FIRST PEOPLES HOUSE OF LEARNING

The First Peoples House
of Learning

Nozhem Performance Space
Lecture Hall
Gathering Space
Ceremonial Space
Reading Room
Elders and Student Space
Gallery Space
Tipi
Indigenous Studies Academic Offices
Student Services

The First Peoples House of Learning (FPHL) is the centre of indigenous activities at Trent. The FPHL is a space created by its physical presence and the dialogue that it encourages. The FPHL is entertwined with Peter Gzowski College; both share the Enweying Building on the east side of the Symons Campus.

FPHL spaces are:

Nozhem, the First Peoples Performance Space;
Mshiikenh (Turtle sitting in the sun), the First Peoples Gathering Space; Bagwasendamowin (the art of hoping), the First Peoples Lecture Hall;
Aachkingan (Room at the Centre), the Administrative centre for the Department of Indigenous Studies;
the Olive Dickason Reading Room;
Nandimowin (the art of learning) the Elders and Student Centre;
the Outdoor Ceremony and Teaching Space and the Traditional Teaching area, complete with tipi and sweat lodge.

The design of the First Peoples House is distinctive and unique. Its various spaces are distributed through the building rather than grouped in one location. The idea behind this spatial arrangement was to reflect the distribution of Aboriginal Peoples throughout Canada and Canadian society: Aboriginal people are everywhere. The encounter with aboriginality in Canada is one of the distinguishing features of the country. The dialogue which results is intended to be educational for everyone.

The spaces of the First Peoples House of Learning offer more than a distinctive physical presence on campus. They are centres for academic programming and student life. They bring aboriginal peoples cultural knowledge and thought into the university in a respectful way. Aboriginal people and others are brought together in a spirit of co-operative learning. The unique spaces encourage thoughtful reflection, inquiry and complex understanding.

The gathering space hosts conferences, student meetings, the elders gathering, academic meetings and events; the performance space hosts academic classes of all types; student performances and a season of professional aboriginal performances as well as serving as the eastern summer home for the Centre for Indigenous Theatre; the traditional teaching area hosts elders’ visits, classes and seminars, traditional teaching workshops, sunrise ceremonies, feasts and other cultural activities.