Haisla kids from soccer field. Haisla Youth Centre and Field House, Kitimaat Village, B.C. by Mackin Architects Ltd. Photo credit: Andrew Latreille
Can buildings be aspirational"
?The building itself points to the sky, like an arrow,? says Dr. Nancy Mackin, principal architect of Mackin Architects in reference to the recently-completed Haisla Youth Centre. ?That was deliberate in the idea of reaching up.?
These are more than metaphors in building design.
TFN reflections from fritted windows. Tsawwassen First Nation Youth Centre, Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN), south of Vancouver, British Columbia, by Mackin Architects Ltd. Photo credit: Ema Peter
?The buildings speak about story,? says Dr. Nancy Mackin whose doctorate is in architecture, Indigenous design, and landscape ecology. ?The amazing mosaic of First Nation cultures in Canada has something to teach us about the environment, getting along with each other, and how to teach kids in a way that is culturally meaningful.? Since 2021 when the Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN) Youth Centre opened, Mackin has brought three more youth-centered projects to completion. And there?s more to come.
The First Nations provide licensed day care and after-school care, so that the kids have somewhere to go. The centres have kitchens that provide breakfast programs, lunch programs and after-school snacks.
?Another commonality is that the young people don?t want to leave their building. Knowledge-keepers report that the children are doing...