On February 29 and March 1 of 2012, the inaugural First Nations Conference on Sustainable Buildings and Communities was held at the River Cree Resort and Casino at Enoch, AB. The Conference brought together a diverse group of participants to start a conversation about the vision, planning, design and operations of sustainable buildings and community facilities for Canada’s First Nations. Keep posted for photos, video footage of the Conference speakers, and information about the next installment!
Speakers
The First Nations Conference on Sustainable Buildings and Communities offered an excellent selection of speakers including:
Gary Bosgoed Gary Bosgoed is one of Aboriginal Canada’s leading entrepreneurs. He is Vice President, Business Services and Systems, at WorleyParsons. Among his many honours, Gary has received the National Aboriginal Achievement Award and the University of Regina’s “Alumnus of the Year” Award. Gary is also very active locally; he is on the Board of the Keyano College Foundation and the Norquest College Advisory Council. A scholarship has been set up in his name: the Gary Bosgoed Scholarship for Aboriginals in Engineering.
Dr. Phyllis Cardinal is a member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation. She has been active in the field of education for 35 years. Phyllis has also served on several committees that work toward the increased educational success of aboriginal students, such as the Working Group on Education for the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, and round table discussions facilitated through federal and provincial ministers.
Wanda Dalla Costa is an Architect with Dalla Costa Design Group Inc., a company specializing in culturally responsive and ecologically sustainable design projects for First Nations communities. She holds a Masters of Architecture from the Faculty of Environmental Design (University of Calgary, 2001), a Masters of Design Research in Urban Policy and Planning (SCI-Arc or Southern California Institute of Architecture (2011), and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Native Studies (University of Alberta, 1991). Wanda is a member of the Saddle Lake First Nation in Alberta and currently resides between Calgary, Alberta and Los Angeles, California.
Shafraaz Kaba is a registered architect and partner with Manasc Isaac Architects. His firm is a leader in cold-climate sustainable design in Canada and they have been recognized with numerous architectural awards, including a Governor General’s Award in Architecture, Canada's highest architectural honour. Manasc Isaac is well known for its commitment to sustainable strategies and integrated, community-based design. He is the founding member of the Media, Art and Design Exposed (M.A.D.E.) in Edmonton Society which creates public programs that bring design, art and architecture to the public, and was recently featured in the Nature of Things, showcasing his net-zero-ready home.
Johann Kyser recently collaborated with representatives from the Treaty 7 to design and construct a solar powered home for First Nations. Named TRTL ("turtle" - Technological Residence Traditional Living) or Spo'Pi in Blackfoot, the home responds to First Nations culture including traditional and contemporary values, needs and interests. Johann is currently finishing his masters thesis on Aboriginal housing, which examines green building, clean technologies and cultural appropriateness as foundations for more sustainable housing outcomes. Johann was awarded a SSHRC Grant in 2009 to support his research and recently completed an internship in social housing with the Canadian Policy Network at the University of Western Ontario. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of King’s College, a Bachelor of Music (Honours – classical guitar performance) from Dalhousie University, and a graphics certificate from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design.
Chief Clarence Louie is CEO of Osoyoos Indian Band Development Corporation. His awards and merits include “Economic Developer of the Year” (Advancement of Native Development Officers), the “Inspirational Leadership Award” (Aboriginal Tourism, B.C.), “Top 50 Canadians To Watch” (Maclean’s Magazine) and the “Order of British Columbia,” the province’s highest honour for outstanding achievement.
Grand Chief Stan Louttit is Grand Chief of the Mushkegowuk Council, to which Attawapiskat belongs. Other communities in the Mushkegowuk region include Kashechewan, Fort Albany, Chapleau Cree, Missanabie Cree, Moose Cree, Taykwa and Tagamou.
Dr. Leona Makokis is a member of Kehewin Cree Nation and was President of the Blue Quills First Nations College from 1992 until 2011. She has received numerous awards recognizing her contribution and commitment to advancing indigenous education, most recently being honoured by the University of Alberta Alumni Association and Athabasca University.
Vivian Manasc is Senior Principal of Manasc Isaac, a leader in sustainable design. Vivian’s unique ability to facilitate an integrated sustainable design process with clients has garnered her substantial acclaim. She is Past President of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, a Director of the Canada Green Building Council, Adjunct Professor of Architecture at the University of Calgary, a founding member of the Sustainable Buildings Consortium, co-author of Agora Borealis: Engaging in Sustainable Architecture and a frequent speaker on sustainable design across Canada.
Donna Morton is CEO and co-founder of First Power, whose mission is to put clean energy, jobs and equity in the hands of First Nations and other communities across Canada. She was recently elected an Unreasonable Institute fellow for building one of the worlds most “unreasonable” startups. She is also an Ashoka fellow for her work with the Centre for Integral Economics (CIE).
