Re-Settling Dawson Park: An Expanded Idea of the Friendship Centre in Edmonton, Alberta

Abstract

This thesis intends to expand on the idea of the friendship centre, embodying its original and current purpose - a middle ground between the city and indigenous culture. This middle ground will acknowledge damaging history, begin to heal and support current and arriving indigenous people, and make space for a resilient community to grow in the future. This design is based on a holistic idea of program organization, and draws from indigenous cultural beliefs and values to set up a new dialog with the city of Edmonton. The intent is that this community will grow larger over time, strengthening cultural pride, and threading indigenous spatial and cultural values further into the existing urban fabric of Edmonton.