Engaging Indigenous communities necessitates a practice of cultural humility, an understanding of historical contexts, and a dedication to equitable partnerships with our Tribal collaborators. As architects, engineers, and design professionals, we encounter distinct challenges while working alongside tribal communities, which include systemic inequalities, the impact of historical trauma, and the remnants of colonial practices.

Our objective is not to ‘resolve’ matters within tribal communities, but to empower our project partners through active listening and meaningful engagement. This involves deeply attuning ourselves to our client’s needs, adapting Western methodologies to respect Indigenous values, and acknowledging tribal sovereignty in every interaction. We have identified effective strategies that prioritize Indigenous leadership and draw on traditional knowledge to address obstacles such as mistrust towards external systems. Our approach begins with understanding the project from an outsider's perspective and identifying steps we can take to forge partnerships grounded in respect, reciprocity, and resilience.

*Aspen inspiration - many related individuals, one organism*

Involving the community is essential for rebuilding trust, supporting tribal sovereignty, and addressing systemic disparities that disproportionately impact Indigenous populations. Genuine engagement fosters culturally appropriate solutions by highlighting Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) along with wisdom shared across generations. This viewpoint recognizes that Indigenous communities hold vital expertise in tackling challenges when they are invited to lead planning efforts. By fostering collaboration rather than imposing directives, we uplift tribal leadership and dismantle paternalistic frameworks.

Our participation in Indigenous planning, design, and construction begins with fostering authentic face-to-face connections, honoring tribal protocols, valuing oral traditions, and considering historical contexts and previous traumas. This approach influences the scheduling of initial design meetings, which incorporate time for more thorough planning and conceptual development. We are committed to actively engage every team member by listening to narratives, sharing meals, and recognizing that design is a process requiring multiple iterations to achieve the desired outcome. We approach discussions with humility, valuing feedback as essential for comprehension. The idea of community engagement may differ from some team members’ Western viewpoints; civic involvement might be intricately linked to customs, values, and everyday experiences. We also look forward to client assistance in refining our processes to ensure they are welcoming and engaging for all stakeholders.

*A jet contrail stands in contrast to the grasslands of the high plains in Wyoming*

While I lead projects as an Indigenous person and have worked with tribal members on numerous projects, including the Central Wyoming College Intertribal Education Center, stakeholders for all projects are unique. Each of our tribes has unique customs, governance structures, and ways of decision-making. Our engagement strategy is flexible enough to adapt to these differences while maintaining consistency in respect and cultural sensitivity. When done well, engagement becomes a pathway to healing historical trauma and fostering collective resilience. Initiative-taking engagement is foundational to Place Collaborative’s work style, which means we embed ourselves in your community, attending events, meeting leaders, and learning from our client’s community. It is not just about extracting data or meeting grant requirements. It is about walking alongside Indigenous Peoples as allies committed to equity and justice.

We must measure both the process and outcomes through Indigenous-defined metrics. We like to close each meeting by asking the question, ‘Have you been heard, understood, and recognized?’ We reiterate, we are not the decision-makers, but rather the facilitators of a process where we truly want the power to genuinely be held by tribal partners, not just attendance numbers at meetings. We close out workshops, meetings, and one-on-one interactions by ensuring we have documented community concerns and we are ready to bring design solutions developed through collaborative problem-solving that are not dismissed as being ‘too complex’ or ‘to vague’. You will hear us say, when we bless this facility before move-in, that we want stakeholders to believe they had a role in the creation of this new PLACE.

Serving Tribal Partners

Q&A with Kathy