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Gathering of
Indigenous Architects
by Linda Kennedy
O
n Friday 19th April, I had the privilege of attending the first Gathering of Indigenous Architects held at the Koorie Heritage Trust, Melbourne. Hosted by Indigenous Architecture Victoria, Director Reuben Berg a Gunditjmara man gathered with 14 other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders involved in architecture including architects, interior designers and students from across Australia. The one day gathering was split into 3 parts: 1. Getting to know each other - who we are, where we’re
from, our achievements in architecture. This was also a great opportunity for us to note down other Indigenous architects/students who were not in attendance -about another ten. 2. What we’re currently working on in the profession - presentations from architects working in NSW: Dillon Kombumerri, Michael Mossman; Victoria: Jefa Greenaway; Queensland: Andrew Lane; an academic from the University of Queensland: Carroll GoSam and designer and
entrepreneur from NSW: Alison Page. 3. Yarning circles - we broke into smaller groups to discuss: how we can encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to pursue architecture as a career, how to support current Indigenous architecture students, and how we can collaborate with each other in the future. It was great to see the range of work that was presented from private practice and public sector, including community projects, culturally appropriate design, Page 1
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experimental art collaborations, and responses to identity in the built environment. Our discussions were passionate, inspiring and confronting, and this is without even attempting to tackle the topic “what is Aboriginal architecture?” Although it is clear by numbers that there are not many Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people working in the profession of architecture, it was awesome to gather and know that we have a network of our own mob within the bigger network of architecture in Australia: - to know that there are people to go to when we are confronted with the challenges of being an Indigenous person working as an architect, - to share ideas, celebrate successes and collaborate for the future of our country.
Bringing it back to the real world
It can be easy to get lost in the world of a career, and to lose sight of the bigger picture of why we do what we do - as architects or any
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other profession. Getting back to the real world can be as simple as spending time with family and friends - as I did on Saturday. I attended a baby shower, where I met Aboriginal playwright Steven Oliver. He told me that his most recent musical has a leading character who is an Aboriginal architect! His aim being to break the stereotype of what Indigenous professionals can be - so that our younger generations can see that black fullas can see and think ‘I could be an architect’. How deadly is that!? I also met an Aboriginal man from Queensland, Greg Kitson - a town planner! More of us are getting our way into the field of the built environment! In just a couple of days, my own perceptions of linking “Indigenous” and “architecture” has changed and grown - what an inspiration! As much as my direct passion is in architecture - any project that I participate in will always have part of me as an Aboriginal woman within its foundations, and as
architects we cannot work on our own. On a professional level we must collaborate with interior designers, landscape architects, urban planners, and more importantly we must work with people - our clients, and we must use our skills to improve the built environment for the future of the communities we are working with. No matter what field we are working in - it is important for all of us to show our younger generations that we can break the stereotype and achieve whatever we want to achieve - whether it’s in health, arts, law or architecture! Linda Kennedy is a Dharawal and Wiradjuri woman from the South Coast. She is 25 years of age, currently in her third year studying Architecture at the University of NSW having enrolled as a mature age student. Linda grew up in Aboriginal Housing Commission and is passionate about culturally appropriate design.