Faculty of Law

Winnipeg Human Rights Tour

The Winnipeg Human Rights Tour began in 2022 as a way to introduce new Master of Human Rights program students to some of the many Human Rights aspects of Winnipeg. Beginning in St. Boniface at the grave of Louis Riel, founder of Manitoba, the tour has now been successfully delivered to two generations of Master of Human Rights students and has grown in content, scope and recognition.

This year, program administrators commissioned an intricately designed map, enriched with additional stops of interest. More than just a tool for navigation, this map narrates Winnipeg’s ever-evolving journey in human rights. With concise descriptions of significant landmarks, participants are not only informed about historical events but are also introduced to ongoing human rights initiatives and potential future developments. The map fosters a deeper connection between the participants, the city’s history, its contemporary human rights scenario, and future aspirations.

Dr. Nathan Derejko Mauro Chair in Human Rights and Social Justice

Destinations

an illustration of the gravesite of Louis Riel

Louis Riel's Grave

Louis Riel is a controversial figure in Canadian history. He has been portrayed as a religious fanatic, a rebel,and as a charismatic leader who defended the Métis people from unfair encroachments by the federal government. The provincial government that he established negotiated the terms under which the new territory of Manitoba would enter the Canadian Confederation. Known today as the Father of Manitoba, he was hanged for treason on November 16, 1885.

Georges Forest's Monument

In 1976, Georges Forest received a parking ticket written in English only in St. Boniface. Forest decided to challenge the charges in court. On December 13, 1979, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the province could not infringe on the constitutional rights.

Esplanade Riel

Also named after Louis Riel, the Esplanade Riel is one of the most recognizable structures in the Winnipeg skyline. Envisioned by Guy Préfontaine and Étienne Gaboury,this unique structure spans the Red River, connecting Saint-Boniface to the Downtown district of Winnipeg. The Esplanade Riel physically and symbolically bridges the gap between the city’s Anglophone and Francophone communities.

Illustration of Indian Residential Schools. IRS Monument

Peace Meeting Site, Grandfather Rock

Placed in 2014 by Wechetowin and St Paul’s Anglican Church,this monument honors the victims of the Indian residential school system. This stone tells the difficult story of the residential schools in three languages; Syllabics, English and French.

For more than 6,000 years, The Forks has been a gathering place for numerous First Nations peoples. The Peace Meeting site is designed to show a balance between the elements (fire, water, and earth) as well as balance between Indigenous and European designs.

an illustration of Mahatma Gandhi's statue

Mahātmā Ghandi Statue

This statue was gifted to the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights by Her Excellency Mrs. Shashi U. Tripathi, High Commissioner for India to Canada on August 27, 2004. It depicts Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist and political ethicist who is famous for inspiring civil rights movements through nonviolent resistance.

2SLGBTQS+ Rights Rainbow Pride Crosswalk

Rainbow Crosswalk

The first rainbow crosswalk in Winnipeg, it was inspired by the Rainbow crosswalks in Edmonton. This crosswalk was painted with the traditional Pride flag colors by the Winnipeg Frontrunners, a 2SLGBTQ+ organization for the 2017 Pride run.

Winnipeg General Strike

In 1919, more than 30,000 people walked off their jobs, demanding collective bargaining rights, fair wages and better working conditions. The movement that would come to be known as the Winnipeg General Strike, was one of the largest and most influential labour strikes in Canadian history. Hugh Amos Robson, K.C. (for whom Robson Hall was named) was appointed to head the Royal Commission to discover the origin and causes of the strike. His report empathized with the working class, calling for opportunities for “human improvement” and a “contented existence.”

Rooster Town

This large copper kettle serves as a reminder of Rooster Town, also known as Pakan town. This was a Métis road allowance community located on the outskirts of Winnipeg from 1901 to 1961. The community did not have access to basic amenities, with their only source of water being a pump located over a kilometre away. Residents would carry buckets or fill dairy cans illustrated in the Fetching Water silhouettes located along the path near the kettle. This large

structure reflects the amount of water required per day to sustain the population. In 1959, the City of Winnipeg ordered that the homes be torn down and the residents evicted to make way for the expanding Fort Rouge neighborhood, Grant Park Mall and Grant Park High School. Residents were stigmatized by local media in the lead-up to their evictions.

Streetcar Monument

On June 21, 1919, protesters in the Winnipeg General Strike overturned and set on fire, a streetcar, and were confronted by police. This event has come to be known as 'Bloody Saturday' because two strikers were killed and at least 30 injured when the North West Mounted Police shot into the crowd. This monument marks the spot close to where the vehicle was overturned.

