As we navigate isolating lockdowns, masking, and even mourning, what does it mean to care for others? What is the role of architecture in creating a feeling of belonging? What stories of occupation and conflict can be amended with new ways forward?
A discussion took place between K. Jake Chakasim and Neena Verma about diaspora and the feeling of belonging. It was moderated by Alicia Ta, with a closing response by Jared Tailfeathers. We invited Sally El Sayed to write a response of what she heard from the discussion as a way of bringing light to the conversation. Read her response and view the discussion below.
Discussion Reflection
By: Sally El Sayed
Diaspora simply put is movement to and from, however the word can mean different things for different people. To set the stage for the talk, the panelists collectively curated a definition for diaspora as it meant to them. Together it was established as a relationship between people, land, belonging, home, and identity. My understanding of the term also comes through the relationship between mental and physical terrains. Land is often woven with identity, community, culture, and histories. People have the diaspora negotiate and carry fragments of these relationships from afar through memory. This becomes an exercise of world building; building the world in-between that bridges here and there. Often the diaspora is understood from a global context of displaced migration whether forced or voluntary to a new geographical host. However, diaspora can be considered from a domestic perspective as well. In the North American and Canadian context colonial nations superimposed onto Indigenous lands and people forced a separation within the bounds of the borders. Diaspora becomes equally about understanding between where people come from and where they are coming to?
The understanding of the intricacies and variations of the term diaspora raises questions when approaching meaningful design of space: How or can architecture carry the identity of the many while still acknowledging and respecting the land of those indigenous to it? Can the feelings of “home” be designed or is it something that is formed through community and culture? Architecture as it stands today is often constructed under modes of control: controlling the use of the land, the movement of people and the access of space. Especially in terms of both Indigenous people and immigrants the way cities, schools and other spaces can often be designed in such way to produce and othering and exclusionary experience. How can architecture move away from the use of control to designing with empathy, care, understanding and respect for the land and people?
Sally El Sayed is currently studying how the destruction of physical space is simultaneous destruction of memory and is interested in collective and community-driven design thinking and documentation. She lives in Ottawa and is a student at the Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism at Carleton University.
Question and Answer with
K. Jake Chakasim, a Cree architect from the Mushkegowuk Territory (Northern Ontario) and a doctoral candidate at the University of British Columbia’s School of Community and Regional Planning.
Neena Verma, a practicing architect, teacher and writer based in New York City. Her work queries the limits of contemporary architectural discourse—culturally, geographically and temporally.
Moderated by
Alicia Ta, Co-chair of the FOLD Editorial Committee who works in Planning at the City of Calgary and is an active volunteer with local community organizations.
Closing Response by
Jared Tailfeathers, performance and interactive installation artist of Blackfoot heritage. He is a member of The Tens Only Collective and a member of Indigenous Resilience In Music that focuses on helping further the musical pursuits of aboriginal musicians with a special focus on youth.
This event was co-produced with Calgary Public Library and made possible with the support of Calgary Arts Development and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.