The Mamawi Project: Celebrating Together Series
Celebrating — Tressa Beaulieu
Where are you from?
I am a Métis woman with Indigenous heritage originating from Treaty 3 lands; home to the Saulteaux band of the Ojibwa people. I am from Thunder Bay, Ontario and now currently residing as a guest on Treaty 1, the original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation, also known as Winnipeg, Manitoba.
As a Métis person how do you walk in a way that honours your responsibilities to our nation, other Indigenous communities, the land and waters?
As an avid equestrian for the past 20 years and Registered Dietitian, I sought to combine my passions of nutrition, traditional land-based teachings and horses. The end result is a unique, culturally sensitive, and empowering business called ‘Red Horse Connection’. Red Horse Connection is an equine assisted learning business in Winnipeg, Manitoba that offers life skills development programs. Inspiration for Red Horse Connection stems from a long and resilient ancestral line of Métis women who simply love horses and see the benefits they have in the lives of people.
What medicines do you carry that have helped you on your path?
Learning and healing with horses is what feels right to me. Horses have helped me through the toughest times in my life. Being able to share this relationship and provide a culturally safe environment for others to do so feels right. I truly believe it is my gift that I am meant to share with others. Red Horse Connection is founded on the Anishnaabe teaching that horses are the tellers of truth, guiding people in the right direction and helping them understand their place in the circle of life. For this reason I believe they make influential teachers in today’s modern world.
This teaching was provided by one of my most cherished teachers and knowledge keepers , Darcy Whitecrow (Pay ba mom coot, Coming cloud) of the Muskrat Clan and from Chi ma a ga nin (Place where they catch fish with nets).
Anything else you would like to add?
Horses each have distinctive personalities (similar to people), and each have their unique and different methods of teaching.
By learning to listen to what horses have to say, it gives people the opportunity to grow as an individual. I am all about experiential ways of learning, and horses to do just that. I want participants to feel a sense of belonging, Indigenous pride and something that fuels their spirit.
Marsii for giving me an opportunity to share my story.
