Indigenous Architecture in Canada:
Preserving Heritage and Redefining
Design

Discover the journey of Indigenous architects in Canada, their unique perspectives in design, and the challenges they overcome to preserve cultural heritage.

Indigenous Peoples have a deep spiritual connection to the land, their traditional territories and their communities – and Indigenous architectural practices honour ancestors and traditional knowledges and preserve cultural heritage, creating functional spaces imbued with meaning and symbolism. 

Within the architecture industry in Canada, Indigenous professionals are still dramatically underrepresented. According to the Indigenous Task Force of the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada, just 20 qualified Indigenous architects are currently practicing in Canada, representing one-fifth of 1% of architects in the country.

Centuries of colonization, racist government policies, and broad societal discrimination have all played roles in blocking Indigenous Peoples from attending university, which has resulted in preventing Indigenous-led design and architecture from thriving as it could.

Despite the immense barriers, Indigenous architecture and design are gaining more prominence. Indigenous architects are increasingly reclaiming their spaces and infusing Indigenous values into work that people from all walks of life can experience. This includes building structures inside and outside of their communities, which is a significant departure from the past when the government-imposed structures upon Indigenous communities with little regard for cultural appropriateness, design or durability. 

Through their work, architects like Oneida Nation’s Brian Porter of Two Row Architects and Sim'oogit Saa-Bax (Hereditary Chief of Wilp Daxaan of the Nisga’a Nation) Dr. Patrick Stewart of Patrick R. Stewart Architect – the third and fourth Indigenous architects to ever register in Canada – are redefining what it means to build sustainably and respectfully within Indigenous communities. They are bringing a unique perspective to the field of architecture, one that values community input and traditional knowledges. 

Here, we explore the inspiring world of Indigenous architecture and celebrate the contributions of these visionary architects.

What is Indigenous design?

Different Indigenous Peoples each have multi-generational building traditions shaped by their respective cultures, languages, histories, spiritual beliefs, and the physical environments of their traditional lands.

For example, the wigwam, tipi, longhouse, pithouse and igloo are five structures specifically designed to meet the needs of seasonal hunting-and-gathering cultures and the environments they inhabited. 

“We’ve always been natural builders, strong in design,” says architect Brian Porter. “[Indigenous people] are all about taking those at-hand materials and assembling them in a way that keeps the elements out.”

Today, what Indigenous architecture means and looks like has expanded. Architect Patrick Stewart defines it as “architecture that is created by and for Indigenous people based on their traditional Indigenous knowledges.” 

Brian adds that “it's something that takes traditional Indigenous values and reinterprets them in a contemporary setting in a meaningful, appropriate, and respectful way.”

How that takes shape is as diverse as Indigenous Peoples themselves. There are over 630 reserve communities in Canada alone, excluding those in the Far North and new treaty communities like Tsawwassen First Nation. Each community has its unique traditions, oral histories, and interpretation of culture, which is reflected in their environmental design and architecture both within and outside their communities.

“It's easier to define [Indigenous architecture] by what it's not,” Brian says. “If you look at the international style of architecture that was so dominant in the mid-century, there was this idea that there was going to be this universal style that would circumnavigate the world, with no references to the local culture. It was like painting the world with one brush.”

The principles of Indigenous design 

Indigenous design is about designing places where everyone can benefit from Indigenous values and principles by integrating them into spaces across Canada.

Indigenous design is built on the foundation of inclusivity and sustainability, considering Mother Earth every step of the way. There is a deep respect for nature and the environment, with community at the center of all design — for example, water, mountains, trees, rocks, plants, birds, bees, animals, flora and fauna we all share.

Orientation is symbolic. Where the sun rises and sets and the direction of the prevailing wind considerably impacts how a building is positioned. “It’s looking at [building orientation] through a different lens,” Brian says. It also means, says Patrick Stewart, that building orientation relates to the spirituality of the cultural landscape.

As Douglas Cardinal puts it, “Knowing that we shape our environment, and our environments shape us, what kind of environments do we want to create?”

Who can apply Indigenous design principles 

Both Brian and Patrick are champions of the principle of “nothing for us without us.”

“Non-Indigenous designers can be allies but can't claim to be doing Indigenous architecture. They can say they're doing architecture inspired by Indigenous knowledges,” Patrick says. 

“With indigenous communities, our stories have been around for centuries, and it takes decades to understand them, appreciate them, and get more of a wholesome knowledge of them,” Brian adds. “But that doesn't stop mainstream architects from working on Indigenous projects. There are a lot of firms out there that don’t hesitate if they can secure a client on an Indigenous project. If they don’t need to include us, they won’t.”

He notes that several federal and provincial buildings’ response to indigeneity is to hang a painting, place a sculpture or commission a mural to “check the box” for celebrating Indigenous peoples and culture.

However, institutions are recognizing the importance of an Indigenous perspective and are starting to demand a requirement for an Indigenous design advisor on big projects. That’s one of the reasons Brian was brought on to the Art Gallery of Ontario expansion, an institution which has been committed to reconciliation for many years. 

The importance of Indigenous design

Some architects believe in reconciliation through design. “An act of Reconciliation would be, I suppose, the ability for Indigenous architects to participate as a full partner in the design of projects,” says Patrick. 

Historically, architecture has been a tool of colonialism in Canada. When settlers arrived on Turtle Island, they demolished the wigwams, tipis, and longhouses. As Tim Querengesser wrote, “In their place now stands a 150-year legacy of built erasure.”

As Patrick reminds us, “Indigenous people don't have anything to reconcile for because Indigenous People are the victims of global colonialism and the process of colonization, which is, by the way, ongoing.” 

Architecture provides a unique opportunity to not only celebrate cultural diversity but also promote education and awareness. By collaborating with First Nations communities, design can foster a sense of ownership, belonging, visibility, and community building. It is a powerful way to honour and celebrate difference.

Opening doors for Indigenous youth

While there are only 20 registered Indigenous architects in Canada, the number of students has slowly been growing year over year. Breaking down barriers to education – including funding – and providing mentorship are key steps towards a more inclusive and equitable profession.

As Patrick says, the journey will be ongoing. “Colonization has taken 500 years. It's going to take us another 500 years to get back to where we are in control of our own lands. It won't happen overnight or in a year or two. This is a very multi-generational endeavour.”

Disrupt with us

The JennAir Disrupting Design program aims to break the structural barriers for Black, Indigenous and people of colour to have better access to study and work in the design sector – because better representation of racialized Canadians in interior design will drive stronger, more diverse design work. There’s still a long way to go. Learn more about how to get involved with JennAir Disrupting Design programs.

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