<p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12px">From left:&nbsp; Leah McDonnel, Gill Potaka-Osborne, Vanessa Tait, Stacey Ranginui, Mel Potaka-Osborne, Dr Amohia Boulton</span></p>

<p style="text-align:justify">Whakauae were fortunate to host two visiting Manitoban students, Vanessa Tait also known as Stands with the Wolf Woman who is from O-pipon-na-piwin Cree Nation and Leah McDonnell who is from Toronto.&nbsp; Both are studying their Masters in Development Practice in Indigenous Development at the University of Winnipeg.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify">Vanessa and Leah spent two days in Whanganui hosted by Whakauae where they were introduced to the team with a mihi whakatau followed by the team&#39;s normal weekly waiata practise. The visit provided an opportunity to share research interests and two of our team presented the findings from one of our community evaluation initiatives with Raetihi Pah; &lsquo;Feeding the Fires of Occupation Using Evaluation &ndash; to build capacity in marae space&rsquo;.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify">The visit was nicely rounded off with a paddle on our awa and a h&#257;ngi.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify"><em>&ldquo;I would like to say </em><em>K&iacute;n&aacute;n&aacute;skomitin&aacute;waw K&aacute;pakitin&iacute;k T&aacute;pitot&iacute;yan Kit&aacute;sk&iacute; (I thank you for letting me come to your territory).&nbsp; </em><em>It was an amazing time and your kindness and embracing spirits are truly a gift for everyone.&rdquo;</em></p>

<p style="text-align:right"><em>Vanessa Tait</em></p>
