It is Visible.
In the heart of downtown Winnipeg, the former Hudson’s Bay Building is being reborn under First Nations leadership. Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn—meaning “It is Visible” in Anishinaabemowin is a living symbol of reclamation, reconciliation, and renewal.
Reconciliation in Action
A place for our people: A legacy for all
Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn will stand as a beacon of hope and pride showcasing First Nation innovation, leadership, and economic strength. The project reflects a vision where cultural identity, sustainability, and opportunity unite in one shared space.
Key Pillars:
Housing and Healing
Affordable units for First Nation citizens and Elders.
Culture and Community
Gathering spaces, language learning, and ceremonial areas.
Economic Renewal
Commercial spaces and social enterprise opportunities to sustain future generations.
Respecting the past: Building for the next seven generations
Architects and designers have embraced the building’s historic character while integrating Indigenous artistry and sustainable innovation. The structure will feature natural light, communal atriums, language signage, and art that reflect the Anishinaabe and Dakota.
Creating opportunity and visibility for our Nations
Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn is transforming lives. Through Miikahnah Connect, hundreds of Indigenous workers have gained meaningful employment and training in the skilled trades. Partnerships with educational institutions and industry are opening doors for youth to build lasting careers.
As the project grows, so will the opportunities for First Nations artists, entrepreneurs, and organizations to contribute their gifts to this shared space.
From colonial commerce to prosperity of our Nation
For more than 300 years, the Hudson’s Bay Company profited from the trade networks built by First Nations peoples. Today, the transfer of this building to First Nations ownership represents a historic shift and empowerment.
Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn embodies the principle that reconciliation must be visible not only in words, but in action, investment, and shared success.
Building the future one story at a time
Construction began in 2024, led by PCL Construction with partnerships across governments, industry, and Indigenous organizations. Each milestone represents collaboration, perseverance, and the growing strength of First Nations leadership in major infrastructure projects.
One Third of the Way
Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn means “it is visible.”
Four years in, that vision is becoming reality.
In April 2022, the Southern Chiefs’ Organization was gifted the former Hudson’s Bay Company building in downtown Winnipeg, Treaty One Territory, beginning the transformation of a colonial symbol into a space rooted in First Nations vision and leadership.
Grand Chief Jerry Daniels marked this milestone with a tour of Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn, reflecting on the progress made and the work ahead.
The project is now one third of the way to completion!
With the glulam structure installed and work underway on the skylight, that vision is steadily taking shape.
Follow along as each step brings us closer to a space built by and for our people.
Glulam Installation
The “glulam” structure for the skylight is now complete in our Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn project.
This brings us closer to enclosing the building and protecting it from the elements.
The skylight’s glulam framing is inspired by the craftsmanship, artistry, and ingenuity of traditional First Nations builders.
Our design team drew inspiration from a 1971 film called “César’s Bark Canoe.” The documentary follows César Newashish, a 67-year-old Atikamekw from the Manawan Reserve north of Montreal, as he constructs a canoe using only natural materials such as birch bark, cedar splints, spruce roots, and gum.
Through this process, Newashish creates an object that is both beautifully crafted and highly functional. The ribs that provide structural support are shaped to glide through the water with precision while expressing refined, sculptural elegance.
Similarly, the skylight design reflects this balance of strength and beauty, bringing together structural performance and visual grace to honour a tradition where form and function are inseparable.
All wood for the glulam is black spruce harvested out of Quebec and shop fabricated in Cornerstone’s Facility in Kleefeld, Manitoba. A total of 36 pieces were installed.
Sixteen concrete pedestals poured by PCL last fall support the base plates that carry the glulam structure. Coordination and engineering between Cornerstone and Northstar ensured proper scaffold support for the ridge beams during installation.
The completion of the glulam marks the beginning of several parts of the skylight installation, including structural steel, glazing, and gable framing.
Each stage moves us closer to opening a space that reflects our strength, our pride, and our future.
If you’d like to watch César’s Bark Canoe, visit the website for the National Film Board.
Final Concrete Block Removal
The Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn project reached a major milestone.
After seven months of steady, careful work, the final concrete block has now been removed from what will become the atrium of our building.
This was a complex job—1335 concrete blocks, weighing a total of 13.5 million pounds, were safely taken out.
With this work complete, the team is now moving ahead with scaffolding and preparing to build the glass ceiling that will fully enclose the space.
Every step brings us closer to transforming the former Hudson’s Bay Company building into a living expression of reconciliation, pride, and First Nations strength.
Miigwetch, pidamaya ye, and thank you to the hardworking team at PCL, along with all subcontractors, for helping to bring our vision to life.
The 360 image below shows the atrium before the concrete blocks were removed.
Quick Facts:
Rooted in the teachings of our Nations
This project rises from Treaty One Territory, home of the Anishinaabe and Dakota Nations. The transformation honours the ancestors who traded and travelled this land for centuries and reclaims a space long associated with the colonization of our people.
Ceremonies, Elders’ guidance, and cultural protocols continue to shape every stage of construction and design ensuring Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn grows in balance with our teachings and responsibilities to the land.
“This building is a statement that our people are still here, and our vision is stronger than ever.” – Grand Chief Jerry Daniels
Stay connected as the vision becomes visible
Follow Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn’s progress and celebrate the moments that are reshaping our shared future. Together, we are building something our ancestors could only dream of—a future rooted in culture, strength, and visibility.
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