Toward a Relationship-Based Approach to Design in Indigenous Communities

Toward a Relationship-Based Approach to Design in Indigenous Communities is organized by the Architecture Foundation of BC. It is part of the AIBC’s Fall 2025 PD Series and is eligible for credit towards the AIBC’s Indigenous Peoples Learning requirement.

Have you ever wondered how community-led, emergent process happens? In an Indigenous context, how a project is realized is as important, if not more important, than the final product. We’ll explore how community vision and values translate into design in our practices, with Scott from the perspective of the Architect, and Alanna as the perspective of an Indigenous process designer, facilitator and owner’s representative. Alanna will share how values are carried forward into every decision through project-specific principles. The principles act as anchors—holding space for culture and community voice while also providing practical direction for the consultant and construction teams. They are the connective tissue between vision and implementation. Just as each person in the community has a gift to bring to the project, so too does each member of the technical team. A very important part of the conversation we’d like to have is about how recognize those gifts, know when to step forward and when to step back, and how to create conditions for buildings that dismantle injustice and nurture thriving communities.

Date: Friday, November 14, 2025
Time: 12 – 1 p.m.
Location: Online via Zoom
Cost:$35 for all AIBC Registrants
Learning Units (LUs): 1 Core
Registration: Register by 12 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Presenters: Alanna Quock Intern Architect AIBC and Scott Kemp Architect AIBC

Alanna is a Tāłtān and Tlingit planner, designer, and creative problem solver with a passion for building adaptive capacity. Alanna grew up in Whitehorse, Yukon, the home of the Ta’an Kwachan Council and Kwanlin Dun First Nations, and now calls the swiya of the shíshalh nation home. Alanna has 20 years of experience working with individuals, first nations, communities and governments in the Yukon, British Columbia, and Quebec. Alanna is most comfortable when navigating a space of ambiguity and complexity – she seeks to use design thinking as a practical and creative approach to bring clarity and simplicity to complex situations. Her training in architecture supports her ability for cross-scale interdisciplinary thinking that allows her to quickly see patterns and bring together disparate elements into a cohesive whole. Alanna’s approach to community-based project design and delivery has been recognized as leading the way in global Indigenous design practice.

Scott Kemp has had the honour and privilege of working with Indigenous communities throughout BC for the past 20 years. During that time, the communities have shared their stories and traditions. A way of working has been developed that is a collaboration between all parties that maximizes the benefits to the communities. The communities participate in the design and creation of the buildings.  It is less about the final building but the building of the building that is important.