New Architecturai Process in British Columbia First Nations Schools
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Agents of Change: New Architecturai Process in British Columbia First Nations Schools. by Charity Marple. Bacheior of Arts (Honours) with distinction A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Canadian Art History Carleton University OTTAWA, Ontario (May 5) 01998,Charity Marple National Library Bibliothèque nationale I*1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue Wellington OttawaON K1AONQ Ottawa ON KIA ON4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microfoq vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/fh, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial exbracts fkorn it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or othewise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Abstract Between 1987 and 1996 ten schools were built on reserves in British Columbia, funded by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Although they are unusual in form, it is the process by which they were built that makes thern unique, and unites them as a group. This thesis will examine the design and construction process of these schools, focusing on three: The Seabird Island School, The Stone School, and the Old Massett School- The schools being examineci mark a transition period, with power from the federal government being transferred to Aboriginal peoples. The roles of the participants, and how these roles were modified by project manager MarieOdile Marceau. will be explored. In these building projects, Marceau created an environment in which Aboriginal cornmunities could participate in the design and construction of their schools. Through this participation, First Nations were able to represent their cultures as rooted in traditions of the past, while maintaining existence in the present day. The schools themselves are material evidence of their participation and movement towards autonomy. Acknowledgments I would like to express gratitude io my supervisors Natalie Luckyj and Julian Smith for their guidance during my theçis writing process. Thanks to Natalie for her expertise on the structure of the thesis. Her encouragement and advice before the oral defence were parlicularly helpful and appreciated. Thanks to Julian for helping me work out ideas. His guidance to write or i what most interested and rnoved me about this topic was deeply appreciated. I also extend gratitude to my partner Kevin Shoom for his constant support. Kevin listeneci, encouraged, and provideci humour when thingç seemed not veiy funny at all. He helped me keep perspective during the thesis writing process, and made it a special event when I finished- Thanks kevin! And fast but not least, thanks to the Turtle for guidance and navigational assistance. iii Table of Contents l ntroduction Chapter One: The Educational and Architectural Context Chapter Two: The Role of Marie-Odile Marceau Chapter Three: The Process Chapter Four: Culture lncorporated into School Chapter Five: Evaluation of the Process Conclusion Appendix 1: List of Schools Appendix 2: Map of School Locations Appendix 3: Explanation of Terms l llustrations Bibiiography List of ltlustrations Illustrations of Ten Schools ..... ............................................................................. 108 -1 1O Fig. 1 Salish shed houses, 1866, Quamichan, Puget Sound, Washington- Peter Nabakov and Robert Eastman. Native American Architecture. (New York: Oxford University Press. 1989). 233 ........................................................................................................................... 113 Fig. 2 Thompson lndian Pit House. Murray, Hanganu and Kiridand, ' Award of Excellence: Stone Band School" The Canadian Architect, 35:12, (Decernber 1990), 14. .......................................................................................................... 114 Fig. 3 Haida house, c. 1900, Haina, Queen Charlotte Islands George F. MacDonald, Chiefs of the Sea and Sky, (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press. 1989.). 38- ......-.................................................................................................................... 1 15 Fig. 4 Final Model of Seabird Island School. Seabird lsland British Columbia- Dubois. Murray. and Richards. 'Award of f3celIence:Seabird Island School," Canadian Architect, 3411 2, (Dec- 1989), 25- .................................................................................................................... 11 6 Fig. 5 Tsartlip School- Saanich, British Columbia. Photo by Author, 1996- ..................................................................................................... 1 17 Fig. 6 Acwsalcta School. Bella Coda British Columbia. Obtained from Marie-Odile Marceau, 1996. .............................................................................. 11 8 Fig. 7 Seabird lsland School, Exterior. Seabird Island British Columbia. Photo by Author.1996. ......................................................................................................... 1 1 9 Fig. 8 Seabird lsland School, Exterior. Seabird Island British Columbia. Photo by Author.1996. ........................~.........................................~....................................... 120 Fig. 9 Seab ird Island School, Interior. Seabird lsland British Columbia. Photo by AuthorJ 996. ........................................................................................................... 12 1 Fig. 10 Seabird lsland School, Interior- Seabird lsland British Columbia. Photo by Author.1996. ........................................................................................................... 122 Fig. 11 Old Massett School, lllustrated Exterior Wall. Old Massett, British Columbia. Photo by Author.1996. ........................................................................................................... 123 Fig. 12 Old Massett School. lllustrated Exterior Wall. Old Massett, British Columbia. Photo by Author. 1996- ........................................................................................................... 124 v List of Illustrations Continued Fig. 13 Seabird lsland School, Ceremonial Door. Seabird Island School, British Columbia. Photo by Author.1996. ......................................................................................................... 125 Fig. 14 Haisla Village School. Ground Floor Plan. Kitamaat. British Columbia. LeCuyer, Annette. .Native Wrt." Architectural Review. 193:l 155. (May 1993). 48- ..................... 126 Fig. 15 Tsartlip School, Saanich. British Columbia. Photo by Author.1996- ...........................................................................................................127 Fig. 16 Seabird lsland School, Plan and Elevations. Seabird lsland British Columbia. "Ancestrai Forms." Architectural Review. 1913148, {Oct. 1992). 43. ......................................... 128 Fig. 17 Seabird lsland School. Site Plan. Seabird lsland British Columbia. "Ancestral Forms," Architectural Review, 1913148. (Oct. 1992). 44- ........................................ 129 Fig. 18 Seabird lsland School. Interior. Seabird Island British Columbia. Photo by AuthorJ 996. ....................-...............................-...................................................... 130 Fig. 19 Seabird lsland School. Exterior. Seabird Island British Columbia. Photo by Author.1996. ................... .,. ................................................................................. 13 1 Fig. 20 Seabird lsland School. Exterior. Seabird Island British Columbia. Photo by Author.1996. ..........................................................................................................f 32 Fig. 21 Old Massett School. Pian and other Views . Old Massett. British Columbia. Baird, Murray, and Sturgess. "Award of Excel1ence:Otd Massett Prirnary School. Queen Charlotte Islands." Canadian Architect. 38:Z. (Dec 1993). 23. ................................................................ 1 33 Fig. 22 Haida Village, 1902. Ksan, Queen Charlotte Islands. British Columbia Provincial Museum, El62. ............................................................................. 1 34 Fig. 23 Layout of Village of Massett. 1880. Baird. Murray, and Sturgess. "Award of Excellence: Oid Massett Prirnary School, Queen Charlotte Islands-" Canadian Architect, 38:2, (Dec 1993),22-23. (Subrnission) ........................................ 135 Fig. 24 First Model for Old Massett School. Obtained from MarieOdile Marceau, 1996. ..............................................................................1 36 Fig. 25 Haida House Types. Blackman. Margaret. 8..Window on the Past: The Photographic Ethnohistory of the Northem and Kaigani Haida. (Ottawa: National Museurns of Canada. 1981.), 12. ..-........-.................-.-..m. .................. 137 List of Iliustrations Continued Fig.