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  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • OUR TEAM
    • TESTIMONIALS
  • PORTFOLIO
    • ACCESSIBILITY
    • CIVIC / INSTITUTIONAL
    • COMMUNITY HEALTH & WELLNESS
    • EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
    • HERITAGE
    • HOUSING
    • INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY DESIGN
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NENOOKAASIINS [LITTLE HUMMINGBIRD] - HOUSING INDIGENOUS YOUTH
Winnipeg, MB

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Photo by Ruth Bonneville | Winnipeg Free Press
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Photos by Jessica Lee | Winnipeg Free Press
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Rendering by BridgmanCollaborative Architecture
Year: 2022
Location: Winnipeg

Client: Shawenim Abinoojii Inc.
Budget: $3.5 million


Nenookaasiins – "LIttle Hummingbird" – the newly renovated four-storey historic Noble Court building at 126 Alfred Avenue in North Point Douglas, purchased by Shawenim Abinoojii Inc., an Indigenous-led, not-for-profit service organization. It offers 18 apartments for Indigenous youth and young adults transitioning out of child and family services. The initiative addresses an urgent need for affordable housing in the city and support for Indigenous young people. The upper three floors feature residential units; and the lower level features a circular room for cultural activities, and a hub for life skills and employment programs. The window screens on the first floor feature the image of a turtle. In the morning sun, the shadow of the turtle marks the passage of time.
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Photo by Mikaela MacKenzie | Winnipeg Free Press
PRIOR TO RENOVATION: The 20,400 sq. ft. apartment building on Alfred Street, known as the Noble Court building, suffered serious fire damage in 2016 and was left derelict for several years.
Media coverage:
"The renovated building and the vision of Shawenim Abinoojii is a win for the adaptive reuse of an abandoned heritage building, a win for the North Point Douglas neighbourhood, a win for the economics and political design of the Rapid Housing Initiative and, most importantly, a win for the Indigenous youth and staff who will live and work on this property," [said Wins Bridgman]. "Many of us felt that our work on this project and similar projects are acts of shared reconciliation . . . . I, for one, feel very grateful to be part of this project." [Excerpt, Building a sense of belonging by Ben Waldman - Winnipeg Free Press]

"The project appears to be a smashing success in its early goings and, according to Brandy Kowal [director of youth transition services for Shawenim Abinoojii], has paid dividends for the young residents, as a large, supportive community has formed among the tenants. "Just thinking about it makes me a little teary ... I distinctly remember walking into this building when it was a hole in the ground, and it looked like a cave," Kowal said. "And now, seeing youth set up their apartments and bringing in their furniture -- and some of them have their babies here, so seeing young families being supported -- it's extremely emotional. It's very humbling because so many people worked together to make this space what it is, and now we get to walk alongside the youth while they're making their transitions into adulthood." [Excerpt, From Ashes to Affordable Housing by Joshua Frey-Sam, Winnipeg  Free Press]
  • From ashes to affordable housing - Winnipeg Free Press (November 2022)  (pdf)
  • Formerly abandoned building becomes affordable housing space for Indigenous youth - CTV News (May 2022)
  • Housing support building transforming lives of Indigenous youth - CHVN Radio (May 2022)
  • 'Little hummingbird': derelict building becomes housing for Indigenous Youth - Winnipeg Sun (May 2022)
  • Burned-out Winnipeg apartment block transformed into housing for Indigenous youth - CBC News (May 2022)
  • Building a sense of belonging: renovation of North Point Douglas apartments will accommodate Indigenous people transitioning from CFS care - Winnipeg Free Press (April 2022)  (pdf)
  • Rising from the ruins: North Point Douglas block finds new life as affordable housing for young people - Winnipeg Free Press (April 2021  (pdf)