Cheryl Antonio dishshinikshon. Treaty 5 o-to-ton. The Pas, Manitoba niwiikin. Niiya kishchiitayimun a-li Michif e-we-yawn.
My name is Cheryl Antonio. I am from Treaty 5, The Pas, Manitoba. I am proud to be Metis.
Born to a Cree/Metis mother and a Ukrainian father, I grew up in Opaskwayak Cree Nation while my parents built a grain farm in the RM of Kelsey. I was an outdoor kid and loved to be outside, in nature, all the time. My parents taught me about gardening, foraging, and looking after the land. My love for books and for the arts has also been a big part of who I am today.
I am a mother to 3 adult men and 4 beautiful grandchildren. I am retired from Kelsey School Division where I was employed for 27 years as a support staff, my last few years as a community school librarian. I am invested in my community, enjoy volunteering with my arts council and other organizations. I have been a 4-H leader for more than 20 years. Being part of 4-H gives me great opportunity to share my knowledge of the land and to continue my love for working with young people. We have a beautiful community garden, bee hives, and we spend much of our time outdoors.
I am currently employed with the Northern Manitoba Food, Culture, and Community Collaborative. We are a collaborative funding organization made up of community partners, Northern Advisors, staff, and collaborators. Our collective work takes place in Anishinabe, Anisinnew, Ininiwak, Nehethowuk, Denesuline, and Metis territories. Our Ways of Working focuses on shared learning, reciprocity, slowness, committments, collaboration, and relationships. These values have become important to me not just at work, but in my personal life as well.