential impact of the storyline and pictures was immediately recognized. Yes, it could become a book! Immediately the committee also realized that this could be our project to commemorate “Manitoba 150”! Thus the idea started to take place. Brie, who is a gifted young Métis student, was approached by RTAM to receive her permission to use her work and to confirm her willingness to create additional (water colour) pictures to illustrate her warm and caring story. The story’s focus is of respecting our heritage and the environment. In addition, being teachers, we created study guides to extend the book’s use from Early Years to Middle and Senior Years.

Our next step was to explore a source to do the printing so tenders were sought for this part of the creation. Brandon’s Leech Printing was engaged to create each page of the 24 page full colour book. This company also arranged delivery via Canada Post. Early this year the goal of having 2000 books printed for the Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba was achieved. Next, with the help of Josh Watt of the Manitoba School Boards Association who supplied us with the names and addresses of every Manitoba public school, individual copies of Roots were gifted to over nine hundred schools. However, preceding this mailing, the first copy of Brie’s book, “Roots”, was presented to former Judge and Senator, Murray Sinclair, by author, Brie Phillips. This exciting event took place via Zoom at our RTAM Board meeting in March.

Following this initial excitement, a copy of Roots was sent to every public library in Manitoba, the Métis Association, the Council of Chiefs, the Manitoba Department of Education and Training, every MLA and to each of Manitoba’s universities. Of course, Brie also received several copies of her book for her to share with relatives and friends (plus the students in the class with whom she began her teaching career in September 2020). Brie was also counselled to sell her extra copies. Miraculously word about this new author spread quickly in her locale and she was invited to present at a teachers’ professional development day. Upon ending her presentation she survived the rush as people charged forward to purchase a copy. She sold sixty the first day. Her next order was for 800 copies! (And, in her latest update to us, she continues to be sought after to present at educational events.) We are very proud of this project which has morphed far beyond RTAM’s Public Relations goal to celebrate “Manitoba 150“. Brie has already ordered and purchased a new shipment of 3000 copies to fulfill the requests she has received. And another kindness . . . Brie’s parents sent us an amazing letter for which we sought approval to share with you. (See letter on page 13.)

Miracles and profiles!

Enjoy.

Footnote: RTAM’s celebratory gift to acknowledge “Manitoba 150” was financed through the Public Relations Committee’s budget. RTAM has no further responsibility for this one time project. n