Theses and Dissertations

Given the lack of research regarding designing culturally relevant housing for the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa Tribe, this study aimed to identify and evaluate key architectural design approaches that support Sault Ste. Marie Native culture. Key research questions guided the theoretical framework of the study, as well as the analysis of the final results. The questions include “What architectural design strategies have been used in the design of contemporary Native American Architecture in which the communities have key similarities or cultural overlap with the Sault Ste. Marie Indians?”, “How effective are each of these strategies and approaches in supporting these cultures and community needs?”, and “What are the strengths and weaknesses of each of these strategies in the context of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians’ culture and needs?”. In-depth literature and historical reviews were conducted to provide design principles and a basis for a housing architectural guideline for the Sault Tribe. A survey approved by the Institutional Review Board and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians was then conducted to collect data on tribal members’ demographics, views on culturally relevant design, and level of agreement with the proposed guideline points. Key survey results showed that tribal members felt low levels of connection to the Sault Tribe and agreed that a design guideline was necessary for future tribal housing. Furthermore, the results of the survey showed a high level of agreement with the proposed principles relating to sustainability, spatial planning, and building technology. Results also showed tribal members’ disagreements with several of the proposed guideline points, which further supported the need for a tribal-specific architectural design guideline rather than one general to all tribes. Based on the survey results the proposed design points were then organized into a tribal-specific final design guideline. Housing designs for the Sault Tribe were then created using the guideline, within the context of a reservation site in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and the current needs of tribal members. The housing designs serve as visual examples of the applicability of the guideline. The survey data, final guideline, and design examples will be significant resources for developing the Sault Tribes' urban environment and promoting cultural practice and survivance. The research will also contribute to the body of knowledge relating to contemporary Indigenous architecture.

Globalization, characterized by growing interdependence between countries on goods and services as a result of technological advances in society, has brought about immense change in the formation of culture. This phenomenon has gone beyond the market itself, reflecting changes in consumption patterns, shifting the way food is consumed (Labonté and Schreker 2007a: 1). When cultures start to intermingle in this context, what is considered traditional today? Traditional foods are generally characterized by the passing of cultural knowledge from one generation to the next. However, the concept of traditional food is dynamic, as it depends on many factors such as the individual who is carrying it out, territory, and time period (Rocillo-Aquino et al., 2021). The focus of this investigation centers on traditional foods in the context of Brazil. Home to 60.1% of the Amazon rainforest and more than 220 indigenous tribes and traditional communities, the country has rich biodiversity and a complicated social-economic background. In the early 90s, with the opening of the market, there was considerable growth in the country’s food imports (Moura & Mendes, 2012). As a result, globalization in the Brazilian context has brought about a change in the country’s food production industries through political, technological, and economic forces that have led to a population’s change of consumption and habits, all of which affect traditional methods of production and consumption (Valduga, & Minasse, 2020). These factors are what contribute to the line between traditional flavors and interpretations becoming progressively more blurred with time (Rezende & Avelar, 2012). Food is a principal actor in what shapes society 's identity and relationship with the world. While the standardization of food practices has facilitated life in contemporary society in various ways, mainly influenced by the need for time, practicality, and efficiency, it also poses a challenge by disrupting cultural traditions, heritage, and health. The quotation, “Ou seja a saúde do homem depende da sua alimentação, que por sua vez, é baseada nas tradições culturais e nos alimentos disponíveis na região onde vive”*, exemplifies the relationship between society, culture, and food underscoring how human health relies on dietary habits rooted in cultural traditions and the locally available foods (Moura & Mendes, 2012, p.1). This results in a noticeable tension between commercial and traditional goods where quality and culture are replaced with practicality and efficiency. In an increasingly homogenized food landscape emerges the question: why should society be preserving these methods if they are being lost to market forces? With the aim of clarifying this question, this project investigates the role traditional food products have in the contemporary Brazilian context, and their adaptation in a globalized environment. To develop a deeper comprehension of how traditional foods have adapted to globalization in Brazil, the investigation utilizes the TEP10 framework. The TEP10 framework is designed to analyze, systematize, and conceptualize the nuances between traditional and modern foods. Within this study, the framework is applied to investigate the Slow Food Indica project centered in Salvador, Bahia, which aims to promote the visibility of food products from regional cooperatives and family producers. The investigation will analyze the food products featured in the project and examine factors that contribute to their categorization as traditional or modern. By shedding light on what discerns traditional and modern foods, the investigation aims to understand how these foods are presented and preserved in the current globalized context.