Four Indigenous Winnipeggers share their stories on the Humans, On Rights podcast — art, trails, healthcare, and water rights. Listen for National Indigenous History Month.

When governments can override the Charter before a court even looks at it, who's left to protect the people who can't protect themselves at the ballot box? Winnipeg labour and human rights lawyer Dayna Steinfeld joins Stuart to break down one of the most consequential constitutional debates in Canada right now: the expanding use of the notwithstanding clause, and what Manitoba's Bill 4 is trying to do about it. Provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan are invoking Section 33 t

As we move into Pride month, Ralph Bryant returns to Humans, On Rights. This time, the Rainbow Resource Center's Manager of Stewardship sits down with Stuart to dig into The State of 2SLGBTQ+ Communities in Manitoba 2026 — the first report of its kind in Manitoba. This report surveyed 623 queer Manitobans alongside 1,000 members of the general public. It provides, for the first time, a true snapshot of the experiences, needs and priorities of queer Manitobans, as well as the

Following Red Dress Day earlier this month, Stuart sits down with KC Adams, a Cree and Anishinaabe relational maker, curator, writer and educator based in Winnipeg, whose work uses photography, installation and public art to explore identity, cultural reclamation and the ongoing impacts of colonialism. KC brings both lived experience and creative practice to a rich conversation about Red Dress Day, the evolution of Jamie Black's iconic installation at the Canadian Museum for

Adrian Alfonso has been building trails in Winnipeg since he was a kid ripping around on a BMX bike in South Osborne. Today, he's a cyclist, trail builder, Indigenous advocate, and founder of Clear Paths, a program that uses cycling routes and green spaces as a framework for Truth and Reconciliation education. Stuart sits down with Adrian to talk about what trails can teach us, what it means to be a contemporary First Nations person in Winnipeg, and why the land beneath our w

Stuart Murray sits down with Winnipeg writer, filmmaker, and environmental advocate Erna Buffie. After more than two decades producing science documentaries for CBC's The Nature of Things, Erna has turned her attention closer to home — documenting why Winnipeg's urban forest is in crisis, and what it will take to save it. Her book Out on a Limb makes the case that trees aren't a civic amenity. They're essential infrastructure. We're talking: Why Winnipeg — despite its iconic

On this episode of Humans, On Rights, we sit down with Suzanne Winterflood, Program Manager of WISE Kid-Netic Energy — Manitoba's largest STEM outreach program. What started over 35 years ago as a small group of professors working to bring more girls into science and engineering has grown into a province-wide initiative reaching over 43,000 young people a year. And yet, Suzanne is the first to admit: the needle hasn't moved nearly as far as it should have. This conversation

On this episode of Humans, On Rights, we sit down with Bruno de Oliveira Jayme, a Brazilian-born artist, educator, and community arts practitioner who has spent 25 years making Canada his home. Now a full professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba, Bruno brings together curriculum theory, arts-based research, and a deep commitment to social justice. His work explores what happens when art stops being decoration and starts becoming dissent. Bruno intro

At 21 years old, Divya Sharma has already led a $16 million student organization, represented Manitoba at the United Nations in both New York and Geneva, and is writing her honours thesis on the human rights implications of artificial intelligence. Her story is a reminder that age isn't a barrier to meaningful change — and that the most powerful advocacy often starts right in your own community. We're talking: Her COVID-19 project that started with a few micro-grants and grew

Ask five Black Winnipeggers what their experience of this city looks like, and you'll get five different answers. Preserving 45 years of community history. Posting handwritten love notes around the city. Nearly dying because of medical racism. Transforming how the whole province handles its garbage. These are just a few of the Black Winnipeggers we spoke to over the last year, and their stories paint a varied picture of what it means to be Black in Winnipeg today...and what w

For our second Black History Month episode, we're going beyond celebration and into accountability. Stuart Murray sits down with Janet James, Edmonton entrepreneur and leadership strategist, whose journey from growing up as one of the only Black families in Lancashire, England to becoming a corporate executive and business owner is both a personal story of resilience and a lens on who gets access to power, capital, and opportunity. Janet is the founder of Janet James Growth L

Black History Month isn't just 28 days in February—it's a year-round commitment to education, connection, and celebration. We sit down with Nadia Thompson, chair of Black History Manitoba, to discuss the 2026 theme "Rooted in Legacy: Honouring a Century of Black History" and the organization's 45th anniversary milestone. Nadia shares the evolution from the Black History Month Celebration Committee to Black History Manitoba, a shift that signals their year-round presence in th

When we picture zero waste, we often think of recycling bins or reusable coffee cups. But Helga Jakobson sees something bigger: behind every piece of waste is a human story — someone who made it, someone who handles it, and communities who live with its impact. As Sustainability Coordinator at The Forks, Helga is turning one of Winnipeg's most beloved gathering places into a living example of how community spaces can practice real sustainability. From her background as a tran

If your goals for 2026 include actually moving the needle on reconciliation, lawyer Bruce McIvor has news: you need to get uncomfortable. The Manitoba-born author of Indigenous Rights in One Minute joins us to cut through the performative gestures and explain what reconciliation actually demands. Bruce breaks down centuries of Indigenous law and constitutional rights in plain language—then challenges us to move beyond land acknowledgements to action that matters. We're talkin

We sit down with Patty Weins—author of That'll Never Work Here, host of the That's Her Problem podcast, and Bicycle Mayor of Winnipeg. Patty's journey from winter cycling newcomer to city-wide advocate reveals how transportation choices connect to mental health, physical wellbeing, climate justice, and the fundamental right to move safely through our cities. We're talking: Why 30% of the population can't drive—and what that means for designing equitable cities How winter cycl

December 3rd was International Day of Persons with Disabilities—a day meant to recognize the contributions and rights of people with disabilities worldwide. Today, we're sitting down with someone who's spent 40 years making sure that recognition turns into actual change. Max Brault—national leader in accessibility, author, and someone who lives with spinal muscular atrophy—doesn't just talk about accessibility. He's helped build the Accessible Canada Act, transformed hiring p

We sit down with Shohan Illsley, Executive Director of the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network, to explore how harm reduction is saving lives and restoring dignity to people who use substances across Manitoba. Shohan brings powerful insights into why compassion-based approaches are essential to addressing substance use in our communities. The Manitoba Harm Reduction Network operates 11 sites across the province, connecting people who use substances with the support they need to s

A recent Winnipeg Free Press article revealed an uncomfortable truth: Indigenous and Black patients in Manitoba wait longer in emergency rooms and are more likely to leave without receiving care. For Dr. Marcia Anderson, these aren't just statistics – they're a reality she's witnessed firsthand, both as a physician and through her father's near-fatal experience with racist healthcare. As a Cree Anishinaabe physician from Peguis First Nation and Norway House Cree Nation, Dr.

We sit down with Andréanne Mulaire, co-founder of Anne Mulaire, a Winnipeg-based fashion company that has spent 20 years proving that ethical production, cultural heritage, and sustainability aren't just buzzwords – they're the foundation of a thriving business. Andréanne shares how she built a fashion brand that refuses to compromise, maintaining local production in Winnipeg, creating zero-waste collections, and offering sizes from double extra small to 6X – because sustaina

We sit down with Dan Lussier, CEO of Réseau Compassion Network, and Jennifer Rodrigue from CoHabit to discuss their groundbreaking partnership creating accessible, affordable housing that centres dignity and community. We're talking: Why Manitoba's housing crisis demands innovative solutions that go beyond just "affordable units" How CoHabit is reimagining supportive housing for people with profound physical disabilities who currently have limited options beyond personal care