1.5 ConEd Learning Hours
8:30 a.m. ‐ 10:00 a.m.
Indigenous people have a strong connection to the Land, as she is our Mother Earth. It reflects our language, our traditional teachings and values, and our built structures. The Moose Cree people understood the world as they are all related to Mother Earth’s creations. Everything is interconnected with one another to achieve harmony and balance. This is the Cree way of life, which is called ililiwi‐pimâtisîwin. The traditional way of life for the Moose Cree people significantly changed during the 1600s when the British established a fur trading post on Moose Factory Island; soon after, the Anglican church took over the community. Our home stopped reflecting who we were and how we lived. Moose Cree has an ongoing housing crisis; the homes currently have poor insulation, poor air quality, and air leakage within the building envelope. All these problems are causing an unhealthy living environment for the families, posing a risk to mental and physical health.
The project will be developing a new housing prototype that identifies a new housing solution for Moose Cree First Nation. The solution will be Indigenous‐led and will reflect our way of life.
Learning Objectives
1. Learn about Moose Cree First Nation history and the Cree way of life.
2. Understand the effects of colonization on communities.
3. Learn about Indigenous‐led community engagement.
4. Understand the importance of Indigenous‐led housing.
Bohdana Innes, B.A.S., M.Arch., Intern Architect
J.L. Richards & Associates Limited.
Bohdana Innes is Môsonîskwew, a member of Moose Cree First Nation on Treaty 9 Territory. Born in Moose Factory and raised in Wawa, Ontario, she currently lives in Ottawa, on the Traditional Unceded Territory of the Algonquin Aninshaabeg people, and is an Intern Architect with J.L. Richards & Associates Limited. Bohdana is a graduate of McEwen School of Architecture at Laurentian University in Sudbury, a Northern design school that prioritizes holistic learning. She has worked continuously throughout her educational and professional career to gain knowledge in the Indigenous process and its relation to design. Bohdana has experience working with Indigenous communities throughout Turtle Island (North America) through professional work as well as during her architectural master’s degree thesis. As an Indigenous Intern Architect within Ontario, Bohdana strives to apply her education and Indigenous background to solve issues impacting Indigenous communities relating to the built environment and sustainability. She aims to empower Indigenous communities to establish independence though community‐based engagement/projects and bring their culture to life through built form.
Maxine Blais, OAA, B.A.S., M.Arch., Architect
Maxine Blais was born and raised in Sudbury and graduated as part of the inaugural class at the McEwen School of Architecture (MSOA) at Laurentian University. As a francophone architect working at J.L. Richards and Associates Limited and a graduate of MSOA, a northern design school that prioritizes holistic learning, Maxine has considerable experience working with various northern communities. She strives to bring her lived experience, empathy, and social sensitivity to every project she undertakes and has a passion for helping clients realize their projects in a way that is socially, environmentally, and economically sensible. Maxine favours an integrated design approach that hinges on open communication and engagement with clients and communities. She has worked on a variety of projects throughout Ontario and, with each, aims to positively impact the lands and people affected.