The Blog

Follow along as we work towards systems change and help create better outcomes for kids in our community.

Our New Animated Video!

June 25, 2015

After much anticipation, we are very, very, VERY excited to officially release our new animated video today! *fireworks, fanfare, confetti*

Given the complex nature of the project, we often find that we have some difficulty explaining what we do and how we’re doing it in a very short and concise way, so we decided to create an informational video that could do the explaining for us.

The video was created in partnership with On The Chase! Motion Graphics Design Studio, who did all the animating and production of the video. We were also lucky enough to have studio time donated by CBC Manitoba, and Winnipeg’s favourite DJ, Ace Burpee, donated his time to do the voiceover work. He was a lot of fun to work with and had us all cracking up while we were in the studio with him.

We had our very first viewing of the video this morning at our open house and it was just fantastic. We were so happy to share the video with everyone who attended and now we want to share it with everyone else!

Please watch the video and share it with your friends and family! Enjoy!

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.


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