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Designing culture: intersections of Indigenous culture at the First Peoples House, University of Victoria.

In 1997 the University of Victoria began to develop a vision for a First Peoples House
with the objective of constructing a welcoming Coast Salish home on the university
campus. This vision was realized in 2009 when the First Peoples House opened to the
university community and public. Goals stemming from early discussions of a First
Peoples House included a house that would support Indigenous culture, community
events, and showcase Indigenous art. The First Peoples House represents a case study of
how Indigenous artists and their material culture intersect with new Indigenous
architecture. This paper is a supporting document to accompany a documentary film
showcasing Indigenous artists and key players who participated in the development of the
First Peoples House. The purpose of this paper and film is to document developmental
stages of the First Peoples House that includes material culture—“art”—embedded within
the architecture of the house. Nine interviews include the artistic vision of six artists
whose work is represented in the house, and three individuals who were involved in early
developmental and current phases of the First Peoples House. The research is placed in a
historical context respecting the relationship between Indigenous architecture, residential
schools, space and place and material culture. Film adds another dimension to the scope
of this paper. Together, the paper and film form a visual and critical analysis highlighting
historical shifts along with contemporary understandings of cultural narratives, material
culture, Indigenous culture and architecture as integrated within the First Peoples House
at the University of Victoria. / Graduate

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:uvic.ca/oai:dspace.library.uvic.ca:1828/3763
Date22 December 2011
CreatorsProverbs, Wendy Marjorie
ContributorsWalsh, Andrea N.
Source SetsUniversity of Victoria
LanguageEnglish, English
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
RightsAvailable to the World Wide Web

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