National Centre For Indigenous Laws
A site marker, part of the "Signs of Lekwungen" located in places of cultural significance to Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. Crafted by Coast Salish artist, Butch Dick.
Carving, peeling and the reef net are symbols from Coast Salish cultures that have informed the design.
The architectural firm leading the design of the NCIL, Two Row Architect, is a 100% Native-owned firm based out of the Six Nations Reserve in southern Ontario.
The project team gathered information through talking circles, conversations, tours of the land, and storytelling to understand and determine Coast Salish influences for this project. Early on, it was established that the building which is to house the NCIL is to be itself a teacher and, therefore, the ideas and design principles identified along the way were to be carefully and thoroughly understood. Some key influences are:
- The journey and natures power to cleanse
- The importance of water
- Directionality and facing east for ceremony
- Stories of transformation
- Respect for animals, plants, and trees
- Celebrating seasonality
- Carving, peeling, and the reef net are symbols from these influences that have informed the design.