Muscowpetung School

A cultural hub for education that celebrates and highlights the community’s Indigenous ways of knowing.

Muscowpetung’s Education Centre responds to the need for a new community and education hub within the community. The building design was developed with community and leadership consultation, most notably with Indigeneity Leader & Knowledge Keeper, Jeff Cappo. The school design celebrates and highlights Indigenous ways of knowing while providing a supportive, safe and inclusive learning environment. The project is conceived as a home within the community - a space where all feel welcome, are valued and have opportunity for respect, growth and prosperity in an environment that is grounded in the richness of Saulteaux culture. The building structure references the traditional teepee as a symbol of community. The roof represents the teepee canvas; this deeply meaningful reference is draped across the entire length of the school - enveloping a learning environment where everyone can participate, learn and share under one roof. The structural system, composed of a series of glulam beams, corresponds with the number of poles of the traditional teepee. Each structural element holds meaning and aligns with the values expressed in the traditional teepee poles. The reference embeds Sauteaux culture as an integral part of the community hub without the use of overt visual tropes.

Location: Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation, SK

Status: In Progress

Type: K-12 School & Youth Centre

Area: 3,185 m2 (34,280 ft2)

Renderings: Mirage Studios

Collaborators: Jon Reid (Wolfrom Engineering Ltd.)