Edmonton, Alberta • 10700 - 104 Ave 1-780-497 - Dreamcatcher

Grant MacEwan College Proudly Presents:
Dreamcatcher 2009 –
Making Your Own Footprint
“I am prepared to stand before my Maker, the Ruler of the entire Universe, with no other plea than that I have tried to leave
things in His Vineyard better than I found them.”
- Dr. J.W. Grant MacEwan, 1969
Dr. MacEwan lived his life with the belief that each one of us has a responsibility toward the care and keeping of “the
Treasures in Nature’s Storehouse.” The footprint we leave behind will have an effect on the generations that come behind us.
With the theme “Making Your Own Footprint,” Dreamcatcher 2009 honours the Spirits and Ancestors of the North. For our
Elders, it is a time to reflect on their experiences and accomplishments and to share the knowledge and wisdom they have
gained throughout their lives.
The goal of this year’s Dreamcatcher Aboriginal Youth Conference is to draw upon the knowledge and wisdom of the Elders to
stimulate discussion on the impact we have on future generations. When your journey reaches the northern point of your life,
what footprint will you be leaving behind?
DREAMCATChER ORGANIzING COMMITTEE
Jane Arychuk • Sharon Borque • Doreen Cardinal • Marieka Cardinal • Kathy Davis • Sharon Hobden • Carolynn Kane
Ivy Lalonde • Donald Langford • Michelle Mole • Karen Pritchard • Len Untereiner • Jerry Wood
A MESSAGE FROM MACEWAN’S DEAN OF
FACUlTY OF hEAlTh AND COMMUNITY STUDIES
It is my pleasure to welcome you to Dreamcatcher 2009! Dreamcatcher has provided a
path for many Aboriginal youth from across Canada over the past 17 years, generating the
means to explore career opportunities, to network, to discover new ideas, and to celebrate
our cultures together.
The Dreamcatcher theme this year, “Making Your Own Footprint,” asks you to reflect on
the footprint you produce and the impact you have on the environment. The founder of
our college, Dr J.W. Grant MacEwan, was a humanitarian, a caretaker of the treasures
of nature, an educator, and a conservationist—this legacy is the footprint he laid out for
our college and community. he expressed his commitment in the MacEwan creed: “I
believe I am an integral part of the environment and, as a good subject, I must establish
an enduring relationship with my surroundings. My dependence upon the land is
fundamental.”
I encourage you to recognize the impact each of you makes on your community, your culture,
and your environment, and to recognize the wisdom of your elders.
And — as importantly — I encourage you to recognize your ability to make a difference in your individual life and the greater
community through education. We at MacEwan can help you fulfill your potential; whether you dream of becoming a nurse, a police
officer, a therapist assistant, or a child and youth care worker, our degree, diploma, and certificate programs can assist you in your
journey.
have a wonderful conference!
Sharon Bookhalter,
Dean, Faculty of Health and Community Studies