Program
Architecture
College
Architecture and Planning
Student Level
Master's
Location
PAÍS Building
Start Date
10-11-2022 11:00 AM
End Date
10-11-2022 1:00 PM
Abstract
Throughout the history of colonization and "Native American" (Indigenous) tribes within the U.S have endured the deconstruction of culture, tradition, language, and sacred structures. All of which are part of sharing cultural identity to future generations and the continuance of self-identity for tribes throughout the U.S. This leads to my research question "How can the Navajo Hogan be structurally modified for contemporary living while upholding cultural values, traditions and history it represents?" Starting with one tribe as a beginning of future design knowledge for others. The Navajo Hogan is a sacred dwelling embedded with many stories, cultural teachings, and traditional meaning. Designing with this in mind could help develop homes throughout the Navajo Reservation that reverts back to the sacredness of these dwellings. Instead, today tribes have no choice to rely on governmental entities to design homes that are not adhering to their cultural values. This issue adds to cultural trauma our elders endured, being forced to relocate on tribal reservations, acculturation, prejudice, and genocide. One can approach this question with empathy and sensitivity to alter indigenous structures to tribal needs based on their traditional teachings and origin stories of the dwelling. Another approach could begin with surveying and engaging with the Navajo community to collectively engage them in the process of altering the Navajo Hogan structure to meet their contemporary needs. Through this research, it could give reclamation back to the Navajo people through reengaging cultural and traditional values back into domestic living spaces.
Reimagining Ceremonial and Domestic Living within the Navajo Hogan
PAÍS Building
Throughout the history of colonization and "Native American" (Indigenous) tribes within the U.S have endured the deconstruction of culture, tradition, language, and sacred structures. All of which are part of sharing cultural identity to future generations and the continuance of self-identity for tribes throughout the U.S. This leads to my research question "How can the Navajo Hogan be structurally modified for contemporary living while upholding cultural values, traditions and history it represents?" Starting with one tribe as a beginning of future design knowledge for others. The Navajo Hogan is a sacred dwelling embedded with many stories, cultural teachings, and traditional meaning. Designing with this in mind could help develop homes throughout the Navajo Reservation that reverts back to the sacredness of these dwellings. Instead, today tribes have no choice to rely on governmental entities to design homes that are not adhering to their cultural values. This issue adds to cultural trauma our elders endured, being forced to relocate on tribal reservations, acculturation, prejudice, and genocide. One can approach this question with empathy and sensitivity to alter indigenous structures to tribal needs based on their traditional teachings and origin stories of the dwelling. Another approach could begin with surveying and engaging with the Navajo community to collectively engage them in the process of altering the Navajo Hogan structure to meet their contemporary needs. Through this research, it could give reclamation back to the Navajo people through reengaging cultural and traditional values back into domestic living spaces.
