Nenookaasiins (Little Hummingbird) - Housing Indigenous Youth
Winnipeg, MB
Year: 2022
Location: Winnipeg
Client: Shawenim Abinoojii Inc.
Budget: $3.5 million
Nenookaasiins, meaning “Little Hummingbird,” is a newly renovated four-storey building in Winnipeg’s North Point Douglas neighbourhood, offering transitional housing for Indigenous youth and young adults aging out of child and family services. Formerly known as Noble Court, the building was purchased and restored by Shawenim Abinoojii Inc., an Indigenous-led, not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting Indigenous families and communities.
Once a derelict structure impacted by arson, the building has been transformed into a safe, stable, and culturally supportive environment. It now includes 18 fully furnished apartments, designed to meet the needs of young people navigating the transition to independence. The upper three floors house residential units, while the ground level features a circular room for cultural gatherings and ceremonies, as well as a dedicated hub for life skills development and employment programming.
The renovation was guided by trauma-informed and culturally grounded design principles. The name “Little Hummingbird” was chosen to symbolize resilience, movement, and the quiet strength of young people finding their way forward.
A unique architectural detail includes window screens on the first floor featuring the image of a turtle. As morning sunlight filters through, the turtle’s shadow moves across the room, marking the passage of time and symbolizing the journey of transformation. The building also includes a rooftop space, offering residents an outdoor area overlooking the neighbourhood.
*Photos by CBC and Winnipeg Free Press
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)
Housing support building transforming lives of Indigenous youth - CHVN Radio (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)