New Capital Project: Sweatlodge Site

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DECEMBER 15, 2025 – As Ka Ni Kanichihk completes one capital project – the expansion of our existing building at 455 McDermot, we have started another capital project: the building of an all season sweat lodge.  Located on the northeast side of our existing building at 90 Gertie Street, the actual willow-framed sweat lodge will be enclosed in a building equipped with a washroom, two change rooms and a kitchen area, allowing cultural ceremonies to take place year-round. The external grounds will have a tool shed, boxes to keep the grandfather rocks, a fire pit  and a seating area complete with grass and trees. Pictured above, we anticipate completion of the project in the summer of 2026.

We are excited to bring this vision to life as this urban sweat lodge will allow Ka Ni Kanichihk to provide sweat lodge ceremonies to programming participants in the heart of Winnipeg, a longtime dream of the organization. The youth programs are delivered out of the expanded building next door which makes this site the perfect location for the all season sweat lodge. Our gender-based violence programming is located at 395 Notre Dame Ave. which is a hop skip and a jump away from the sweat lodge location so they will also be able to easily access and host sweat lodge ceremonies.

Many Indigenous families in Winnipeg continue to navigate the intergenerational effects of residential schools, racism, and systemic exclusion. For youth, this can manifest as disconnection from self and community. Indigenous strength is the power of culture, language, tradition, ceremony and knowledge. Bringing cultural ceremony to community members helps restore self that many of us have lost through colonial practices. Having a community sweat lodge contributes to rediscovering pride in who we are. Participants experience belonging not only within their families but within the circle of community and Nationhood.