Every Friday, Ryan Gorrie [BFA(Hons)/04, MArch/09], an Indigenous Practitioner-in-Residence this past year in the Faculty of Architecture | University of Manitoba, brings together architecture students around a fire, creating art with smoke, cedar, feathers and storytelling. A member of the Anishinaabe Sand Point First Nation and an architect with BrookMcIlroy, Gorrie began exploring smoke-based art during his master’s thesis in 2009. Now, he shares this practice to inspire, connect and guide the next generation of designers. “Smoke has a long-standing relationship with humankind, particularly in Indigenous communities. It was used to preserve food, clothing, and now, in our case, it helps create imagery.” Watch how this powerful, land-based art form is transforming design education at UM: https://brnw.ch/21wSPfw #UManitoba #UManAlumni (fb)

When global trade disruptions threaten food supply, communities in Northern Manitoba are turning to local solutions. UM researchers are working with Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) to address health challenges and support local food sovereignty. Together, they identified a local solution: Smart Vertical Farming (SMART-VF) - a space-efficient, computer-controlled system that grows fresh vegetables and herbs year-round. By producing food directly in the community, SMART-VF reduces reliance on costly imports, increases access to nutritious food, and creates tech-driven employment opportunities. “The ability to grow food locally — regardless of what’s happening south of the border — offers communities a measure of sovereignty and stability,” says Dr. Miyoung Suh, professor in UM’s Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences. Learn more about how UM research is delivering real-world solutions: https://brnw.ch/21wSNel #UManitoba #UMResearch (fb)