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Crown-Indigenous Co-Design- Spiritual Spaces

This webinar is part of the RAIC 2022 Virtual Conference on Architecture, now available to stream!

Topics:ÌýIndigenous Architecture

Length:Ìý1.5 hours |ÌýWhat's Included:ÌýVideo, Quiz, andÌýCertificate of CompletionÌý

The Spiritual Spaces Initiative arose from a need to design ‘smudging’ or ‘spiritual’ spaces within Federal Government Buildings in Atlantic Canada. Several projects currently underway– including renovations and new-builds- have such spaces within their programmes. There is, currently, an absence of direction towards the design of such spaces – either culturally or technically. The long-term vision would be to facilitate Co-Design between public servants and Indigenous people to progress Reconciliation and incorporate the visions of all, to elevate the quality of our built environment. In March 2021, in the Atlantic Region, a three-day Visioning Session was held virtually, as a joint effort between Indigenous Services Canada and Public Services & Procurement Canada. Together, they engaged architect and Anishinaabe Elder, Douglas Cardinal to lead a three-day Visioning Session to discuss the needs and requirements of Spiritual Spaces. The process involved a talking circle with 13 Elders (from the four groups in the Region (Mi'kmaq (11), Wolastoqiyik (1), Innu (1), and Inuit (1)) who were invited to participate, a core Technical team and an outer circle of Technical employees and ISC employees.

The ultimate goal would be to develop Crown-Indigenous relationships, share cultural knowledge and develop a Technical Standard & Best Practice Guide for Spiritual Spaces- to be used by all branches, departments and agencies of the Federal Government, External Consultants, third-party Service Providers, as well as, Indigenous Communities. Douglas Cardinal Architect Inc. has produced a report based on the Visioning Session. As there are fewer than twenty Indigenous Architects in Canada, this report and the Visioning process, could form the basis and set a precedent for future Indigenous-Non-Indigenous engagement and Co-Design. This session will describe the process and the Lessons Learned.

Learning Objectives:

By the completion of this session, participants will be able to:

• Better appreciate the importance of Reconciliation.
• Design and conduct a similar Visioning Session.
• DefineÌýCrown-Indigenous Co-Design.
• Develop their Cultural Competencies.

Subject Matter Expert:

Douglas Cardinal - Architect and Anishinaabe Elder, philosopher and activist. Born in Calgary of Blackfootand German descent and educated in British Columbia and Texas and is considered one of the world’s leading architects whose approach to architecture which is both innovative and unique. Douglas Cardinal signature organic architecture is well-known to have produced many iconic buildings creating elegant andÌý Ìýnurturing sustainable environments. He has facilitated many communities in not only defining their architectural vision but bringing their vision to reality. Over a span of more than 50 years, Mr. Cardinal has designed a variety of projects including educational facilities, healthcare facilities, museums, theatres, offices, spiritual spaces, residential and master plans. Among the many well-known buildings he has designed include St. Mary’s Church in Red Deer, the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, a Health Center in Sioux Lookout, the Cree Cultural Institute in Québec which earned a United Nations award of excellence for sustainable design- the Wabano Health Centre in Ottawa and the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington. Mr. Cardinal has received numerous national and international awards including: 20 honorary doctorates, gold medals of Architecture in Canada and Russia and an award from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural organization for us design of the best sustainable village. He was also appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1989 and in 2006 declared World Master of Contemporar Architecture by the International Association of Architects. He has recently been appointed to the Daniels faculty of architecture landscape and design as the 2020 -21 Frank Gehry International visiting chair in architectural design. In 2018 he led a team of indigenous architects and designers who represented Canada at the Venice architecture Biennale. He has given many public lectures and has written and contributed to numerous publications. Douglas Cardinal is one of the visionaries of a New World: a world where beauty, balance and harmony thrive, where client, architect, and stakeholder come together with a common vision.