The Northern Lights College Cultural Arbour is a 450-seat covered outdoor amphitheatre, intended to support the college community and local Indigenous peoples with a flexible outdoor gathering place for education, ceremony, and public events. Located at the main entry to the campus, on the main route through town, this multi-purpose venue is a new emblem for Indigenous presence at the college and within Dawson Creek. Created in collaboration with local Indigenous peoples, the project is a key part of the College’s strategic plan to honour Indigenous values and strengthen representation across its campuses – demonstrating meaningful engagement with Indigenous peoples and tangible results.

Embedded in a new wildflower meadow and ringed by a new grove of culturally-significant trees, the Cultural Arbour harkens to Dane-Zaa beaver house symbology: a protective communal space. The amphitheatre is ringed by a grass berm and sheltered by a shallow cone-shaped timber roof. A circular opening at the top of the roof allows smoke from the fire circle to escape, and provides a view of the sky, reinforcing the connection between earth and cosmos.

The project embraces both traditional forms and modern engineering. Inspired by local designs for drums and teepees, the structure uses simple geometric repetition to create a framework of interconnected triangles that efficiently distribute loads in tension and compression. The hybrid timber-steel design combines Indigenous expression with structural performance in a durable structure that harmonizes strength and lightness. With a theatre control booth for lighting and sound, and a large adjacent field featuring plug-ins for kiosks and food trucks, this flexible facility will be able to host many kinds of events – from graduation ceremonies, to farmers’ markets, concerts and pow-wows.

Related work: Featured First Nations Higher Education recreational