Indigenous Peoples Space

Indigenous Peoples
Space

year

2019

client

The Assembly of First Nations

location

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

TAWAW role

Architectural Design

architect of record

Tawaw Architecture Collective Inc., Smoke Architecture, and David T Fortin Architect Inc.

1

Background

Fostering Reconciliation

Located on Omamìwìnini Anishinaabeg and Algonquin Nation territory in Ottawa, a place of peaceful diplomacy for millennia, the Indigenous Peoples’ Space (IPS) symbolizes nation-to-nation relations and Indigenous self-determination, connecting Parliament to a sacred fire on the IPS site.

2

Approach

Transforming Colonial Architecture

The project repurposes colonial architecture with energy-efficient thermal encasement, fostering a deeper connection to Indigenous principles, honoring local land stewards, and representing Canada’s diverse Indigenous communities.

3

number of community engagements

3

Impact

Indigenous Expression and Innovation

IPS embodies Algonquin, First Nation, Inuit, and Métis culture through wigwam, basketry, sash, shawl, regalia, snowshoes, and feathers.

Awards

Honorary Fellow

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada is proud to announce that Wanda Dalla Costa, a prominent Indigenous voice and practitioner in North American architecture, has been awarded honorary fellowship for 2022. Wanda Dalla Costa is a member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation and was the first First Nation woman to become an architect in Canada. Her firm, Tawaw Architecture Collective, is based in Phoenix, Arizona. She is the director and founder of Arizona State University’s Indigenous Design Collaborative, a community-driven design and construction program that brings together tribal community members, industry and multidisciplinary teams of university students and faculty to co-design and co-develop solutions for tribal communities. Dalla Costa is a prominent Indigenous female voice within the architectural profession–specifically within the academic sphere in North America.

Awards

YBCA's 100 Honorees: Wanda Dalla Costa

Indigenous Design Collaborative's founder and design director Wanda Dalla Costa was recognized as YBCA 100 list of change makers and cultural activists working at the intersection of art, social change and civic life.

Awards

Trailblazer Award: Wanda Dalla Costa

Presented this year as part of NZ20, the world's largest net zero conference and expo, the Trailblazer Awards celebrate leaders who are building a net zero future through their work in the carbon, energy, water, waste, transit and/or policy sectors.

Awards

St. Lawrence Center Competition Award 2023

Awards