Community and Civic
Native Addictions Council of Manitoba
Native Addictions Council of Manitoba
Culturally Rooted Healing & Recovery
Native Addictions Council of Manitoba (NACM) provides healing of addiction through traditional Indigenous practices with the goal of providing culturally based healing for future generations. This facility is currently housed in Winnipeg’s urban core in an older mix of yellow brick buildings that was once a tuberculosis hospital. This project received significant Green and Inclusive Community Building Program (GICB) funding to upgrade the energy efficiency, accessibility including a new elevator, barrier-free washrooms, and shower rooms, as well as the electrical, mechanical and life safety systems.
The deep energy retrofit of the building will accommodate 22 participants who will be greeted by a new culturally significant teepee themed, barrier-free entrance, creating a meaningful landmark for the area and a statement against the existing colonial building. Using a trauma informed design framework Number Ten transforms this centre to create spaces for healing and dignity. We used collaborative engagement strategies such as Empathy Mapping and Visual Listening to better respond to the needs of future relatives. The design encourages agency and ownership and responds to the ways that residents may engage with others to focus on relationship building. It Includes a variety of materials, ample natural light, acoustics and biophilic consideration and culturally appropriate artwork.