David T Fortin Architect

Venice Biennale

Location: Venice, Italy

Date: 2018

Client: Canada Council for the Arts

Project Lead: Douglas Cardinal

Co-Curators: Gerald McMaster and David Fortin

This exhibition showcased 18 Indigenous architects from Turtle Island (Canada and the USA) to represent the two nations at the Venice Biennale of Architecture, the most prestigious architectural exhibit in the world. UNCEDED: Voices of the Land is a celebration of Indigenous architecture that speaks to and from landscapes of resilience, overcoming unforgiving limitations and serving as a register of hope and pride for Indigenous designers across Turtle Island.

Unceded is an experience bringing together the past, present and future of Indigenous experience as seen through the eyes and minds of Indigenous architects on Turtle Island. The Turtle Island Pavilion to be used as surfaces for telling the story through four thematic metaphors – indigeneity, resilience, sovereignty, and colonization.

UNCEDED: Voices of the Land shows the world that Indigenous cultures inscribed within the laws, customs, and traditions of our peoples, have a great contribution to make to the world, as seen through the work of the Indigenous architects.

www.unceded.ca