Jenny Z.

Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver Heritage Fair

First Nations Architecture

My project is about the First Nations architecture, specifically: the longhouses and the plank houses. It looks at the building style, furnishing style, living style and lots of other information about the two types of first nations housing.

 

 

What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?

None of the longhouses and plank houses back then had windows, the only place that let light into the house is through the smoke hole, the fire pit, the fire pit build in the interior and some little spacing on the roofs. The front door of a longhouse or a plank houses always faces the ocean because first nations wanted to respect their ocean god.

What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?

First nations housings aren't just shelters, they are a piece of art. First nations architecture had a great impact on modern architecture in its structure and building style. First nations were very united; they lived in a very peaceful society where there weren't lots of war and fights.

How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?

First nations would live in the same house as 10-20 different families that aren't related to them but I have more privacy since I live only with my family. Living only with my family would mean that I wouldn't have such a good relationship with others like the First Nations did since they all lived under the same roof. I live in a house that actually has a door unlike the First Nations, who only had a hole for in and out. So, I live in a much safer home than the First Nations.