Background
During the 99th AIBC Annual Meeting, several motions were brought to the floor regarding the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). The motions spoke to: recognizing the Final Report and Calls to Action; setting up a task force; providing tools and resources; and, developing a toolkit. Four of the five motions were approved by the members present and were brought forward for council consideration who also supported them. Read Council’s Response to the Member Motion (PDF).
The AIBC formally recognizes the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Final Report. In recognition of its importance, council further elevated the TRC as a priority item by incorporating the initiative into the 2019–2023 AIBC Strategic Plan, with the intention to identify concrete actions the AIBC and architectural profession could take to develop and implement an appropriate response to the Calls to Action from the Report on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
AIBC Task Force
An AIBC Task Force was struck with membership including Indigenous representation. The Task Force was composed of select staff and the following AIBC registrants:
- Scott Kemp Architect AIBC
- Patrick Stewart Architect AIBC
- Lubor Trubka Architect AIBC
- Alfred Waugh Architect AIBC
The mandate of the Task Force was to “…develop and implement an appropriate response to the Calls to Action from the Report on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.”
The Task Force presented their review and recommendations of the TRC Calls to Action to AIBC Council earlier this year, which was unanimously endorsed.
Action Plan
Of the Calls to Action, four applied (7, 92i, 92ii, 92iii), and were the basis upon which two AIBC-lead streams were proposed. The first stream, registrant continuing education, introduces professional standard expectations through the provision of courses and the development of practice resources. The second stream concentrates on outreach and capacity building.
Registrant continuing education is likely to cover a wide variety of topics: the history of Indigenous peoples, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), B.C. treaties, the Indian Act and how the federal government works with Indigenous communities, as well as unique built environment considerations in urban, rural or remote settings.
Registrant practice resources would be tailored to topics such as the regulatory landscape on reserve land, and in particular, the intersection between the Architects Act and Indigenous communities, as well as standards related to reconciliation and the architect’s role working with Indigenous communities.
The second stream focuses on outreach and capacity building with and within Indigenous communities. Material outlining the role of the regulator, what architects do and don’t do, as well as information on pursuing a career in architecture, could be made available. The role of the Certified Professional Program as it applies on reserves that do not have development/permit departments could also be explored.
The two streams will be supported by AIBC’s scholarship program, expanded in 2019, which provides opportunities for Indigenous students to pursue a career in architecture.
Next Steps
The Institute is committed to providing the tools and resources that will help architects take positive steps towards sincere reconciliation through the practice of architecture in B.C.
Through further consultation with registrants, and organization such as Indigenous Services Canada and Assembly of First Nations, the AIBC will finalize details of the action plan in the coming months. We invite registrants to share with the AIBC any resources, best practices, and programs related to the two streams described above by emailing Tracy Tough at ttough@aibc.ca.
The Institute would like to thank the TRC Task Force who generously donated their time and expertise to propose a meaningful response to the TRC’s Calls to Action.
Resources
- Truth and Reconciliation Committee of Canada’s full report: “Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action” (PDF)
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
- Council’s response to the Member Motions
- AIBC 2019-2023 Strategic Plan (PDF)