MODUS: Designing Indigenous Architecture #51

In this episode of the Modus podcast Building the Future, RICS’ senior vice president Ann Gray FRICS speaks to Native American architect Sam Olbekson, a citizen of the White Earth Nation of Minnesota Ojibwe.

Olbekson, who works with indigenous organisations across the US, describes how and why he launched a Native American-owned architecture practice, Full Circle Indigenous Planning & Design. He says that having a small company has allowed him to develop a sense of trust with people that is harder to achieve if you are a large practice coming into a small community.

They also discuss the fine line between cultural appropriation and cultural specificity, as well as the process of working with communities who have never undertaken a building project before. Olbekson highlights the different goals and priorities of the wide range of indigenous communities living in the US and describes the value of a well-executed project.