Sierra Tasi Baker: decolonizing urban design

This first episode of Matriarch Movement features a conversation with Sierra Tasi Baker, lead design consultant at Sky Spirit Studio (https://www.skyspiritstudio.com/), the urban planning organization founded by her family on principles of ancestral go...

Show Notes

This first episode of Matriarch Movement features a conversation with Sierra Tasi Baker, lead design consultant at Sky Spirit Studio, the urban planning organization founded by her family on principles of ancestral governance, Indigenous law and respectful protocols. Sierra is from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and is also xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Kwakwaka’wakw/Musgamagw Dzawada'enuxw, Tɫingit, Xaayda (Haida) and Magyar (Hungarian). Her Kwak'wala name is "Gesuqwaluck" which means "Creator or Creative one" and was given to her by her late grandmother and Grand-Matriarch Chief Emily Nelson Baker, T̓łaḵwagila̱'og̱wa.

Sierra studied Environmental Design at UBC and completed a Masters of Science in Sustainable Urbanism at the Bartlett School of City Planning at University College London, UK, one of the top ten universities in the world for the built environment. Her work focuses on decolonization through design; she has worked extensively with museums, universities, municipalities, and businesses to further Indigenous lead design and engagement. Sierra is also one of the choreographers for Butterflies in Spirit, a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women's advocacy and dance group founded by #MMIW advocate Lorelei Williams.

In this conversation with host Shayla Oulette Stonechild, Sierra shares the meaning of her work, where she implements a Two-Eyed seeing approach to research and honour her lineage and traditions; she addresses the importance of decolonization, the need for preserving mental health, and her commitment to community and matriarchy.

Sierra Tasi Baker: decolonizing urban design

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