In this podcast, Theodore discusses the embodiment of indigenous cultures in architecture. He suggests that such spaces can provoke a rethinking of one's place in time, where time is conceived as generational time, cosmic time and memories. Design, in this context, is an ongoing process and never complete.
He proposes the idea of 'place-knowing' instead of 'place-making'. Place-knowing acknowledges that a place may already be made. One has to "walk the land" to learn about the knowledge about the place as well as the world-views of the communities that inhabit there. Theodore suggests that a 'seven generations' model provides a time frame for designing places that are more attuned with one's life. These ideas pose interesting avenues for creating inclusive learning environments, which become a resource for the local communities.
About Dr Theodore Jojola
Theodore has a distinguished career as an educator and practitioner in urban and regional planning and other related subjects, with a particular speciality in indigenous planning. Since 1980, he has taught at the University of New Mexico. He served as director of Native American Studies from 1980 to 1996, acting director of the Community and Regional Planning Program in 1995-96 and director in 2004-05.