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Supporting Indigenous Initiated Architecture in Canada Through the Architectural Curriculum

This webinar was part of the RAIC 2021 Virtual Conference on ArchitectureÌýand the RAIC Internation and Indigenous Architecture and Design Symposium

Topics:ÌýIndigenous Design, Indigenous Voices

Length:Ìý1 hour |ÌýWhat's Included:ÌýVideo, Quiz, and Certificate of CompletionÌý

This webinar is available to stream!Ìý

Making Room for New Indigenous Voices on the Leading Edge of Architecture Practice

Recently an increasing number of Indigenous communities have decided to take charge of their builtÌýenvironment. They are now insisting that their built environments speak of and reflect their cultures. TheÌýcommunities have realized that they can and must demand this. However, this means that they have toÌýlearn how to participate in the creative process that leads to the development of their built environments.ÌýThey are not expected to suddenly develop design professional skills (although this will come), but ratherÌýare expected to understand what role they can play in the design process. They must become aware ofÌýhow to work with their architectural partners and, especially, how important and significant their input is inÌýthe design process.

Introducing Indigenous-initiated projects as part of architectural design studios have proven quite successful for both the communities and the soon-to-become architects.

A recently completed design studio will be presented; the Kanien’keha: ka Onkwawén: na RaotitiohkwaÌýLinguistic, Cultural and Theater Center project in the community of Kahnawà: ke.third-year students learnÌýhow to reach out to communities and meet with them to discover the specificities of the culture in orderÌýto achieve the level of understanding and sensitivity that are the prelude to co-creation and participativeÌýdesign. Students go through the four essential steps that prepare and guide them through the designÌýprocess; identifying the traditional owners, gathering information, building relationships, and visioning. AtÌýthe same time, community members accompany the students through these steps.ÌýThe co-creation exercise is an ideal forum to initiate real dialogue. It is truth andÌý reconciliation not just inÌýwords but in action, trying to make a difference by learning to work together.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the completion of this session, the participant/learner will be able to:

• Describe the expectations of Indigenous communities in regards to the design of their built environment.
• Explain what architects need to do in order to fulfill the expectations of indigenous communities in a meaningful way.
• Describe the four steps of the design process that are essential to foster co creation and participative design.
• Describe the various lessons that Indigenous community members take away from their participation to architectural student design studios.

Subject Matter Experts

Alain Fournier,ÌýFRAIC, OAQ, OAA, ALBNL, AANB, AIBC, NWTAA /ÌýArchitect, Managing Partner, EVOQ Architecture

Kawennanóron Lisa Phillips,ÌýExecutive Director, Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center