Calvin Pompana
- Spirit name is Wakin ya Hosksidawhich means Thunder Boy
- From Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, Griswold Manitoba
- Residential School Survivor
- Fluent in 50 sacred traditional Dakota songs and ceremonies according to the White Buffalo Spiritual Prophecy
- Consultant in Holistic Indigenous Spirituality
- Advocate for cross-cultural awareness and bridge building between multi-cultural communities.
Work Highlights
- Peace-Time Veteran of the Royal Canadian Navy
- Indigenous Elder and advisor for inmates in the Manitoba Justice System (9 years)
- Coordinator of Annual Indigenous Tribal Village (2003 to present) -The Winnipeg Forks.
- Sun Dance Chief of annual Sun Dances held in Manitoba & in the U.S since 2011.
- Designed and delivered Cultural Awareness Workshop for 50 schools across Manitoba.
- Designed and delivered Cross-Cultural Awareness Workshops for businesses in Wpg.
- Campaigned as a Progressive Conservative in the 1990 Manitoba Provincial election in Point Douglas Winnipeg, Manitoba. Finished third with 575 votes.
- Conducted International Presentations: Geneva Hall of Nations: Taking the USA/Canada Outstanding International Treaty Issues/Inherent Right to Self Determination and Land/Natural Resources (1987 Aug 4th to 8th), and Occupy Wall Street, New York City, and registered the White Buffalo Prophecy to the United Nations (2011 June 8th to 11th).
- Coordinator of the annual International Indigenous Powwow for All Nations, held at the Winnipeg Forks 2016 & 2017. This powwow encourages the multi-cultural community to attend and participate by sharing their dance and song during the powwow.
- Coordinator of the Indigenous Pow Wow and Multicultural Gathering, held June 27th, 2018. This event was a cultural exchange of song and dance between the Indigenous and multicultural community of Manitoba.
Past Work Experience
| 1962-1973 | Peace-Time Veteran – Royal Canadian Navy. Retired as a Corporal; Served as a Captains Scribe; Qualified as a Ship Diver and Physical Training Instructor. |
| 1973-1974 | Student – University of Brandon. Received 31 Credits. |
| 1973-1974 | Elder – Brandon University Native Studies & Brandon School Division K-12 |
| 1974-1976 | Assistant to the Superintendent of Adult Education – Canadian Federal Government Department of Indian Affairs. Worked on economic development for 18 reservations in South West Manitoba. |
| 1976-1976 | Program Coordinator – Air Force Base in River MB -Indian Employment Centre |
| 1976-1977 | Councilor and Foreman – West Brandon Work Activity Project for Assiniboine River Development, and River Restoration |
| 1978-1982 | Executive Director – Portage Friendship Centre |
| 1980-1982 | President – Urban Indian Association of Winnipeg |
| 1982-1983 | Member of Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs – Housing and Economic Development |
| 1984-1987 | Assistant to Chief – Dakota Tipi. Drugs and Alcohol Program |
| 1988-1989 | President – Urban Indian Association |
| 1989-1990 | Male Family Violence Worker – Mamawi Child and Family Services |
| 1991-1994 | Executive Director – Brandon Family Friendship Centre. Programs to help adjust to urban life, develop life skills, and experience ceremonies. |
| 1993-1994 | Elder – Red Road Program in partnership with the University of Winnipeg, Children of the Earth High School, Stony Mountain Penitentiary, and Indian & Métis Friendship Centre. |
| 1994-1996 | Catalog Designer – Mystic Lake Casino, Shakopee Bay |
| 1994-1996 | Speaker Residential School Experience – 25 church congregations in Minnesota. |
| 1996-1998 | Elder/Advisor/Teacher Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council, Brandon University, Assiniboine Community College, and the Brandon School Division > Provided cultural guidance and support to students, teachers, and counselors in Brandon’s main educational institutions. > Worked with Native Students’ Association and administrative groups, providing guidance on cultural issues. > Conduct ceremonies, Powwows, sharing circles, and provide counseling. > Deliver cultural presentations to classes of all ages (Kindergarten to University level) on traditional teachings, and current Indigenous issues. > Assist in curriculum development by providing Indigenous traditional perspectives. > Offer gang awareness workshops to prevent youth from getting involved. |