Dewey Smith is currently a Senior Policy Advisor for the Assembly of First Nations where he provides analysis of current issues on housing and infrastructure to the Office of the National Chief and the AFN Housing and Infrastructure Secretariat. His work focuses on some of the essential elements a First Nation needs to consider when planning for long term green and sustainable community design, with a particular emphasis on housing. These elements will be illustrated through his presentation about the Pilot Project currently underway between the Assembly of First Nations, the Mike Holmes Group, and the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation.
Dewey Smith is currently a Senior Policy Advisor for the Assembly of First Nations where he provides analysis of current issues on housing and infrastructure to the Office of the National Chief and the AFN Housing and Infrastructure Secretariat. His work focuses on some of the essential elements a First Nation needs to consider when planning for long term green and sustainable community design, with a particular emphasis on housing. These elements will be illustrated through his presentation about the Pilot Project currently underway between the Assembly of First Nations, the Mike Holmes Group, and the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation.
Alfred Waugh is Principal of Alfred Waugh Architects, an award winning architectural firm with a passion for culturally sensitive, innovative and sustainable design solutions. It is a highly creative design firm that collaborates with cultural institutions and is committed to developing solutions that reflect the culture, community and geographic region specific to each project. Alfred was born and raised in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. He is Chipewyan, and of the Fond du Lac Indian Band. He attended the University of British Columbia's School of Architecture and he became the first Aboriginal student to graduate from the program. He is also the first Aboriginal architect to become LEED certified.
Charles Wood is a member of the Saddle Lake First Nation and is Chairperson of the Board of Governors at Blue Quills First Nations College in St. Paul, Alberta.
Schedule – 2012: Starting the Conversation
DAY ONE – WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 29*
| 10:00 AM | REGISTRATION |
| 12:00 PM |
LUNCH
|
| 12:45 PM |
Vivian Manasc
|
| 1:30 PM |
Dr. Leona Makokis
|
| 2:15 PM |
Phyllis Cardinal
|
| 3:00 PM | Coffee |
| 3:30 PM |
Grand Chief Stan Louttit
|
| 4:30 PM |
Wes Funk
|
| 5:00 PM |
Panel Style Discussion with First Power (Donna Morton), Off the Grid (Randall Benson), Urban Systems (Brian McCosh) and WorleyParsons (Alan MacDonald)
|
| 6:00 PM | PRE-DINNER BREAK |
| 6:30 PM | DINNER |
| 7:30 PM |
ENTERTAINMENT
|
DAY TWO – THURSDAY MARCH 1*
| 8:00 AM | BREAKFAST |
| 9:00 AM |
Chief Clarence Louie
|
| 10:00 AM | COFFEE |
| 10:45 AM |
Panel-style discussion with Wanda Dalla Costa and Alfred Waugh
|
| 12:00 PM |
LUNCH
|
| 1:00 PM |
Johann Kyser
|
| 1:45 PM |
Charles Wood
|
| 2:30 PM | CLOSING COMMENTS by Vivian Manasc |
| * Schedule subject to change. | |
Our Sponsors
The First Nations Conference on Sustainable Buildings and Communities is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors.
Founding Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Scholarships
The Sustainable Buildings Consortium is currently in the process of creating a new scholarship fund. This scholarship will be available to First Nations students who wish to study in domains related to sustainable buildings and communities: architecture, engineering, planning, geography, economics, etc. The scholarship will be offered annually, and will be available through all major Canadian post-secondary institutions.
Applications for the first year's scholarship ($1,000) will be available on this website, in the near future.
Registration
There are several ways to register for the First Nations Conference on Sustainable Buildings and Communities.
Registration fee: $250
Students: The First Nations Conference on Sustainable Buildings and Communities encourages interested students to attend the Conference. If you require financial assistance to attend, please feel free to contact us; we may be able to partner you with a sponsor that can help cover your registration fee. Call Kent McKay at 780.784.1169 for more information.
By fax or mail:
Click here to open a printable registration form.
Mail the completed form, along with credit card information or a cheque, made payable to:
Sustainable Buildings Consortium
10225 100 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 0A1
Alternatively, fax the completed form with credit card information to us at: 780.426.3970
By phone:
Call Kent McKay at 780.784.1169 to provide credit card information.
Please note that regretfully, we are equipped to process only Visa cards by phone.
Online:
You may register for the Conference online at: http://sustainablefnc.eventbrite.ca/
Accommodation:
Rooms can be booked at the River Cree Resort and Casino by calling: 780.484.2121
Please quote the word “Sustainability” to get our discounted room rate.
Videos
2012: Starting the Conversation
Check out the following videos to sample some of the conversations that occurred at 2012's First Nations Conference on Sustainable Buildings and Communities.
Be sure to stay tuned to our website for more details about next year's Conference!
Contact Us
Please feel free to contact us at any time for more information about the First Nations Conference on Sustainable Buildings and Communities!
Phone:
Call Kent McKay at 780.784.1169
Mail:
10225 100 Avenue | Edmonton, AB | T5J 0A1
Email:
Twitter:
Facebook:
First Nations Conference on Sustainable Buildings and Communities