Rachelle Lemieux and Nicole Luke

RACHELLE LEMIEUX AND NICOLE LUKE MICHIF MANOR

Winnipeg, MA TEXT Omeasoo Wahpasiw

Launched in 2019, the Government of Canada’s Indigenous Homes Innovation Initiative aimed to support Indigenous-led housing ideas. One of the 24 projects selected for support was Michif Manor, a place for Métis families from outside of Winnipeg to stay while they or a family member seeks medical treatment in the city.

The design for Michif Manor is being led by Métis architect Rachelle Lemieux and Inuk designer Nicole Luke, who work with Verne Reimer Architecture. For both, intergenerational ideas of community caring and sharing were key to the design. A central atrium creates a visual connection to the sky and natural elements outside, welcoming sunlight during Winnipeg’s long winter and forming the warm heart of the building. “We try to think of what a grandmother’s house feels like, because this is a home away from home,” says Lemieux.

Lemieux’s family has an intergenerational history in the building arts. “When I was growing up, I would walk by this preserved house in St. Norbert (McDougall House, 3514 Pembina Highway), and I didn’t know it, but my grandmother told me later, ‘your Great Great Grandfather built that house’,” says Lemieux. For her part, Luke says that she has always been passionate about culture and design. “I grew up realizing there is limited representation of Indigenous people in professional fields, and this was reflected on the architecture.” She aims to “learn culturally appropriate ways of designing, to be the best learner possible, and to apply [the appropriate cultural nuances] to each project.”

Ensuring both individual and group interaction, the Manor includes a communal kitchen, lounge, games area, and quiet space. Ten double-occupancy rooms accommodate one to four people, while two family rooms sleep up to six. The variety of spaces ensure that guests will both have privacy, and be able to heal alongside others in community. Beyond addressing the physical needs of guests, the building aims to provide emotional, mental, and spiritual comfort. “The building itself will be one of love, safety, and warmth, where individuals may be proud of their heritage, and share with others that are going through the same experience,” says Lemieux.

Outreach and continued engagement are fundamental to Lemieux and Luke’s design process, and during the pandemic they have continued to consult broadly using social media, Teams, Zoom, and surveys. They hope this will create a solid foundation for their work, and ensure it remains a positive asset to Manitoba’s Métis Nation. Says Lemieux, “I would like for future generations—my nieces and nephews and Indigenous youth—to feel proud of their heritage and see themselves reflected in the cities and buildings where they live, work and play.”

RIGHT The design for Michif Manor envisages a welcoming, culturally appropriate place for Métis families from outside Winnipeg to stay while they or a family member seek medical treatment in the city.