Project Sectors
CONTEXT
The BC First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC) is transforming justice for Indigenous People - First Nation, Métis and Inuit - across British Columbia. Much of this work is done at its Indigenous Justice Centres, which are scattered throughout the province. At these Centres, people get free legal representation on criminal and child protection cases, and wraparound supports based on community and cultural needs.
To meet the increasing demand for these services, our project team was commissioned to help BCFNJC open five new Indigenous Justice Centres in Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Surrey and Kelowna. The project team assisted with property selection for each city and helped navigate lease agreements to secure the spaces. Three of the five sites chosen are historical buildings; this strengthens the reclamation of colonial spaces.
TIGHT TIMELINES
The project timeline for these five retrofits was rapid, so the focus was on light but effective renovation: replacing or adding only what was necessary to meet each Centre’s needs. The project team undertook space planning and new interior treatments, including new millwork, custom wallpaper and furniture procurement. The experience of each post-renovation space is radically different from pre-renovation, yet not a single wall was moved.
IT'S ALL ABOUT ART
The centrepiece of the Justice Centres is carefully integrated and custom-placed Indigenous art. To help create a safe and welcoming space for clients that aligns with the protocols of the local First Nations, the design team facilitated thoughtful planning to commission host Nation artists for each location. Ultimately, 29 artists across the five sites were engaged to contribute to the new Centres. This collaboration meant that a greater portion of the project budget was directly placed in the hands of Indigenous people and ensured that these spaces would reflect their communities.
Each of the 29 Indigenous artists had a unique vision that was integrated to make each space resonate for its site. Local Elders identified healing plants to be included in the designs for each location. Bringing culturally-relevant design elements to life required close coordination between the client, design team, contractors, trades and artists.
The interior design of each space plays a supporting role to its art, yet thoughtful design elements recur across all the Centres. Inspiration was drawn from the salmon in BCFNJC’s logo to design a reception desk adorned with custom millwork of rounded wooden shakes that suggest salmon scales. Elsewhere, custom wallpaper depicts salmon leather and the shape of salmon tails. Other motifs include land-based explorations such as weaving, and culturally significant regional plants, the names of which are displayed in the local Indigenous language. These motifs are articulated in various ways, including large-scale murals, custom wallpapers, and glazing films.
INDIGENOUS-LED TEAM
Myriad Indigenous voices shaped this project from all sides: the client, the project team, local community members, and, of course, the Indigenous artists. Empowering Indigenous people to lead the planning, design, and construction of the project helps ensure that the Justice Centres will serve as catalysts for change, transforming how Indigenous peoples navigate justice spaces on the journey toward healed outcomes and reconciliation.
