Reanna Merasty

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Reanna Merasty (born 1995) is a Woodland Cree architect, writer and advocate from Manitoba, Canada. [1] Her work centres around the importance of Indigenous representation in architecture, and advocating for and writing on Indigenous inclusion in design education.

Contents

Early life and education

Reanna Merasty was born in 1995 in Kisipakakamak, Brochet, Manitoba [2] and is a member of Barren Lands First Nation in Manitoba. She attended the University of Manitoba, earning a Bachelor of Environmental Design in 2019 and a Master of Architecture degree in 2021. [1]

In 2019, during her undergraduate, Reanna co-founded the Indigenous Design & Planning Students Association (IDPSA), the first Indigenous student-led organization in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Manitoba, [3] and the first of its kind in Canada. [1] The IDPSA advocates for the inclusion and representation of Indigenous design principals, initiatives, and programs in design education and fosters relationships with Indigenous communities. [3] During the final year of her graduate degree (2021) Merasty Co-Edited Voices of the Land: Indigenous Design and Planning from the Prairies.

Career and activism

Merasty is the Chair of the Welcoming Winnipeg Committee of Community Members with the City of Winnipeg. The Welcoming Winnipeg Committee is one aspect of the City of Winnipeg's reconciliation processes. [4] [5]

Merasty also sits on the Climate Action Plan Steering Committee and Indigenous Task Force with the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada, [6] is a Board Member for the design advocacy organization Storefront Manitoba, a charitable organization focused on the critical discussion, exploration, and celebration of Manitoba's design culture, [7] and a Board Member for the Indigenous music organization Sakihiwe Festival.

As of 2024, Merasty works as an architectural intern at Number TEN Architectural Group in Winnipeg. [8]

Publications

Awards

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Reanna Merasty – Indspire". indspire.ca. 2023-05-10. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  2. ↑ University of Manitoba (March 11, 2020). "Campus leaders honoured at fourth annual Indigenous Awards of Excellence" . Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  3. 1 2 "IDPSA 2021–2022 | Faculty of Architecture | University of Manitoba". umanitoba.ca. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  4. ↑ "Committee of community members – Indigenous Relations Division – City of Winnipeg". legacy.winnipeg.ca. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  5. ↑ Alwahaidi, Keena (Jun 15, 2023). "Meet some of the 2023 Indspire Awards recipients making a difference in their communities". CBC Radio.
  6. ↑ Canada, Royal Architectural Institute of (2014-08-22). "Committees". Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  7. ↑ "Local architects power Winnipeg's reinvigorated design". The Globe and Mail. 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  8. ↑ Lalor, Amina (12 May 2024). "In Conversation with Voices of the Land". The Site Magazine. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  9. ↑ Lam, Elsa (2021-06-01). "Book Review: Voices of the Land—Indigenous Design and Planning from the Prairies". Canadian Architect. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  10. ↑ Wong, Nicole (Feb 22, 2021). "Trying to inspire Indigenous youth by Design". Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved Jul 20, 2023.
  11. ↑ "#CBCMBFuture40". CBC Comm Mktg & Brand. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  12. ↑ "University Medals and Prizes". issuu. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  13. ↑ "Reanna Merasty – Cando". www.edo.ca. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
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