RAP RING seeks industry-wide change
Nearly a year into our first Reconciliation Action Plan, the ACA has joined the core group of organisations that coordinate the activities of the Architecture & Design RAP RING, a network of practices committed to bringing about change in our industry. RAP RING Chair Missy Saleeba reflects on the purpose of the group, the Voice Referendum result and why it’s critical for architects to enhance their understanding of First Nations culture, values and challenges.
Can you describe the purpose of the RAP RING and why you got involved?
The purpose of the Architecture and Design Reconciliation Industry Network Group (A&D RING) is to bring together professionals in architecture and design who are committed to advancing the aims of reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. As Chair, I got involved because I believe our industry has an important role to play in reckoning with First Nations’ sovereignty and rights to self-determination as we are working on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Country. We have a lot to learn if we want to break with the harms of colonisation and learn to work respectfully on Country. The RING is about industry-wide change, things that we can’t achieve with our RAPs. However, our purpose and approach are evolving.
Who are its members, and can anyone join?
Our members come from architecture and design firms, as well as related fields like urban planning and landscape architecture. We welcome anyone with an endorsed RAP (a process via Reconciliation Australia), who is passionate about reconciliation, to join our discussions and activities. We have a core group of individuals from RING practices who share the load of administration and organising activities, and there are opportunities each year for different practices to join the core group.
What sort of activities and topics do you explore through the RING?
We appreciate that non-Indigenous peoples must do the work of educating ourselves about our history, how current practices cause harm, and how we learn to do better.
We explore topics like:
- Incorporating Indigenous design principles and cultural values into projects
- Developing cultural competency within firms
- Providing opportunities for Indigenous architects and designers
- Addressing challenges faced by Indigenous communities through design
We learn about Indigenous history and connection to Country, which includes cultural awareness training, white privilege training, and listening and learning about the truths of our country’s history. We are interested in making sure that First Nations people benefit from the efforts that design practices put into their RAPs.
Have you seen a shift in how people engage in this space since the Referendum?
Since the Referendum, we’ve seen a significant shift in the architecture community’s engagement with Indigenous issues. The ‘No’ vote was a deeply traumatic experience for First Nations people, and this has resonated strongly within our industry. Many of us have been compelled to reflect more deeply on our roles and responsibilities.
There’s been a noticeable increase in firms seeking to deepen their understanding and take more meaningful action. However, this process has also led us to question our approach, including the very language we use. Many are now challenging the term ‘reconciliation’ itself, wondering if it adequately captures the relationship and outcomes we should be striving for.
Instead, there’s growing interest in reframing our efforts around the concept of ‘Caring for Country’. This approach aligns more closely with Indigenous perspectives and values, emphasising our collective responsibility to the land and its traditional custodians.
The referendum outcome has galvanised many in our community to work harder for change and to show more tangible support for First Nations peoples. We’re seeing a shift from passive acknowledgement to active engagement, with firms seeking ways to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into their design processes and projects.
This renewed commitment goes beyond just learning about First Nations Culture. It’s about fundamentally rethinking how we approach our work, considering how we can use our skills and influence to address historical injustices, and create built environments that truly respect and honour the ongoing connection of First Nations peoples to Country.
Why do you think it’s important for architects to enhance their understanding of First Nations culture, values and challenges?
It’s crucial for architects to enhance their understanding of First Nations culture because:
- Our work shapes the built environment that everyone inhabits
- We have a responsibility to respect and honour the long history and continuing connection of First Nations peoples to the land
- First Nations knowledge and design principles offer valuable insights for creating sustainable and culturally appropriate spaces
- Greater understanding leads to more meaningful collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and designers; this includes the importance of truth-telling
- It’s an essential part of our industry’s journey towards reconciliation and addressing historical injustices
- We are going to see Treaties in several states in the near future and we have the opportunity to re-frame our work and come into better alignment with First Nations’ self-determined futures.
By deepening this understanding, we can create architecture that is more inclusive, respectful and reflective of Australia’s rich cultural heritage.
Missy Saleeba is the Chair of the Architecture and Design Reconciliation Industry Network and the Practice Manager at BKK Architects.