Our Story
The Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre and our Grey Buffalo Grandfather Wellness Lodge are located within Treaty 1 Territory in what is now known as Manitoba. These are the traditional lands of our Anishinaabeg, Anishininiwak, Ininiwak, Dakota, Dene, and Inuit relatives and the homeland of the Métis Nation.
Grey Buffalo Grandfather’s journey began in 1997 when the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre (Ma Mawi) consulted with community members, sister organizations, and other local groups for the future direction of the organization. During these sessions, the vision of a rural learning and wellness centre was brought forward, and the Spirit of Grey Buffalo Grandfather Wellness Lodge was born.
Windy Hill
Training, Healing, and Learning
In the fall of 2003, Ma Mawi started the journey by hiring a youth team to lead the process. The youth leaders participated in every aspect of development – from selecting and purchasing the land to meeting with architects and the RM of Alexander. The youth also brought forward the original name, Windy Hill, to honour Wendy Orvis and Elizabeth Hill.
Windy Hill Training, Healing, and Learning Centre opened in ceremony on September 12, 2007. Over the next decade, Windy Hill served as a welcoming, safe, and healing place for community to experience a connection to the land, learn more about Indigenous traditions and ceremonies, and participate in cultural activities.
In the winter of 2018, after 11 years of hosting families, community members, agencies, and government, Windy Hill Learning and Wellness Centre was lost in a tragic and unexpected electrical fire.
A sacred fire and ceremony were held to honour the Spirit of Windy Hill before moving forward with a new lodge and vision for the site.
Grey Buffalo Grandfather
A New Chapter
Over the next year, Ma Mawi began again with the support of local Indigenous Architect, Michael Robertson. In 2019, construction of the new lodge began, but the COVID-19 pandemic posed many challenges and delays over the next 3 years.
In the winter of 2021, as the site neared completion and at the direction of community Elder Madeline Mousseau, Ma Mawi leadership passed tobacco to local Knowledge Keepers and original stewards of the site, Stephanie Eyolfson and Marian Bruyere, to receive a traditional name for the lodge. In the spring of 2022, the name Grey Buffalo Grandfather Wellness Lodge was received in ceremony.