Tara Christianson recently graduated from the Master of Social Work program and received a University of Manitoba Distinguished Master’s Thesis Prize for her thesis titled: The Impact of COVID-19 on Services for Indigenous People Who Use Substances and Are Living with HIV in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The prize is given out annually to recognize the achievements of Master’s graduates who submitted groundbreaking theses in the previous academic year. The Faculty of Social Work congratulates Tara and looks forward to learning more about her experience in the program, her current research interests and her plans for the future. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? My name is Tara Christianson; I was born and raised in Treaty 1 territory and have lived in Winnipeg for the past 18 years. I am Red River Métis, citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation and a member of the Bison Local. I also have Scottish, Irish, and English settler ancestry. I’m a mom, a partner, sister, daughter and auntie. I’m also a registered social worker that works in the mainstream health care system.
Faculty of Social Work, Faulty of Graduate Studies, Graduate, Research and International, social work research, Student
Sandy's commitment to community and politics was evident early on. In 1967, she was elected Lady Stick of Social Work, a leadership role that foreshadowed her later public service as a Winnipeg City Councillor from 1991 to 1995. During her time on council, she remained true to her social work roots, focusing on constituent needs and advocating for vulnerable populations. “I loved politics,” says Hyman, "a passion that has always been about making meaningful change.” Over the course of her nearly four-decade career in child welfare and education, Sandy encountered both the triumphs and the heartbreaks that come with serving on the front lines of human struggle. When asked why she has remained so passionate about her chosen profession, Sandy responded, “Sometimes I think it’s anti-social work. Often, a social worker is alone, uncertain what’s next or what to do; neither education, on-the-job training, nor life experience prepared me for the challenges I encountered.” One of Sandy’s most unforgettable experiences involved a teen who had been labeled extremely behaviorally disordered. He was housed alone in a group home with 24/7 supervision. “He so wanted to be with his mom,” Sandy recalls. “He was kept isolated in the group home because every system considered him a danger – to students, staff, and even himself.” Her voice trembles as she recounts writing the funding application for this youth’s education plan, an effort involving multiple systems and extraordinary financial resources to create a safe learning environment. “As I filled out his funding application, I shed tears. This boy’s story was almost unbelievable, so deeply painful,” Sandy explains. “Writing this application felt crucial… a final opportunity to offer this teen a thread of hope, a way to learn how to be with others, and with himself, safely.”
Alumni, Faculty of Social Work
Candace Neumann was awarded the New Investigator Award for best oral abstract presentation in Social Science at the Canadian Association for HIV Research (CAHR) Conference for her presentation title: Our Ancestors Live in our Blood: Understanding Kinship, Storytelling and Place in Supports for Pregnant Indigenous Women Living with HIV. She is a Red River Métis doula, artist, MSW-IK student, sundancer, cedar bath conductor, and community helper from Treaty 1 Territory, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her spirit name, Leads With Light, guides her in her community work, and is grounded in her relationships with her family and her community. She comes from a long line of fierce aunties and carries on the tradition with her 13 nephews and nieces, and 1 great niece. In this Q&A, Candace talks about her work as an experienced doula, and shares insight about the Master in Social Work based in Indigenous Knowledges program.
award, Faculty of Social Work, graduate students
