The Indigenous Perspective Society offers training, consulting, and projects to help foster a deeper understanding of Indigenous perspectives, cultural differences, and the need for self-determination.

They advance education, knowledge and understanding of Indigenous cultures and practices with Indigenous Peoples and for individuals and organizations in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, helping deepen reconciliation.

This project addressed the underlying need for reconciliation, which is rooted in Indigenous rights and title, colonization, stereotyping and privilege. This need is reflected in the multi-generational trauma caused by the legacy of residential schools and the “60’s scoop” and continues through prejudice and discrimination that Indigenous people face today. A small sampling of statistics include:

• • 51% of Indigenous children live in poverty.
  • 73% of Indigenous people say people in their group are treated unfairly at least sometimes because of their race or culture.
  • 29% of Indigenous people say that racism affects people close to them to a great extent.
  • A recent B.C. survey found that 84% of Indigenous respondents reported that they have experienced discrimination when receiving health care.
  • 80% of reserves have median incomes that fall below the poverty line.
  • Alcohol and drug abuse was identified as a significant issue in their community by 80.3% of Indigenous adults and 77.3% of Indigenous youth.

HeroWork empowered IPS’s mandate by transforming their building—a former die casting shop—into a culturally relevant and safe space with the capacity to hold larger groups and foster deeper impacts.

The transformed building reflects Indigenous cultures, engenders psychological safety for the work that goes on there, has an improved workflow, increased size of training spaces, and improved overall efficiency and sustainability.

The transformation of the Indigenous Perspectives Society has allowed:

• • Program expansion with newly configured spaces that accommodate up to 50 participants, including four new breakout rooms.
  • Improved cultural safety through culturally relevant designs and spaces as well as increased natural light through more windows.
  • Deeper cultural relevance and safety for training participants across IPS’s curriculum.
  • An interior layout that improves operational efficiencies and sustainability.
  • Soundproofing that allows for better focus of participants and staff.
  • Addition of washrooms (including an accessible stall and gender-neutral stalls) to support larger groups and accessibility.
  • Improved air quality.
  • Redesigned building façade and landscaping that echoes their important work.
  • A connection to nature outside the building.