Architecture is largely inspired by your mission and commitment to address the cultural, environmental and social diversity of the local community.

I am an enrolled member of the largest federally recognized tribe in the United States – the Navajo Nation. While in pursuit of Architecture, I have come to the realization that this profession is predominantly white, with very few Native American architects/designers. In my undergraduate program, I was vastly underrepresented being the only Native American student in a cohort of 100 students. Upon reflection of my undergraduate experience, I was overwhelmed by my professors challenging my creativeness, an approach derived from my own Indigenous ways of thinking. In contrast, I am glad they challenged me because I now know the importance of my role in the field of Architecture. Designers like myself, must act as a bridge between a diverse community and the western world. I take it upon myself to find positive dialogue between the world and promote indigenous well-being in architecture.

Infrastructure development that is grounded in indigenous cultural values must be a top priority for indigenous tribes, particularly for tribes located on remote and rural reservation lands such as mine where infrastructure is either non-existent or have aged into unsafe conditions. When architectural services are needed, Tribes often consult with non-indigenous led architecture practices where design of infrastructure is imposed rather than in cooperation with communities.  In my own communities, there are many unmet needs where improving infrastructure can help improve economic development, disproportionate rates of health disparities, poverty, alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual violence, and domestic violence. It burdens me to see my own communities to experience and live this harsh reality. I want to change this narrative, I want to provide solutions for my community with architecture, using a design approach that involves early community engagement, cultural teachings, and design drivers established by the community. It is my belief that architecture can provide solutions that American Indian communities can resolve from past traumas of colonization through indigenous architecture.