Black Sleeping Car Porters

Sleeping car porters played an essential role in Canadian rail travel. Black men were hired to cater to train passengers’ every need. Due to the predominant racism of the time, there were few opportunities for black labourers in the early 1900s. The labour conditions were unjust and the porters sought to join existing unions, but were denied. In April 1917, the porters created the Order of the Sleeping Car Porters (OCSP), the first Black labour union in North America.

Burton Cummings' Theatre

In 1914, Nellie McClung called for support for women's suffrage in the province of Manitoba. The Women's Political Equality League held a "mock parliament" at Winnipeg's Walker Theatre (today the Burton Cummings'), in which McClung, acting as prime minister, and the other female Members of Parliament debated if it was reasonable and good to give men the right to vote. The play received outstanding press reviews. Two years later, Manitoba became the first Canadian province to give women the right to vote. The theatre was also host to the 1918 political meeting of the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council and the Socialist Party of Canada that led to the Winnipeg General Strike.

Agowiidiwinan Centre

Agowiidiwinan translates to "bringing things together" In the Anishinaabemowin language. The Agowiidiwinan Centre is a gathering place of learning that offers visitors an opportunity to better understand the Historic Treaties between First Nations and the British Crown.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Monument

This monument is a joint project between the Ka Ni Kanichihk Indigenous community service organization and the province. This is the first monument of its kind in Canada, offering visitors a dedicated place to mourn and reflect. Indigenous women and girls are 12 times more likely to be murdered or to go missing than members of any other demographic group in Canada, and 16 times more likely to be murdered or to disappear than white women. Indigenous women and girls made up almost 25 % of all female homicide victims in Canada between 2001 and 2015.

Illustration of Education is the New Bison

Chi-kishkayhitamihk si te li neu Biizon

Unveiled in 2020, “Education is the new Bison” is a sculpture by Winnipeg artist Val Vint. It is constructed out of 200 steel replicas of books and other articles by Indigenous authors and allies. All together it forms a 12-foot tall statue of a bison, intended to recognize the importance of education, truth and reconciliation. Just as bison once provided everything for Indigenous people including food, shelter and tools, today, education does that. An untitled representative version of the piece was installed at the University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry campus within the first floor of the Elizabeth Dafoe Library in 2022.

Land-based learning

The main goals of MHR program administrators is that the Tour sparks dialogue, promotes reflection, and educates participants about the dynamic nature of human rights. The Tour emphasizes how historical events have shaped Winnipeg’s present human rights climate and projects their significance into Canada’s future, intertwining past events with current activism and future aspirations for justice and inclusion.

“The Winnipeg Human Rights Tour is one of the land-based learning activities of the Master of Human Rights program at the University of Manitoba, and provides a unique opportunity for participants to explore some of the rich history and current struggles of human rights in Winnipeg,” said Dr. Nathan Derejko, who holds the Mauro Chair in Human Rights and Social Justice.

Winnipeg’s human rights history is a combination of struggles and heartening victories. While it is essential to acquaint university students with the past, it is equally important to connect these historical accounts with contemporary issues and future human rights prospects. This tour serves as a bridge, fostering awareness and inspiration, and reminding participants of sacrifices, achievements, and the ongoing journey towards a more inclusive society.

This year’s tour took place on Saturday, September 17 and was open to all Master of Human Rights program students and alumni. While primarily designed for university students to promote academic discussion and ideas, plans are in the works to expand the tour to a broader audience. The tour is focused on downtown Winnipeg and the Forks, and takes about two to three hours to walk. This year, Javier Torres, Master of Human Rights Professional Development Coordinator led the tour.

The Human Rights Tour of Winnipeg offers a rich tapestry of stories, struggles, and triumphs that can inspire a new generation to continue the work of their predecessors, ensuring a brighter and more inclusive future.

Testimonials

Pia, an International Student from Chile, said, “I really liked the tour because it provided insight into the city’s history, which is very important as a newcomer, and also, I enjoyed the participatory approach between the guide and the participants.”

Priscila, an International Student from Brazil, described an encounter the group had with a passerby who was also an activist, taking part that day in a protest to search the Brady Landfill. “As an international student, this tour allowed me to connect with the city and with local events related to human rights,” she said. “The highest point was talking to a representative of a local protest who claimed the search for missing Indigenous women in the region. It was an important experience to feel the city and its culture.”

Augustine Caesar, another participating student, said, “The Winnipeg Human Rights Tour has helped me to learn what happened in the past and to realize the importance of keeping track records of whatever happened. As a Human Right Student and activist, it has helped me to appreciate and recognize the past happenings, and definitely it will help me to shape the present now, the future and to hold duty bearers accountable for their actions.”

Walking tour map

Download the walking tour .pdf

Winnipeg Human Rights Tour map.pdf

Connect with the MHR program

Faculty of Law

224 Dysart Road
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

lawinfo@umanitoba.ca

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