Ouri Scott, a Tlicho woman living in Vancouver, has been named a fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) College.

Born in Fort Simpson, she is among 41 Canadian architects to receive the prestigious honour this year.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was a big surprise,SA国际影视传媒� she said soon after the distinction was announced. SA国际影视传媒淚 think the biggest thing is the recognition from my peers. Other architects who have a huge amount of experience nominating me and accepting me into the college is just a huge honour.SA国际影视传媒�

A fellow of the RAIC College is SA国际影视传媒渁 member of the RAIC who has achieved professional eminence or has rendered distinctive service to the professionSA国际影视传媒� of architecture, according to a news release announcing this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 inductees.

Scott is an architect at Urban Arts Architecture (UAA), a Vancouver-based firm that specializes in community and cultural projects across B.C. and the Yukon.

Her interest in architecture started at a young age. She was inspired in part by her father, who she called SA国际影视传媒渁n eclectic builder.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 grew up in a house he built on the banks of the Mackenzie River, using half of a portable classroom that he built onto,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚t was quite a stunning house, and it took a number of years [to build].

SA国际影视传媒淚t wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 a typical house. It had big, high ceilings, and kind of a large open space. That was certainly an influence. Then a friend of mine, Melaw NakehkSA国际影视传媒檕, told me in Grade 7 that she wanted to be an architect. I was like, SA国际影视传媒榃hatSA国际影视传媒檚 that?SA国际影视传媒� She explained what an architect was, and ISA国际影视传媒檓 like, SA国际影视传媒極h, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what I want to be.SA国际影视传媒�

Scott went on to study community development and traditional knowledge in her undergrad, and later interned with UNESCO in Paris. She then lived in Slovakia with her husband before moving back to Vancouver and joining UAA.

She loves the work she does with the company, and pointed to the SA国际影视传媒渃ommunity relationshipsSA国际影视传媒� she builds as her favourite part of the job.

SA国际影视传媒淗aving a chance to learn from the communities that weSA国际影视传媒檙e working with about their history and culture, and then finding creative ways to bring that history and culture into the built environment, itSA国际影视传媒檚 really meaningful to be able to develop a strong relationship with the community and really have a chance to learn from their sharing of their traditional knowledge,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭o be able to reflect that in a building and then have them say back to you, SA国际影视传媒榊ou listened to usSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� for me, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the biggest compliment.SA国际影视传媒�

Scott has been involved in many projects sheSA国际影视传媒檚 proud of over the years, including a current endeavour.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 working with the Tlicho Government on some guidelines for housing,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e were able to do some community engagement last year and weSA国际影视传媒檙e working towards doing some more engagement maybe this spring or summer around this housing master plan. The focus is on supporting a Tlicho way of life in housing.

SA国际影视传媒淔or me, as a Tlicho person, this is really a special project. [ISA国际影视传媒檓 excited] to be able to have the opportunity to work with my own people and to find ways to not only meet a serious housing need, but to be able to find ways of doing it in a culturally appropriate manner and to guide future development within the Tlicho region.SA国际影视传媒�

Scott will be officially recognized as a fellow of the RAIC College at a May ceremony in Vancouver. As she awaits that important moment of her career, she encourages other young people from the NWT SA国际影视传媒� specifically Indigenous people SA国际影视传媒� to consider careers in architecture.

SA国际影视传媒淭here are not a lot of Indigenous architects, and, you know, we really need more,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a growing profession, a growing field. Having our community voices and particularly having Northern voices heard in a meaningful way is important to the future development of the North.

SA国际影视传媒淚 encourage anybody whoSA国际影视传媒檚 interested to pursue it and if they have any questions about architecture, ISA国际影视传媒檓 always happy to sit down with anybody.SA国际影视传媒