HEALING TOGETHER
WITH HORSES
Maamawi-Noojimoiwewin Wellness Centre,
a not-for-profit sanctuary where
horses & humans heal together,
surrounded by the serene beauty of
Lake Huron's landscapes.
Maamawi-Noojimoiwewin Wellness Centre is no longer just an idea.
The land has been secured.
More than 300 acres along the North Channel of Lake Huron — quiet, protected, and waiting.
This is where Maamawi-Noojimoiwewin Wellness Centre is beginning to take shape.
The groundwork has been laid — and now, with your help, the real work begins.
At its heart, Maamawi-Noojimoiwewin Wellness Centre is about horses
Maamawi-Noojimoiwewin Wellness Centre was founded to give horses who, have run out of options a soft landing.
Horses who have been overlooked or let down — horses who deserve time, proper care, and the chance to just be horses.
Some of these horses would otherwise end up in the slaughter pipeline — a reality that still exists here in Canada, where horses are routinely slaughtered for human consumption. (Yes, really.)
In Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe), the word for horses is mishwànag. Horses are considered powerful helpers — beings who carry, teach, and walk along side us. In this spirit, we honour the horse, not only as a sentient being, but as a partner in healing and connection.
Where not only horses find their way — people do too
When people spend time around horses — especially on land like this — something shifts.
Things slow down. There is space to breathe, to connect with nature and horses, and to begin finding your footing again in a way that doesn’t feel forced.
This is the foundation of equine-assisted therapy — work that recognizes the unique ability of horses to help people regulate, rebuild trust, and reconnect in ways that are often difficult to access elsewhere.
The kind of healing isn’t something you can rush. It has to be allowed to happen.
And that is what Maamawi-Noojimoiwewin Wellness Centre is being created to support.
Rooted in the land & the community
This land sits within Robinson-Huron Treaty territory, and there is a deep intention to build respecful relationships with local First Nations communities — to create space for programs that are grounded in culture, land, and shared understanding.
Part of that vision includes, in time, supporting the return of the Ojibwe Spirit Horse — a breed that was nearly lost, and that holds cultural and spiritual significance.
The opportunity to see these horses reintroduced in this region, and to support land-based healing programs connected to them, is something we look forward to approaching with humility and care.
Veterinary care, where it’s desperately needed
With your help, Maamawi-Noojimoiwewin Wellness Centre plans to build a veterinary clinic — bringing care within reach in this part of Northern Ontario, were getting veterinary care often means hours on the road — sometimes three, four, even five hours for a single appoinment.
For a horse in distress, or an injured pet, wildlife, or livestock, that distance can mean the difference between life and death.
There are only a handful of wildlife facilities serving enormous areas, and there is not a dedicated place for horses or other large animals in need, over the long term. At Maamawi-Noojimoiwewin Wellness Centre we have room to provide for those needs — and more.
Built to serve & to sustain
As a not-for-profit initiative, the planned veterinary clinic is designed to do two things.
First to fill a critical gap in veterinary services in an underserved region — ensuring that animals have access to timely appropriate care.
And second, to help financially sustain the horse sanctuary and Wellness Centre — making it possible to rescue, rehabilitate, and care for horses and other animals over the long term.
Everything here is designed to live in balance with the land — an off-grid, eco-friendly model powered by renewable energy, where sustainability isn’t an add-on, but part of how we care for both animals and the environment.
Why this moment matters
We’ve reached the point where intention alone isn’t enough.
The land is secured. The vision is clear. What comes next is finishing the spaces that make it possible to complete the vision — safe areas for horses, the ability to provide proper care, and the infrastructure to do this responsibly.
This is the stage where things either move forward… or quietly stall.
We’ve come this far — we can’t stop now.
If you believe in this work…
We invite you to be part of what happens next
If this resonates with you — if you believe in creating a place where something thoughtful and compassionate is possible — we invite you to be part of continuing to build Maamawi-Noojimoiwewin Centre.
We’re currently bringing together a volunteer Board and Council to help guide operations, care, programs, and community relationships.
Some roles are leadership-focused, some are hands-on, and others happen behind the scenes, but all are essential to building something meaningful and sustainable.
Whether through your time, your skills, or your financial support, every contribution helps move this forward.
Maamawi-Noojimoiwewin is Ojibwe and means “healing together”.
It speaks to the connection between people, horses, and the land — and the journey we all share.
The name was gifted by the mother and grandmother of Kara Perrault-Barry (Garden River First Nation), who created our logo.