Seine River First Nation Cultural Centre

The Seine River First Nation Cultural Centre is a multi-purpose building located on a First Nations reserve in Northwestern Ontario. It draws on traditional Aboriginal designs to create an original and contemporary community center. The distinctive form of the nearly 700 m2 cultural center reflects the functional requirements of the First Nation, with a community hall, offices, craft rooms and a ceremonial space. Developed in close collaboration with the Seine River First Nation, the building reuses materials from an earlier, incomplete structure, and echoes traditional Aboriginal craftsmanship and the surrounding nature. To represent nature, its warmth and textures, wood is featured. The unfinished structure was the result of a contractor's ready-to-assemble house project. The space lacked the malleability and fluidity to accommodate a stimulating community center. Significant cultural and functional reflections in collaboration with the First Nation led to a complete vision of the building. The challenge was to create new configurations with existing materials to meet the requirements of the new concept. The structure was dismantled and the materials inventoried. A mock-up of the building parts allowed for an economical use of the salvaged materials such as glulam columns and beams, wood studs, windows and part of the concrete slab. Upon entering the building, the first thing you see is a wall of stacked beams, a reception desk and a frame all made of glulam. The vaulted ceiling clad in tongue-and-groove pine curves upward and gives way to tall windows that bathe the space in natural light.

The public entrance and exhibition space are distinguished by their bright colors and the presence of reclaimed laminate wood. The floor pattern, which continues throughout the building, is reminiscent of beadwork and porcupine quillwork of native tradition. The floor creates an effect of movement from the entrance through the offices to the main lobby, culminating in the ceremonial area. The round shape and low ceiling distinguish the ceremonial space, as do the colors of the doors - white, yellow, red and black - which reference the medicine wheel. The floor is made of clay, composed of sand mixed with traditional medicines from sacred sites in the Seine River First Nation territory. Indirect lighting and sound dampening materials enhance the ritual nature of the space. The spruce pillars that encircle the room are sourced from trees throughout the traditional territory.

The exterior siding is made of reclaimed cedar painted to resemble birch bark, an abundant species in the territory. Locally harvested red pine logs are arranged to create a wavy shape, and protect the outdoor work space on the south side of the center. An elder directed the selection and cutting of the wood. These and other ideas emerged from dialogues with the First Nation Chief and Council. The use of reclaimed and locally sourced wood shapes the character and identity of the building.