Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre is a compilation of 79 essays by Niigaan Sinclair, an Anishinaabe scholar and writer, as well as opening keynote at the 2025 Polytechnic Showcase. Divided into four parts – The Land, This Place, Streets and Rivers, and Gifts – the essays are concise and powerful, each offering a minute reflection of Indigenous life and experience in Canada.

The book speaks to the complexities of Indigenous life in Winnipeg, a city that is home to Canada’s largest urban Indigenous population with nearly 91,000 Indigenous residents (~12 per cent of its population) in 2021. It tackles themes of colonialism, resilience and reconciliation while exploring the stories and people behind the headlines.

The work of a talented storyteller, the pages are filled with tales both heartbreaking and inspiring. Personal stories drawn from Sinclair’s life experiences mingle with insights into Indigenous cultural life and the angry realities of systemic racism. Sinclair recounts the lives and deaths of Tina Fontaine, Colten Boushie and Linda Beardy. He talks about a population that is disproportionately jailed, murdered, poor and marginalized and who have been given little reason to trust police, social workers or the healthcare system.

Sinclair balances stories about the harsh realities of Indigenous life in Canada with vignettes about the critical roles of elders and two-spirit people. He offers a glimpse into the cultural significance of drum circles and the Northern Lights. He reflects on his roles as father, teacher and journalist, bringing readers with him to events, to court and to homeless encampments. The power of this book is that each essay provokes an emotion: sadness, anger, hope or delight.

As our opening keynote at the 2025 Polytechnic Showcase, Sinclair will reflect on the journey many post-secondary institutions are taking with regard to truth and reconciliation, embedding Indigenous knowledge, language and approaches in their strategic plans, procurement strategies and student supports. His remarks will be followed by a fireside chat with RRC Polytech President Fred Meier.

“Wînipêk” was a finalist for the 2024 Governor General’s Literary Award for Non-fiction and has been recognized for offering an understanding of Indigenous perspectives and experiences. Sinclair’s book will be available for delegates to take home. It is well worth a read.