Celebrating the Life of Clarence Nepinak

Posted date: June 17, 2024

At our recent Diabetes Action Canada Workshop, Dr. Jon McGavock introduced a video honouring the life of Patient Partner Clarence Nepinak, who passed away on November 2, 2022.

Nepinak was a respected Indigenous elder and community leader from the Pine Creek First Nation (Minegoziibe Anishinabe) in Manitoba. He was deeply committed to his community, and to improving health outcomes for all Indigenous Peoples. He and his wife, Barbara, helped found the Diabetes Action Canada Indigenous Peoples Circle and were tireless advocates for those living with diabetes.

He served on several advisory councils and boards, including the Indigenous Advisory Council at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Elders Advisory Council at the University of Winnipeg, and the Indigenous Peoples’ Education Circle at Brandon University. He also worked with organizations such as the Healthy Aboriginal Network and participated in cultural events like the Winnipeg Folk Festival and the Festival du Voyageur.

Nepinak’s contributions to his community and beyond were widely recognized. He received multiple honors, including the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2019, both Clarence and his wife Barbara were inducted into the Order of Manitoba for their dedication to advancing Indigenous culture (Home) (Manitoba Lieutenant Governor).

Read the CBC story about Clarence Nepinak’s life and legacy.

Featured in Article

Barbara and Clarence Nepinak

View Profile

Related Webinars

The Unique Experience and Challenges of Indigenous Peoples Living with Diabetes

The Diabetes Action Canada Indigenous Patient Circle is working to establish research priorities in Indigenous health. Members will share their personal stories of living or supporting loved ones with diabetes and how they are partnering with, and in some cases leading, diabetes research teams.

Indigenous Peoples Health

Building programs and capacity in the respectful engagement of Indigenous people in patient-oriented research.

Respectful engagement of Indigenous Peoples in patient-oriented research

Celebrating the Contributions of Alex McComber

By Krista Lamb As Diabetes Action Canada completes its first six years of funding, our Network membership is also shifting. One major change is that Dr. Alex McComber, who has expertly led our Indigenous Patient Circle and co-led our program on Indigenous Peoples’ Health since 2016, will be stepping down from this role. McComber, a […]

Tamara Beardy Completes 900K Run for Diabetes Awareness

Tamara, who is a member of the northeastern Manitoba First Nation, also works as a Research Coordinator with the DREAM Diabetes group in Manitoba. Her daughter, Kenya, lives with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Action Canada is thrilled to congratulate Patient Partner, Tamara Beardy, on her recent 900K walk to raise awareness about diabetes. The run, […]

Patient Partner Profile – Mike Alexander

For Kamloops native Mike Alexander, a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was a much-needed wake-up call. Alexander, an Indigenous artist and writer, had been struggling with addiction and an unhealthy lifestyle for many years when he got the news. The diagnosis started Alexander on a journey to learn more about healthy living, changing his diet […]