Waabishkaa-Makwa Lab

Waabishkaa-Makwa is a revitalized cultural and learning hub at R.B. Russell Vocational High School. It connects students and community members to pathways in post-secondary education, trades, careers, and entrepreneurship—while offering strong family and community supports.

This one-of-a-kind lab in Manitoba brings together culture, creativity, and technology. Students explore STEAM, graphic arts, and textile design while building hands-on, technical skills for future education and careers.

By connecting learning to culture and real-world skills, Waabishkaa-Makwa empowers the next generation of creators and innovators.

Entrepreneurship

Waabishkaa-Makwa helps students turn ideas into real-world products and solutions. Through designing, prototyping, and testing, students build creativity, problem-solving, and technical skills while learning how their work can make an impact.

Hands-on learning

The lab supports hands-on projects across multiple spaces and tools, reflecting real-world creative processes. Students move through stages like ideation, design, building, and testing using different areas of the lab.

Mentorship

Students learn from local artists through workshops that bring real-world experience into the classroom. These opportunities make learning meaningful and show students that their ideas matter.

Learning Equipment

Waabishkaa-Makwa — Design, Create, and Connect: Projects Aligned to Learning Booklet (PDF)

Contact

To arrange a community partnership or visit with Waabishkaa-Makwa, contact Sylvia Martin, Divisional Principal, Career Lab at symartin@wsd1.org.