| 1996-2005 | Elder/Advisor/Teacher-Province of Manitoba, Headingly Correctional Institute > Provided specialized programs and counseling for inmates. > Developed and delivered traditional teachings of Indigenous values and culture, as well as sweat lodges and sacred circles to inmates. > Consulted staff of HCI Department of Justice Management. > Provided cultural workshops to all levels of staff. > Maintained relations with other agencies, and First Nations reservations. |
| 1998-2008 | Coordinator of Economic Development – Urban Indian Association of Winnipeg |
Current Work Experience
2015 – 2023 Indigenous Mental Health Helper – Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
2017 – 2023 Indigenous Teacher – University of Winnipeg, World Religion and Health
1996 – 2023 Traditional Storyteller/Dancer/Speaker
- School Presentations: Programs supported by the Manitoba Arts Council offered in schools across Manitoba, including remote areas (J.B. Mitchel, George V, Elmwood High School, Aboriginal Headstart, Manitoba Youth Centre, Kirkaldy Heights, Children of the Earth, Lac Brochet, Cranberry Portage, Ilford Elementary School, LaVerendyre, and Wellington)
- Interviews: Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) (2000), CBC Radio (March & April 2000), Native Communications Inc. (NCI) (March 2000)
- Community presentations: Museum of Man and Nature: Opening of Hudson Bay Archives (May 2000), Freeze Frame Film Festival: Youth Discussion and Film Viewing (May 2000), Museum of Man and Nature: Sundog Storytelling Festival (January 2000), Thunderbird Lodge Life Skills/Employment Readiness (June 2000), Birds Hill Park: Buffalo Days Celebration (July 2000)
Workshops Conducted
- Cultural Teachings for Inmates, Federal and Provincial Correctional facilities & PapiiwakGang Initiative. Workshops include sweat lodges, pipe ceremonies, vision quests, naming ceremonies, receiving color and clans, traditional anger management & assistance in leaving gangs in a traditional way.
- Business Cross Cultural Teachings, and Sweat Lodges for CONVERGYS and CUETS (2002-2003) Royal Bank of Canada (1999), Revenue Canada, Winnipeg (1997-1999).
- Community Cultural Workshops and Sweat Lodges for Community Connections (2003), Aboriginal Men’s Healing Conference (2003), Agassiz Youth Centre (1997-2000), Prince Charles Resource Centre: Traditional Music Workshop (1999), and the Manitoba Aboriginal Youth Career Awareness Committee (MAYCAC) (1997-2003).
- University Workshops for the University of Winnipeg. Term position as Elder/Adivsor (1999-2000). Individual counseling,presentations on Indigenous health and healing issues, traditional music, religion, and economic development. Also taught at the University of Manitoba -School of Music (1999) and Religious Studies (2000-2005).
- Conference Workshops for Ron Phillips, Inc. “Bringing Traditions into the Classroom” Conference for Teachers (1997-2005), and the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation Conference (1999).
Sweat Lodge Ceremonies (1994-2023)
Offering Sweat Lodges has been oneof the primary ways Calvin has worked with inmates at the Headingly Correctional Institute. Since September 1994, Calvin has conducted over 1600 Sweat Lodges for Indigenous and non-Indigenous inmates, many exclusively for gang members. It has been Calvin’s experience that the Sweat Lodge provides a direct way for these young men to become aware of their own feelings, to begin to accept responsibility for their action and to learn how to stand on their own without gangs.
Traditional Dancing (1980-2023)
Although Calvin had been to a Powwow for years, it wasn’t until 1980 that he began to dance as a traditional dancer. Since then he has danced all over North America in both competition and traditional Powwows. Calvin utilizes dancing as part of his storytelling and cultural awareness workshops which he conducts at many schools, community groups, and festivals. He has been master of ceremonies and coordinated many Powwows for schools and organizations, and has found this to be a great way to promote a better understanding between cultures.
Pipe Ceremonies (1980-2023)
In 1980, Calvin received his personal pipe and began participating in pipe ceremonies for personal healing, strength and direction. Since 1987, he has conducted numerous pipe ceremonies for individuals and families. The pipe plays an important role in many ceremonies such as: Name Giving, Introduction of a Young Girl to Womanhood, and the Wiping Away of the Tears.
