When Dr. Edwina Wetzel first stepped into a classroom in her home community of Conne River in the early 1970s, she undertook a bold mission to reshape what education can mean for Mi’kmaw children and families in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Over more than four decades, Dr. Wetzel’s leadership transformed the educational landscape in her community, weaving together academic achievement, cultural pride and community empowerment in ways that earned her national recognition and lasting respect.

Born in Conne River, she began her educational journey at Memorial University, where she studied in the elementary education program, and then continued her training at the University of Alberta and the University of Oklahoma.

In 1971, she returned to Conne River with a vision to teach and advocate for an education system that served children through both academics and cultural affirmation.

At a time when educational systems across the province ignored Indigenous languages and traditions, she pushed in the opposite direction.

When a new high school was built in Conne River in 1976, she was appointed principal. Under her leadership, the school saw higher completion rates, and more students began moving on to study at post-secondary institutions.

But perhaps her most crucial contribution was her work to integrate Mi’kmaw culture into the curriculum to ensure that her students could see themselves reflected in what and how they learned.

 

Dr. Edwina Wetzel addresses convocation in May 1993. Photo from Memorial University Archives.

 

In 1986, she was appointed director of education for what is now known as Miawpukek First Nation. In this role, Dr. Wetzel coordinated adult education, developed library and cultural resources, managed post-secondary student aid and organized counselling services that supported learners of all ages.

Her involvement with various committees and advisory councils also brought Indigenous perspectives into broader discussions. And she consistently worked to blend individual aspirations with cultural continuity.

In 1993, she returned to her alma mater when Memorial University awarded her an honorary degree, recognizing her work in education and the development of the Mi’kmaw all-grade school system in Conne River.

In 2010, she was named a Member of the Order of Canada.

Today, the success of the Miawpukek First Nation’s school system stands as a testament to her life’s work.  It’s a place where children learn more than reading, writing and arithmetic. It’s a place where education is anchored in identity, community and cultural knowledge.

Hundreds of students have benefitted from the systems and supports she helped build, carrying their cultural confidence forward into post-secondary study, careers and leadership roles of their own.

Dr. Wetzel’s legacy is one of cultural reclamation and community affirmation. She asks us to see beyond ourselves, to respect and learn from other ways of knowing. In doing so, she has helped redefine public education in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Her work reminds us that education is not just about what is taught, but also about whose voices are heard, whose knowledge is valued and whose future is imagined.