Winnipeg is the capital city in the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It is home to a high proportion of Aboriginal people, many of whom live far below the poverty line and drop out of school at an early age. Many have lived in poverty for generations and have little hope of escaping it. The reasons are in part attributable to colonial policies that have left a legacy of despair and distrust, particularly in the education system. 

Community-based organizations, post-secondary education institutions, governments and others are working in collaboration to build a holistic education model that provides opportunities for Aboriginal people and other multi-barriered residents through a cradle to college approach. Programs recognize the damaging effects of colonization and integrate decolonizing pedagogical methods. Recently the community acquired a century old property, the Merchants Hotel, which had become a magnet for violence and many serious social problems. The community’s vision is to reclaim this space as a multi-faceted place of learning that will further connect and expand upon existing educational initiatives. This paper and video describe the historical context, our pedagogical approach and what we have learned to date as we move forward with the development of an intergenerational community campus.