Are you an innovative problem solver with a passion for equity and inclusion? Do you believe that reconciliation should be at the forefront of your creative process?
This exciting series is a must-attend for UBC Applied Science students from the disciplines of Engineering, Architecture and Landscape Architecture, and Community and Regional Planning, as well as anyone outside of the university who is interested in the intersection of reconciliation and design.
These thought-provoking dialogues are a powerful complement to decolonization curriculum, providing an interdisciplinary conversation on how to reconcile design processes with Indigenous perspectives.
The speakers are Indigenous change-makers. We amplify their voices and listen to understand. Students and faculty practice authentic, experiential learning in dialogue circles, learning to weave together these Indigenous perspectives, ways of knowing, and ways of being, with our own as designers. The breakout room facilitators are students. They will be practicing their skills leading dialogue circles.
On this page:
Past Sessions
Watch recordings of past sessions, featuring hard to find resources on decolonization curriculum from prominent change-makers in the community such as Elder Albert Marshall, Cory Douglas, Colleen O’Toole and more.
Expand to watch recording of past sessions
 March 16, 2023 | 4:30-5:50pm PST Miriam Berndt B.ENV.DES, SITES APCommunity Values and Goals in Technical Specifications Designers are sometimes uncertain about how values and goals can be expressed in project processes and technical specifications. This talk gives specific, useful examples. |
 February 23, 2023 | 4:30-5:50pm PST Wanda RockthunderIndigenous ways of knowing and being As designers, it's important to recognize that our perspective isn't the only valid one. This event will provide an opportunity for you to explore and gain insight into Indigenous ways of knowing. |
 February 9, 2023 | 4:30-5:50pm PST Colleen O’TooleSynthesis The aim of this event is to blend the Indigenous ways of knowing and being with the practices of our professions, with the ultimate goal of collaborating effectively. |
 January 26, 2023 | 4:30-5:50pm PST Kyle MonkmanTruth We begin by prioritizing relationship-building. This involves actively listening with the intention of understanding, as we believe that truth and reconciliation can only begin with truth. |
 March 17, 2022 | 4:30-5:50pm PST Cory DouglasCommunity Values and Goals in Technical Specifications This is where we learn about how to implement ideas from the previous three sessions into concrete projects. |
 February 10, 2022 | 4:30-5:50pm PST Nalaine MorinSynthesis The aim of this event is to blend the Indigenous ways of knowing and being with the practices of our professions, with the ultimate goal of collaborating effectively. |
 November 25, 2021 | 4:30-5:50pm PST Elder Albert MarshallIndigenous ways of knowing, and being As designers, it's important to recognize that our perspective isn't the only valid one. This event will provide an opportunity for you to explore and gain insight into Indigenous ways of knowing. |
 October 14, 2021 | 4:30-5:50pm PST Danilo CaronTruth We begin by prioritizing relationship-building. This involves actively listening with the intention of understanding, as we believe that truth and reconciliation can only begin with truth. |
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March 4, 2021 | 4:30-5:50pm PST John Desjarlais Jr and Pamela WolfColonialism and the Intersection with the Engineering Industry Watch the recording for the John Desjarlais Jr and Pamela Wolf Session Image
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February 4, 2021 | 4:30-5:50pm PST Jillian Seniuk Cicek, Randy Herrmann, Chelsea Dubiel, and Reed ForrestIndigenous Design Principles Image
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November 5, 2020 | 4:30-5:50pm PST Elder Albert Marshall and Curtis RattrayIndigenous Ways of Knowing Watch the recording for the Elder Albert Marshall & Curtis Rattray Session Image
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October 1, 2020 | 4:30-5:50pm PST Curtis Rattray and Ska-Hiish ManuelColonialism and the Intersection with the Engineering Industry Watch the recording for the Curtis Rattray & Ska-Hiish Manuel Session Image
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History
In 2019, the Civil Engineering student club, student Danilo Caron, and faculty member Pamela Wolf initiated a series of dialogues with Indigenous perspectives on infrastructure design. In 2021, pandemic moved everything online, and these events grew. The Applied Science Dean’s office generously supports the larger scale of these dialogues, for which we are grateful.
The reconciliation + design series is supported by Applied Science Dean James Olson, and Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Sheryl Staub-French.
Participants include UBC Applied Science students from the disciplines of Engineering, Architecture and Landscape Architecture, and Community and Regional Planning, as well as external guests. These dialogues are a scaled Indigenization complement to decolonization curriculum. Applied science invites anyone who reflects on reconciling their design processes to join the conversation. This is an interdisciplinary conversation on reconciliation and design.
Contact
Please direct any logistics questions to edii@apsc.ubc.ca; questions about the content can be directed to danilo.caron@ubc.ca or pamwolf@civil@ubc.ca the co-designers and leaders of the series.