Manitou Asinîy-Iniskim-Tsa Xani Centre

(Schematic Design Complete in 2025)

Ceremony, Cosmos, and Land in Balance

The Manitou Asinîy–Iniskim-Tsa Xani Centre is envisioned as a sacred outdoor gathering and ceremonial space that restores the Manitou Stone to its rightful place on the land. The project honours Indigenous cosmologies, land-based knowledge systems, and spiritual relationships between Earth, Sky, and all living beings.

Rooted in the Plaines Tribes ways of knowing, the Centre is designed as a ceremonial lodge and teaching space that supports prayer, seasonal ceremony, intergenerational learning, and reconciliation. The space remains open to the elements—wind, rain, snow, sun—ensuring the stone maintains its spiritual connection to the natural world.

Through extensive engagement with Knowledge Keepers, Elders, and community members, the design integrates sacred geometry, celestial alignment, and ecological restoration. The Centre acts as a place of healing, governance, and shared stewardship, welcoming Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples alike while honoring the spiritual integrity of the land.

Client
Manitou Asinîy-Iniskim-Tsa Xani Centre (MAITX)

Location
Elk Island National Park, AB

Size
13,300 sq. ft.

Architect of Record
Tawaw Architecture Collective Inc.

Design Team
Tawaw Architecture Collective Inc.
(With Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Community Partners)

The Manitou Stone has been known by many names:

Manitou Asinîy(Cree)  meaning - Creator Stone

Iniskim (Blackfoot) meaning - Buffalo Stone

Tsa Xani (Dene) meaning - God Stone

Learn more about the MAITX Centre and support the initiative to return the Manitou Stone to Indigenous stewardship at https://www.manitoustonecentre.com/

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Lambton College Indigenous Gathering Space

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Werklund Centre Transformation (formerly the Arts Commons Transformation)