The Seven Grandfather Teachings were first shared with Manasc by the late Elder Peter O?Chiese. Manasc was introduced to Elder O?Chiese by Diana Steinhauer, one of the building committee members for the Saddle Lake Junior Senior High School. ?As I was inspired by Vivian?s vivacious capacities, so too will you be upon realizing the capacity that architecture serves in reclaiming our place and spaces,? writes Steinhauer in a foreword to the book. ?This book reminds people of the stories and the processes of coming to consensus and about persevering.?
A workshop held at Kipohtakaw (Alexander) First Nation School, at Kipohtakaw First Nation, Treaty 6 Territory. Photo courtesy Manasc Isa
Many years ago, one of the Elders at a planning meeting asked me, ?So explain to me: What is the sequence of making a building" How do you get from an idea to a building"? I responded by drawing a typical linear timeline: We work with you to develop a concept, then we complete the schematic design, then we work with our engineering team to integrate building systems, and then we prepare construction documents, and then we get a contractor to proceed into construction.
The Elder looked at me and said, ?I understand what you mean?but you have it all wrong. This process of planning and designing a building shouldn?t be illustrated in straight lines. It should be told in a circle.? He took the chalk on the blackboard and drew a circle with four parts and then with seven parts?showing that ...