MAKING
THINGS BETTER FOR CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES
IN POINT DOUGLAS

The Winnipeg Boldness Project is using social innovation tools to research and develop ideas, in order to improve outcomes for young children in the Point Douglas community area in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

A COMMUNITY WITH HEART

Point Douglas is a vibrant and diverse community with many strengths and challenges. As of the 2016/2017 school year, 56% of children in Point Douglas are reaching kindergarten ready to learn. Our goal is to increase that number, so that every child has an opportunity for success.

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CREATING SOLUTIONS FOR CHANGE THROUGH COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE

We know that the best solutions are developed through local input, so we’re bringing together community knowledge and early childhood development research and science to develop innovative ideas with the potential to create large-scale change in Point Douglas.

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THE STORY

STAY CONNECTED

We want to hear from you!
Get in touch with The Winnipeg Boldness Project team by filling out the contact form with your name, email address, and a brief message. You can also contact us by phone or visit us at:

204-790-BOLD (2653)

Unit 5 – 585 Jarvis Ave
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada R2W 3B2

Land Acknowledgement

The Winnipeg Boldness Project resides in and works on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg (Ojibwe), Anishinabewaki (Oji-Cree), Dené, Michif Piyii (Métis), Nêhiyawak (Cree), and Očhéthi Sakowin (Dakota). We recognize that we have benefited from and continue to benefit from colonization on the Treaty 1, Treaty 3, and Treaty 5 Territories.

It is important to also acknowledge how we benefit in this territory at the cost to Indigenous Peoples. Winnipeg has been drinking clean water for over a century via an aqueduct from Shoal Lake. In 1917, 3000 acres of Treaty 3 was declared property of the city of Winnipeg to build the aqueduct. This aqueduct was built over ancestral burial ground, to build these structures, the ancestors were disinterred and reburied. Construction of the aqueduct changed the waters significantly, causing the peninsula to become a man-made island. This now isolated Nation faced many challenges as a direct result from this aqueduct; Necessities like water, groceries, schools, and mail were only accessible via the dangerous trek to the mainland. Lives of adults and children were lost crossing to and from the mainland. Freedom Road, an all-weather road access finally opened summer 2019, over a century after displacement. This road, a testament to the success of Indigenous-led solutions, helps bring materials to build schools and a water treatment plant.

“I always think of it, even when I turn on the tap I’m like this comes from our community and this water probably contains our ancestors and the spirits of our ancestor. I think about the hardships of the people from Shoal Lake 40 who have gone through so many things for the benefit of Winnipeg’s drinking water,” says Angelina McLeod.¹

Another benefit we reap in Winnipeg at a cost to Indigenous Peoples and land is the Hydro Electricity Development in Treaty 5. To optimize water movement for greatest power production the Province of Manitoba increased waterflow by creating the Churchill River Diversion in 1976. The modification of the waterflow caused flooding, shoreline erosion, and changes to water quality. This destruction of habitat has caused disruption to waterway travel, fishing, and hunting.

https://www.aptnnews.ca/facetoface/spirits-of-our-ancestor-shoal-lake-40-is-rectifying-a-century-of-hardships/