Gikino’ Amaagedaa Knowledge Centre - Pinaymootang First Nation
Location: Fairford, MB, Teaty #2 Territory
Duration: 15 days (workshop) + Multiple events
Completion: Phase 1 Ongoing - March 2025
Participants: 118+
Age Range: 16-60+
Outcomes: Exposure to Design+Build process, and contributing to developing the Gikino' Amaagedaa Knowledge Center.
The Gikino’ Amaagedaa Knowledge Centre, a partnership between Pinaymootang First Nation and Grey & Ivy, is more than a building—it is a transformative investment in community empowerment, education, and cultural revitalization. Rooted in the community’s vision and guided by the principles of project-based learning, the Centre will be designed and built collaboratively by Pinaymootang members, offering a space that fosters self-reliance, skill development, and intergenerational knowledge sharing.
The name “Gikino’ Amaagedaa,” meaning “Teach Us” in Pinaymootang’s traditional language, reflects the Centre’s mission to inspire growth and learning. This initiative combines practical training in design, construction, and architecture with land-based cultural teachings. Through its programs, the Centre will prepare participants for careers, address housing challenges, and encourage entrepreneurship—all while promoting cultural identity and healing. Upon completion, the Centre will serve as a lasting community hub, hosting educational workshops and activities that sustain its impact long after initial funding from the Future Generations Foundation concludes.
The concept for the Knowledge Centre originated from Lucas Druet’s award-winning Master of Architecture thesis at the University of Manitoba, under the mentorship of Indigenous Scholar Shawn Bailey. In collaboration with Gwen Traverse, Director of the Pinaymootang Health Centre; Chief Kurvis Anderson (then a council member); and Stephen Anderson, the project explored housing and youth issues within the community. It envisioned a “Knowledge Centre” as a solution to nurture self-reliance, engage youth, and steward housing development.
Through this collaboration, the Knowledge Centre became a platform for education and capacity building, beginning with its own design and construction. Grey & Ivy’s expertise amplifies this effort, guiding the community through hands-on training that incorporates local traditions and cutting-edge design techniques. The Centre also supports entrepreneurial initiatives, aligning with its goal to “plant a seed” of sustainable growth and resilience within Pinaymootang.
Recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) with the Medal for Highest Achievement in 2021, Lucas Druet’s thesis set a precedent for innovative, community-driven architecture. Now, with the ongoing support of Grey & Ivy, the Gikino’ Amaagedaa Knowledge Centre embodies the power of education, design, and community collaboration to shape a brighter, self-sustaining future for Pinaymootang First Nation.
