b'INDIGENOUS ARCHITECTUREUNDERSTANDING THE INDIGENOUS ANGLE Two Row Architect understands theIn the past, Indigenous designWe found Two Row management challenges and barriers for construc- elements have always been anto be readily available and able tion projects both on and off Reserveadd-on or a nice to have. Withto explain, in lay terms, the intri-and have the ability to engage deci- Indigenous design and architecturecacies of developing a relevant sion makers to keep projects movingfrom the outset, Two Row knows howhousing complex, designed for the forward. They understand the histor- to pour our culture into the very wallsIndigenous community, to our board ical and cultural context and structure of a building of direct directors and staffPat MandyMark SolomonFrances Sanderson Capital Lead, Associate dean, Student Services andExecutive director De dwa da dehs neys Indigenous EducationNishnawbe Homes Inc.Aboriginal Health Access Centre Seneca CollegeWe were always great builders. I still sayholistic direction, where Indigenous andto work through the truth portion of truth Machu Picchu is the best constructionmainstream traditions accept each otherand reconciliation.thats ever taken place in the Americasand make complementary contributions. the richest, most diverse communityHumilityone of the Seven Grandfather thats ever been built. Other traditionalIts a realignmentits not necessarily oneTeachingsis one key to Two Rows constructions like Pueblo Bonito or thein front, one behind, because there areapproach of listening before acting. And Anasazi Cliff House are fantastic exam- some values from Western ways of doingMatthew Hickey is nothing if not humble ples. Building was always in our blood,things, Hickey says. Were often asked,when describing how Two Row Architect so it doesnt surprise me that theres thisHow do you incorporate Indigenous teach- sees its role in developing the Indigenous renaissance happening. contribution to the built environment. To ings into buildings? What are the teachingsme, it doesnt matter what the project isThe integration of Indigenous values andthat we can embed so that just by beingits about ensuring that were trying to lift design principles may even be able toin a place youre starting to learn aboutup whatever community and place were support the process of truth and recon- Indigenous ways of knowing and being?working with. So its not about us. Were ciliation by altering the built environmentThe embedding of Indigenous knowledgejust the people who are transforming the in a more inclusive, community-oriented,into our work is how were really starting words into built form. Thats what we do. 102A CCAB PUBLICATION2022'