Aboriginal Gathering Place

Aboriginal Gathering Place

At present, Aboriginal Program Coordinator Brenda Crabtree’s eight-by-twelve-foot office serves as a student lounge, computer lab and meeting room for Emily Carr’s Aboriginal students.In the free space remaining, visitors find drum frames, deer hide, cedar bark and other materials used for student workshops and studio courses.

Come this spring, Crabtree and Emily Carr’s 48 Aboriginal students will have much more room to manoeuver. The BC Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development has contributed $600,000 toward the construction of a dedicated area to meet the cultural needs of Aboriginal students. The new 1570 square foot gathering place will house a student lounge, a computer lab, a research area and the program coordinator’s office.

Embracing both traditional and contemporary BC Aboriginal design elements, the interior style will reflect the architectural traditions of the Coast Salish longhouse. The gathering space will allow for a wide range of activities, including art exhibits, studio projects, workshops, seminars, celebrations and feasts.

Crabtree says, “Providing a gathering place dedicated to Aboriginal students promotes identity and builds both capacity and capability. We are going beyond our academic duties to provide quality education; we will provide a space that’s relevant to and congruent with Aboriginal philosophies and values.”

Of course, non-Aboriginal students and visitors will be more than welcome. “It’s a resource for all Emily Carr students, faculty and staff,” says Crabtree. “In fact, the Aboriginal office serves as an Aboriginal resource for other BC educational institutions and the BC community at large.”

Crabtree anticipates the grand opening to happen sometime in the fall, when students have returned. She credits Janice Wong, Facilities Director, for her tireless efforts in securing construction permits and coordinating the project. She’s also grateful to President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ron Burnett, Finance and Administration Vice-President Michael Clifford and Student Services Director and Registrar Alan McMillan for working diligently to procure funding and space.

– Milton Kiang, Visions Newsletter, Spring 2010