Vivian Manasc - Old Stories, New Ways

I have known Vivian Manasc, of Manasc Isaac Architects, since 1992, while the firm was leading the design and construction of the local junior and senior high school in Saddle Lake Cree Nation. I learned that Vivian was completely open, as a blank canvas is readied to receive the impressions of the painter. She was consistently prepared to listen, learn, and listen some more. In the relationship that we engendered during this period of concept to construction of a school building for Cree youth, I repeatedly brought Vivian to meet and hear the original teachings of my mentor, the late Peter OChiese. From these times of listening and learning, Vivian captured in the internal design of the school building our origins stories that she learned from the mentor.

As I have been roused at Vivians capacity to create in architectural form, I retrace this soulful journey of awareness-raising in this foreword to her book Old Stories, New Ways: Conversations about an Architecture Inspired by Indigenous Ways of Knowing . This journey starts with the building committees vision, then moves into the heart of the original teachings, which later were captured in images and building materials that became the new junior and senior high school. I was captivated by Vivians capacity and openness, and when approached to write this foreword for her new book, which broadly portrays more of her journeys with First Nations peoples of the western part of Canada, I did not hesitate to accept the invitation.

The relationship forged with Vivian began when I became a member of the Saddle Lake Junior Senior High School Building Committee by virtue of entry into my role as the Education Director in June 1992. At this time, the building committee was at a stage where the concept drawings were completed and the elements of the internal design were being discussed. The building committee members were of the mindset that the building be a place laden with meaningful symbols to represent Saddle Lakes unique Cree pedagogy that is rooted in epistemological and ontological knowledge founded upon the iyinitaw ayisiniwak , the original peoples of these lands. The intention was to create a learning environment for the young people to learn the truth of their being. I draw upon one of the first origin stories shared with Vivian by the mentor, OChiese, in the summer of 1992.

On being, ontology suggests that the nature of most Indigenous peoples can be determined as to how well they know their space on this earth life. Then, how well they interact with their environment in consideration of how relations are maintained, nurtured, and created. Iyinitaw ayisiniwak are the original peoples of Turtle Island, which is the place commonly known as North America today. The iyinitaw ayisiniwak of the plains regions refer to these lands as the mahikanak , the wolf clan lands.

The original peoples have what is called life force energy derived from living a full life. As in any social order, there are laws that are developed to ensure a full life. Natural Laws are those handed down to the original peoples by the Creator and are the laws that are followed on a daily basis to perpetuate a good life, miyo pimtisiwin . The Natural Laws of kindness, honesty, strength, and sharing are foundational to raising children, communal living, reciprocity with the land, making treaties, and ceremonies.

The grasses that grow everywhere are there to remind us of the first law of kindness. Bears line their dens with sweetgrass in preparation for their annual fasting time. Upon awakening each spring after a long rest, the sweetgrass ignites to signal the sacredness of the growth of a new year. In the dance circle of life, there are people known to be grass dancers, whose responsibility it is to gently flatten all the grasses within the camps and when preparing ceremonial lodges. It is known that once the ceremonies are complete and the lodge is taken down, the elements of lifethe sun, the wind, the rain, and the earthwill revitalize the grass. The grass will grow and stand once again as willed to be in relation to creation. In demonstration of its compassion, kindness, and humility, the grass is a teacher for humanity to be in this constant state of relationship with oneself so as to be with others, and is considered one of the natural pillars.