Mrs. Universe urging Indigenous students to vote

WINNIPEG — Mrs. Universe is in Winnipeg urging Indigenous students to vote in the upcoming federal election.

On Friday afternoon Ashley Callingbull-Burnham spoke at the University of Manitoba’s Indigenous Student Centre  about the importance of understanding how political issues impact Indigenous people and casting their ballot, “I just want to encourage all the First Nation youth to vote because it’s something that we really need to do. It’s a crucial time with the election coming up.”

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Originally from Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta, Callingbull-Burnham is the first Indigenous woman and Canadian to win Mrs. Universe.

Just days after being crowned in late August she began to speak out about her political affiliations and committed to furthering the issue of missing and murdered Inndigenous women, “It’s so dangerous to be a First Nations woman and I think we should feel safe and we should have the right to be heard and we should have that right to be found because we are human beings.”

Students from schools around Winnipeg said they found her message inspiring. “It is hard to speak out and I think it’s very strong of her to continue to stand her ground,” said University of Manitoba student Amanda Gauthier.

Callingbull-Burnham was joined by other Indigenous leaders including Grand Chief Derek Nepinak with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and student leaders from the university.