The Wampum Learning Lodge
2022
Drawing inspiration from the Anishnawbe concept, ‘All Our Relations’, a teaching that reminds human being that we are complexity interconnected and interdependent with each other and all nature, Western will create an innovation and ground-breaking Wampum Learning Lodge. This Lodge strives to support Indigenous student and community engagement and advance Indigenous ways of knowing and Indigenous pedagogies at Western University. The Lodge will strive to act as:
- A home-place for Indigenous students and Indigenous student services programming on campus
- A touchstone for Indigenous peoples and communities to engage with Western through ongoing community engagement and knowledge mobilization activities
- A place of connectivity among people at Western who share a common interest in advancing Indigenization, decolonization, and reconciliation- fostering a sense of community across diversity
- A venue that supports and advances Indigenous ways of knowing and Indigenous pedagogies across disciples though formal and informal learning at Western.
This specific space embodies a distinctive circular structure with three levels of indoor space including, a ground/ main floor open concept for gathering area, a second level mezzanine area; and a lower level with a space to accommodate teaching/ learning spaces and offices The proposed location will allow for a relocation of the University’s Indigenous Food and Medicine Garden and the creation of an outdoor classroom with ceremonial space.
Categories
Higher Education
Stage of Completion
Built (2022)
Location
London, Ontario, Canada
Size
9,500 sq.ft. 883 m2
Client
Western University
Architect of Record
Tillmann Ruth Robinson Architects
Indigenous Consultant
Wanda Dalla Costa Architect
Design Team
Claudio Vekstein (Lead), Tierra Miller, Dolores Cremonini, Kyron Hardy
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