Indigenous Ecohumanist Architecture for Health in Canada’s Far North

• Published in: HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
• Main Authors: Verderber, Stephen, Wolf, Jake Pauls, Skouris, Erik
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publications 2020
• Subjects: Climate change; Northwest Territories
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1937586720933176; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1937586720933176; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full-xml/10.1177/1937586720933176

Background: Circumpolar nations are experiencing unprecedented environmental and public health policy challenges due to global climate change, exploitation of nonrenewable natural resources, the endangerment of myriad wildlife species, and growing sovereignty disputes. In a call to action, the Arctic states’ health ministers recently signed a declaration identifying shared priorities for mutual international cooperation. Among agreed-upon collaborations, an enhancement of intercultural understanding and promotion of culturally appropriate healthcare delivery systems is to be of high priority going forward. Purpose and Aim: In far north Canada, health policies perpetuated for generations upon indigenous communities have, traditionally, often had adverse consequences for the medically underserved inhabitants of these communities. This discussion addresses the cultural disconnect between the colonial era and current indigenous, decolonialist health and healing design strategies. Method and Result: In response, two architectural design case studies are presented that synthesize ecological site planning precepts with salutogenic architectural design attributes—a behavioral health and substance abuse residential treatment center and three elderhousing prototypes for construction in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Conclusion: This conceptual synthesis is practicable, transferable, and adaptable to varied, extreme climatic conditions, as reflective of best practices in the delivery of healthcare facilities that express a synthesis of ecohumanist and salutogenic values and methodologies. The discussion concludes with a call for empathic, evidence-based collaboration and research that further examines the blending together of prefabricated off-site construction with on-site construction approaches.