Trauma-Informed Design Through An Indigenous Lens

Indigenous communities have endured generations of trauma stemming from colonial policies such as residential schools, the reservation system, and the suppression of cultural practices. Yet, despite these profound challenges, there is strength, resilience, and hope for the future—communities are reclaiming identity, revitalizing traditions, and redefining wellness on their own terms.

‍

In this talk, Wanda Dalla Costa—Principal of Tawaw Architecture Collective and a leading voice in Indigenous design—shares key insights from her firm’s ongoing research. She will explore how trauma-informed design can support healing and cultural restoration and offer practical design strategies for creating spaces that are inclusive, resilient, and rooted in Indigenous values. Through the lens of Tawaw’s Two-Eyed Seeing approach, which integrates Indigenous and Western ways of knowing, Wanda will unpack community engagement methods, research findings, and co-design processes that can inform transformative architectural practice.