Webday Wednesday - Supporting Indigenous Initiated Architecture in Canada through the Architectural Curriculum

Title: Supporting Indigenous Initiated Architecture in Canada through the Architectural Curriculum 
Date: September 23, 2020
Presenter: Alain Fournier

SESSION:

Recently an increasing number of Indigenous communities have decided, in no uncertain terms, to take charge of their built environment. They are now insisting that their built environments speak of and reflect their cultures. The communities have realized that they can and must demand this. However, this means that they have to learn how to participate in the creative process that leads to the development of their built environments. They are not expected to suddenly develop design professional skills (although this will come), but rather are expected to understand what role they can play in the design process.  They must become aware of how to work with their architectural partners and especially how important and significant their input is in the design process. 

Along with this, there has been a surge in new building projects in the various communities. As a result, the demand for architectural services has grown.  Architects need to learn about the peoples and cultures they will be working with, in more than just a cursory way if the resulting architectural output is to be meaningful and relevant to the communities they serve.  

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

Two examples of recently completed design studios will be presented; the Indigenous Cultural Centre/Embassy in Montreal and the Kanien’keha: ka Onkwawén: na Raotitiohkwa Linguistic, Cultural and Theater Center project in the community of Kahnawà: ke. 3rd-year students learn how to reach out to communities and meet with them to discover the specificities of each culture in order to achieve the level of understanding and sensitivity that are the prelude to co-creation and participative design. Students go through the four essential steps that prepare them and guide them through the design process; identifying the traditional owners, gathering information, building relationships and visioning. At the same time community members accompany the students through these steps. 

From the Indigenous community members’ perspective this is a very enlightening and hands-on learning experience. They take away a number of very useful lessons. Some of them are:

• Achieving a deeper understanding of their project. 
• Furthering their project vision, ideas and insights.
• Getting the benefit of seeing many different design approaches to their project.
• Taking the time to explore different options and help them to make choices.
• Learning how architects work and learning how to work with them.
• Help demystify the design process, how it is not the sole property of architects 

From the Architects’ perspective this is an equally very enlightening and hands-on learning experience.

• Learning about Indigenous cultures, history, politics, art, etc. all of what was never taught in school.
• Discovering the modern day realities of Indigenous communities.
• Establishing real, normal contacts with Indigenous community members.
• Developing an understanding of the community’s vision.
• Translating the vision, giving shape to the vision.

The co-creation exercise is an ideal forum to initiate real dialogue. It is truth and reconciliation not just in words but in action, trying to make a difference by learning to work together. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe the expectations of Indigenous communities in regards to the design of their built environment.
  Describe the expectations of Indigenous communities in regards to the design of their built environment.
• 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.

Alain Fournier FRAIC, OAQ, OAA, ALBNL, AANB,AIBC, NWTAA
Architect, Managing Partner
EVOQ ARCHITECTURE

Alain Fournier, architect is a founding partner of EVOQ Architecture

He has worked for over thirty years with the Inuit and First Nations. He works in the Canadian Artic’s Inuit Nunangat territory (Nunavik, Nunavut and Nunatsiavut). He also works with the Cree of Eeyou Istchee, the Mi’gmaq, the Maliseet, the Innu, the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawks). 

As a result of this long term commitment, Alain Fournier has become a partner respected by the Inuit and First Nations and an active player in the dialog between Nations. He regularly gives lectures to his architectural peers in Canada and abroad on the subject of designing architectural projects with the Inuit and First Nations. He has facilitated roundtables for the Indigenous Heritage Circle as well as the Treaty 8 Tribal Association in BC.

Continuing education learning hours: 1 credit

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Monday, September 21 at 8:00 p.m. ET

WEBINAR REGISTRATION FEE:
$50 for RAIC members, plus applicable taxes.
$75 for non-members, plus applicable taxes.

SCHEDULE: The Webinar will take place on Wednesday, September 23 at 1 p.m. ET in English.
The Canada-wide schedule by time zone is:

More information, including online access instructions and a PDF copy of the slides will be sent to you by email on the Tuesday prior to the Webday webinar. 

*Purchase of webinars and events are non-transferable.