On Friday, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation broke ground on a mixed-income housing development along the Assiniboine River in Winnipeg, with officials from local, provincial, and federal governments present. The project, called The Ellswood, will provide 147 energy-efficient housing units at 269 River Ave. in Osborne Village. Of these, 60 units will be “deeply affordable” for those in need, according to Brokenhead Chief Gordon BlueSky. The development is a significant step in providing safe, affordable housing for Brokenhead members and families across Winnipeg.
The $50 million project is funded by the City of Winnipeg and the federal housing accelerator fund, with construction led by Indigenous-owned Brokenhead Ojibway Nation and the private-sector developer, Freedhome Developments Ltd. The project is expected to be completed in 18 months to two years.
Chief BlueSky emphasized the symbolic importance of the location, where Indigenous people have gathered for thousands of years. He framed the housing project as a tangible form of reconciliation. Northern and Arctic Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand hailed the project as an example of “reconciliation in action,” emphasizing its role in Indigenous sovereignty, economic empowerment, and cultural pride. Freedhome president Jonathon Freed noted that the development will help lay the foundation for long-term prosperity for the First Nation.
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