Indigenous Planning & Design
Indigenous Public Interest Design is design in the interest of, and shaped by, Indigenous Peoples.
WHO?
In December of 2024, eight leaders representing diverse Indigenous communities and design practice formed the Indigenous Public Interest Design Planning Committee to collect, share, and celebrate knowledge and design projects by Indigenous Peoples.
These leaders were:
WHY?
The overarching goals defined by the Committee were:
- To seek from within Indigenous communities and cultures, as well as aligned individuals and practitioners, those interested in deeper learning about indigenous placemaking and thinking as positive and impactful influences.
- To recognize every person has unique expertise and wisdom through lived experience, and that sharing these with others allows mutual opportunities to be positively influenced by Indigeneity and expand our awareness and abilities.
HOW?
- Identifying key topics and issues for discussion, the Committee invited speakers to present at a half-day online panel for Indigenous people and partners which took place on October 24, 2025, with 11 Indigenous speakers/allies, 37 Indigenous communities represented, and 80 organizations from around the world.
- The Planning Committee drafted and adopted the Indigenous SEED Mission and Principles representing guidance towards positive Indigenous design.
- The discussion continued with 10 webinars led by Indigenous Leaders and Design/Planning Practitioners and with 650+ attendees (so far).
- The Indigenous-SEED Awards competition opens on May 15, 2026, to showcase design that exemplifies the I-SEED Mission and Principles.
- The Structures for Inclusion Conference will be held on October 8th, 9th, and 10th, 2026, at Portland State University to present knowledge that can be used in the interest of Indigenous communities.
- After the conference, the new goal is for conversations to broaden through knowledge shared, collaborations made, and collective actions taken.
Indigenous People have the right to live in socially, economically, and environmentally healthy communities grounded in cultural heritage and the sacred lands we called or call home.
I-SEED Principles
1
Protect our culture, language, ceremonies, and thus, our inherent rights – across many generations of our continued existence.
2
Preserve and enhance systems for inclusion and representation, so our communities strongly embody who we are as indigenous peoples around the world.
3
Promote social cohesiveness and cultural continuity through discourse that reflects our range of values and social identities.
4
Seek and make community-driven decisions to grow our capacity to plan, design and build in a way that promotes self-sufficiency and robust, living systems of sovereignty.
5
Take care to be good and respectful relatives interconnected to all living things – seen and unseen / known and unknown – who are mindful stewards of our sacred Grandmother Earth.