Join us for an enlightening panel discussion exploring the invaluable contributions of Indigenous perspectives to the field of architecture during Design Vancouver Festival!

Learn how traditional knowledge and cultural heritage can shape contemporary design practices, and network with professionals who are passionate about cultural diversity in architecture. Our distinguished speakers, including Indigenous architects and designers, will share their insights on how architecture can honor the land, respect culture, and foster sustainable communities. Through engaging discussions and case studies, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how Indigenous wisdom is being integrated into modern architectural practices, offering innovative solutions for the future of the built environment.

When: Friday, September 20th, 5 pm – 8 pm

Where: ZGF Architects, Suite 350, 355 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6C 2G8

Admission: $10

AIBC: Approved for 2 Indigenous Core LUs

Speakers:

Sierra Tasi Baker (K̓esugwilakw), Lead Indigenous Urban Design Consultant, MSc, B.EnvD — Sky Spirit Studio
K̓esugwilakw is from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and is also, Kwakwaka’wakw/Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw, Tɫingit and Magyar (Hungarian). K̓esugwilakw is an Indigiqueer urban design consultant. Sierra completed their Bachelor’s of Environmental Design at the School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture (SALA) at the University of British Columbia. Graduating with an award in Design Leadership and receiving a Youth Leadership Award for their work in the community from the City of North Vancouver. K̓esugwilakw then flew to London, England and graduated with their Masters of Science in Sustainable Urbanism at the Bartlett School of City Planning at University College London which is one of the top ten universities in the world for the built environment. K̓esugwilakw focuses on decolonization through design. They combine Indigenous design and research methodologies, Oral History, primary archival research, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), Story of Place, Trauma Informed Design Practices, Two-Eyed Seeing and Coast Salish design techniques to develop unique architectural and urban planning languages that reflect Indigenous sovereignty.

Krystel Clark, Intern Architect AIBC, MRAIC — Patrick Stewart Architect

Born in 1993 in the Greater Sudbury area in Ontario, which is traditionally known as the territory of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, she is a Woodland Cree and a member of Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Treaty No. 6. She studied locally and graduated from Laurentian University McEwen School of Architecture and received a M.Arch in the Indigenous Design Stream in 2017. Her thesis kitche migawap âcimowin Tipi Tectonics: Building as Medicine was published in Emerging Voices in Architecture (2022) and Our Voices II (2021); and has been interviewed by CBC Unreserved (2021). Her key focus is exploring indigenous methodologies in architecture, primarily through the analysis of pre-colonial dwellings like the kitche migawap. In 2019, she moved from Ontario to British Columbia to work with Patrick Stewart at Patrick R Stewart Architect, a First Nation’s architecture firm. She manages and coordinates housing and cultural projects.

Kara Crabb, Communications Strategist and UBC SALA final year student — Living With Water

Kara Crabb is non-status of mixed ancestry, from Windsor, Ontario. After studying linguistics, she became involved with language conservation projects in Inuktitut and Cree speaking communities. She worked with the group Architects Against Housing Alienation! for the 2023 exhibition at the Venice Biennale of Architecture, where she met Patrick R. Stewart. With his team, they worked on a LANDBACK! initiative, and have since worked on securing funding for longhouse group home projects with Gitxsan Child & Family Services Society. She also worked with Cory Douglas and Ginger Gosnell-Meyers on cultural consultation for the City of Vancouver. She is in her final year of the Master of Architecture program at UBC. 

Schedule:

• 5:00 pm – Arrive; grab some refreshments and connect with our design community
• 5:30 pm – Presentations
• 6.30 pm – Intermission
• 6:40 pm – Presentations
• 7:30 pm – Happy hour; mingle with new and familiar faces over a drink and nibbles

Special thanks to ZGF Architects for supporting this event and opening up their space to us.

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