A Landscapes|Paysages issue focuses on Reconciliation

Mi'Kmaw Native Friendship Centre

The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) recognizes the national effort towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and sees this as an important issue for the profession of landscape architecture. Landscape architecture offers an interdisciplinary approach that considers our environment in a holistic manner. The principles and goals of landscape architecture in Canada are well aligned with many of the values among Canada’s Indigenous cultures. Incorporation and consideration of Indigenous peoples, their values, their voices, and their knowledge in the planning, design and management of the Canadian landscape should be the goal of all landscape architects.

The CSLA’s Fall 2019 issue of Landscapes | Paysages focuses on the theme of reconciliation and how it is becoming a significant topic of discussion and inspiration as designers across the country apply the concept of reconciliation to their projects and practices.

For this Fall issue, three Fathom staff members discuss their experience working with the Mi’kmaw community to create a new home for the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre (MNFC). The project took shape through collaboration and consultation with the Friendship Centre leadership, staff, advisors and community members. It started with an invitation to the Membertou First Nation in Cape Breton to conduct research, take part in a sweat, and engage in extensive conversation with elders from the Membertou and Eskasoni nations; and the project continues as momentum. Ultimately, this project is the product of extensive listening, learning and doing our best to understand and interpret stories and cultural nuances.

Sandra Cooke, John deWolf, and Chris Crawford authored article for Landscapes|Paysages.

Landscapes | Paysages is published by the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects to provide a national platform for the exchange of ideas related to the profession. The views expressed in LANDSCAPES | PAYSAGES are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of CSLA. Guest editors and contributors are volunteers, and article proposals are encouraged. Articles may besubmitted in either English or French.