University of Saskatchewan
IN-1: Innovation 1

Currently under construction, the Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student is intended as a declaration of partnership between the Aboriginal community and the University of Saskatchewan, both on and off campus. Designed by world-renowned architect Douglas Cardinal, who is of Métis and Blackfoot heritage, the Centre will be an inclusive space that will house the Aboriginal Students’ Centre, Indigenous Students’ Council and will have spaces for ceremony and learning. It will be a place where the spirit and knowledge of First Nation values will partner with the knowledge and wisdom of a university educational system.

The building is envisioned to provide necessary amenities and resources for Aboriginal students, while simultaneously developing an understanding of Aboriginal culture for the campus community as a whole. The building represents the University of Saskatchewan’s commitment to diversity and social sustainability, especially as it relates to Saskatchewan’s First Nations.

The building’s location establishes an iconic gateway to the campus, demonstrating the central and important role that First Nations have at this university. It is an organic and sculptural structure that embraces the materiality and beauty of the campus, but is also a counterpoint to the rigid and formal architecture (Collegiate Gothic) of the campus. The building acts as a reminder to Aboriginals, and as an introduction to non-Aboriginals, about Indigenous world views. The Medicine Wheel concept orients the building to the summer solstice and establishes it as a marker to guide visitors onto the site and also the overall campus. By creating a hub that is orientated to the summer solstice, the building also re-aligns the current campus with the main campus axis established in the original University master plan.

The building is named after Gordon Oakes (1932-2002), a well-known and respected First Nations leader, who was born on what is now the Nekaneet First Nation.

During the initial schematic phase of the project in the fall of 2006 and winter of 2007, a series of Vision Sessions took place that identified a series of key design elements for the building. Further reviews of the design and the organizing principals involved extensive consultation with Elders and Aboriginal students attending the University of Saskatchewan. Those integrated into the building design include:

• The 7 directions: North, East, West, South, Heaven, Earth and Spirit.
• Connectedness and harmony as a contrast to the hierarchical world view.
• Building Orientation to reflect the traditions of local First Nations -- opening south to embrace all life, a wall as a ‘symbolic blanket’ cover to the North
• Symbolic colours (Red = South, Yellow = East, White = North and Dark = West) are incorporated into things such as the dome, flags, or glass.
• The primary pipe ceremony room cannot have another floor or building above it…in order to let the “spirits” flow.
• Air flow from smudging and any use of fire in building must be vented properly.
• Operable windows in order to let the natural movement of the “spirits” in and out of the spaces, especially during ceremonies.
• “Teachings” incorporated into the structure.

The building’s plan is based on the circle: the symbolic base for healing, knowledge, and equality, as well as the foundation for all Indigenous ceremonies. The central gathering space is both the symbolic and systemic base for the building’s plan, as each department is anchored to it. Movement into the building is in a clockwise direction – “the way the sun goes round.” The building’s main identifying feature is the undulating wall that begins at the site entrance, which wraps to become the northern wall of the building, acting as a symbolic blanket protecting the building from the northern winter winds. The wall continues to wrap the focal form of the western stairwell then return to the earth, gathering the programs into the central area, and creating a strong anchor for the building on the site.

Designed in accordance with sustainable design strategies, the building will also integrate sculptural qualities with sustainable solutions for the building envelope, mechanical systems, passive solar gain, material selections, and energy and water management strategies.

Aside from the immediate positive impacts created for the Aboriginal community on this campus, this building will also provide the University with facilities for lectures, celebrations, and presentations.