Film still: Douglas Cardinal in From Earth To Sky ©ChapmanProductions.
Screening: From Earth to Sky
From Earth to Sky documents the work of seven accomplished Indigenous architects from Turtle Island. With an aim of bringing forward the voices of Indigenous architecture, the film is an opportunity to understand an alternative worldview and approach to community, dwelling and connection with the environment.
Toronto-based Director Ron Chapmen describes the film’s genesis was sparked by meeting Douglas Cardinal in 2017 in connection with UNCEDED - Voices of the Land installation at the Venice Architecture Biennale, and the stories of the 18 Indigenous architects from Turtle Island who collaborated on the installation. “Diverse and distinctive,” Chapman describes in an interview, “the discussions I had with these gifted architects sparked the fire for a movie to doc[ument] their illustrious contributions.”[1]
Wanda Dalla Costa (Saddle Lake Cree First Nation, Alberta) “I work with many tribes across North America, so participation is vital. I spent three years working with one local Arizona tribe, a process that involved continually attending a number of events. I feel I am just beginning to be welcomed and trusted—this acceptance is when I feel the creation of architecture can begin. I came across the term "watchful listening" recently while reading. It’s a great phrase to describe the commitment needed in order to engage in this type of practice and work.”[2]
Tammy Eagle Bull (Oglala Lakota Nation, South Dakota) “When we are starting a project, I don’t go in and say, “Here I am and this is what we are going to do.” Instead, it’s more like, “This is your project. What do you want? What is your vision? How do you want to feel? How do you want people to feel when they are there?“ [3]
Patrick Stewart (Nisga'a Nation in northwestern B.C. from the community of Gingolx, a member of the Killerwhale House of Daxaan) “The idea that we could still design buildings based on community histories is something that I was really interested in because the culture was still there." [4]
Douglas Cardinal (Métis, Blackfoot, German and Algonquin heritage, Calgary, Alberta) “Indigenous people always lived in harmony with their values, and built in harmony with their environment and community. There was a relationship between the structures the people lived in, and their culture: when you live in harmony and respect with your environment and the people around you, whatever you do reflects that. The Indigenous world vision is far more compatible with the planet then the Western view, mainly related to power and control, not harmony.” [5]
Daniel Glenn (Apsáalooke (Crow), Montana) “And I'm sure you're familiar with the process of the early engagement, and getting to know everyone, and relationship building is fundamental to what we do, and having that strong connection. But it was a process we had to go through. What we initially were asked to do a masterplan, because the rivers, the Skokomish River that flows into the Sound, has been disrupted by all the development, and the way it's been affected by that, it's actually started to have quite a flooding issue. So, even though they've been in this area for a millenia, they're particular area where their homes are, and their facilities, are getting flooded on a regular basis.”[6]
Brian Porter (Six Nations of the Grand River, Ontario) “Storytelling is a huge part of what defines our cultures. If you don’t take the time to listen to the stories, you’re really short-changing yourselves; you’re really denying yourself the opportunity to understand the culture—to hear the way it was intended to be passed down, which is orally. You’re denying yourself the richness and diversity and potential that is there with each project.” [7]
Alfred Waugh (Status First Nations registered with the Fond Du Lac (Denesuline) Nation of northern Saskatchewan Canada, part of Treaty 8. Alfred is also part English and Swedish.) “For me, the difference between Indigenous architecture and other architecture is the emphasis on how it represents people culturally, and also placing nature at the centre of the value system rather than man at the centre of the value system. And that we should develop an architecgture that is respectful of the lands, is sustainable, and makes us aware of our environment and what our culture is as well.”[8]
