On April 3 and 4, 2023 the Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism (ASAU) hosted its first annual Indigenous Feast with support from the Ānako Indigenous Research Institute. The Feast included a two-day workshop that opened space for architecture students and other members of the Carleton community to learn from Indigenous elders and knowledge keepers through a format that encouraged traditional knowledge, storytelling, sharing, making and becoming.
Elder Maria Campbell (right) speaks during the opening Listening Circle alongside Elder Annie Smith St-Georges (middle) and Dr. Kahente Horn-Miller (left). (Photo: Laura Blanchette)
The Feast opened with a prayer from Algonquin Elder Annie Smith St-Georges and followed with a Listening Circle to begin the conversation of Indigenous-centered architecture and design. Associate Vice-President Indigenous Teaching, Learning and Research Kahente Horn-Miller guided the discussion and invited attendees to listen to the elders’ knowledge and stories. Horn-Miller shared that it is time to rethink education as we know it and part of that effort includes giving the floor to our elders.
Elders St-Georges and Maria Campbell spoke about what human-constructed environment means to them and how architecture can incorporate and acknowledge Indigenous experience, history and the changing climate.
Guests were invited to participate in workshops led by Indigenous knowledge keepers in the afternoon:
- Weaving Together, Learning Together with Andrés C. López
- Indigenous Teachings & Crafts with Vanessa Cyr
- Technique Never Changes with Dolcy Meness
- Feeding the Indigenous Resistance with Justine Deschenes
- Introduction to Algonquin Culture through Materials with Pinock Smith
- Drawing on our History with Dani Printup
Pinock Smith shows birch bark canoe to a group of students. (Photo from ASAU Gallery)
The second day of the workshop opened with a welcome from Prof. Omeasoo Wahpasiw, who organized the event in collaboration with Prof. Menna Agha. Justine Deschenes, Pinock Smith and Dolcy Meness each hosted a second workshop in the morning and in the afternoon, attendees had the opportunity to attend sessions led by one of the three invited elders:
- nipi, ni wahkomakan with Maria Campbell
- Wahkotowin in action with Lousie Halfe
- The Seven Grandfathers with Annie Smith St-Georges
The two-day workshop concluded with a talk with the Elders, led by Horn-Miller and a feast.
In organizing the Indigenous Feast, Wahpasiw and Agha shared they wanted to create a more engaging and representative event. Agha counted over 130 people attending workshops on the first day and she was happy to see so many students engaging in the workshops, challenging their perspectives on architecture and learning from Indigenous elders.
For more information about each of the workshops, view the event posters here and to see more photos, visit the ASAU’s photo gallery.
