David T Fortin Architect

Indigenous Peoples Space

Location: Ottawa, ON

Date: 2019

Client: Assembly of First Nations

Firms: David T Fortin Architect Inc, Wanda Dalla Costa Architect, Smoke Architecture and Winnie Pitawanakwat

On Indigenous People’s Day 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the former U.S Embassy in Ottawa would be repurposed as a space for Indigenous Peoples. The Indigenous Peoples Space will encompass the 100 Wellington Street building, 119 Sparks Street, and a future infill to connect the two existing buildings. This site is on the traditional, unceded territories of the Algonquin Nation.

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN), in collaboration with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Metis National Council, has partnered with our team, which includes David T Fortin, Wanda Dalla Costa, Eladia Smoke and Elder Winnie Pitawanakwat to develop a model that will inspire the long-term vision for the Indigenous Peoples Space. The future building will effectively represent First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation peoples’ cultures and histories in such a way that Indigenous governments, institutions and organizations can conduct Nation to Nation business and further our self determination.