Since 2022, Associated has been working on the design of Cultural Gathering Centres at Tachet and Wit’at for the Lake Babine Nation in BC.

Freda Leong, Associated’s National Leader, Indigenous Communities, tells us, “We are proud of the positive relationships we have built with the Nation and involving their steering committees and community members in every step of the design of two Cultural Gathering Centres. They have guided us through the design of these spaces which will support the communities. The designs are not twins, but are cousins. They are braided in intention, but include unique and special features – just like the people and the communities of Tachet and Wit’at.”

In 1876, the Federal government enacted the Indian Act, which gives the government the power to manage the affairs of Indigenous Communities and Peoples. The Federal government believed that Indigenous ceremonies like the potlatch prevented the assimilation/integration of Indigenous Peoples, and subsequently instituted an amendment to the Indian Act that banned the potlatch from 1884 to 1951. The loss of ceremony was crippling to Indigenous Peoples, as these ceremonies are deeply tied to their history, language, culture, community, and values.

Freda says, “During a visit to Woyenne, as part of our work on their Capital Asset Needs Assessments, conducted under First Nations Child and Family Services for Lake Babine Nation, we conducted a survey of the local Child and Family Services team and community members. Their responses will help determine the capital asset investments required to support child and family services through a prevention lens. What we heard from community members and Elders during our survey is that there is a need to bring back ceremony, culture, and language; to reconnect to the land, community, and spirit; and to heal through reconnection.”

While in Skidegate, Associated’s team met with the Skidegate Haida Immersion Program (SHIP) and attended an Open House to reach out to Elders and community members to gather their input and knowledge for the Child and Family Services Capital Asset Needs Assessment. One Elder told our team that their strength and sense of self was lost through colonization. Some spoke about the shame and fear of speaking their language when they were young and the punishment for practicing their culture, and how it was forced out of their lives. Elders spoke of the their healing through language and culture, and how they are regaining their strength.

Freda says, “Through wonderful programs such as SHIP, Elders are reconnecting, gathering strength, and passing on their culture, language, and ceremony to community. Today, we see the celebration of language and culture. Language and culture are healing. Gathering is healing. The new Cultural Gathering Centres for these communities will support and advance healing.”

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Associated Engineering is very pleased to announce that Freda Leong, P.Eng. from our Vancouver office has accepted the position of National Leader, Indigenous Communities.

In her new role, Freda will collaborate with staff across the company, providing strategic input and advice on business development, proposals, and projects to expand our work and support project delivery for Indigenous Communities across Canada. She will also assist and advise staff on Indigenous engagement and collaboration on their public and private sector projects. In addition, Freda will champion implementation of the actions associated with our Indigenous Commitment Policy. In particular, she will support the company’s activities to raise awareness and educate staff on Indigenous history, culture, and values so we can advance reconciliation. Freda will also continue as Manager, Indigenous Infrastructure and Project Manager, supported by the Infrastructure and Water teams in BC.

A graduate of the University of Technology Sydney in Sydney, Australia, Freda started her career with Sydney Water in system management and asset solutions, before moving to Canada and joining Associated Engineering in 2004. As a member of our BC Infrastructure team, Freda she has played an instrumental role in growing our work for Indigenous Communities in BC and the North, and providing business development and project support to expand our services to Indigenous Communities across Canada.

Freda has more than 25 years of experience encompassing planning, studies, assessment, design, construction, and project management of water, sewer, water and wastewater treatment, roads, drainage, buildings, and subdivision projects. Recently, Freda’s team received ACEC-BC’s 2022 Award of Excellence for the Kluskus Village Domestic Water System Improvements.

Freda is passionate about working with Indigenous Communities and is a strong advocate for Indigenous People. She has volunteered her time in Indigenous Communities and at career fairs to promote education and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) to Indigenous youth. Freda has also supported EGBC, ACEC-BC, and BCWWA to provide Indigenous awareness and education, and improve engagement and collaboration with Indigenous Communities. She is frequently called upon as a subject matter expert on projects and as a speaker at conferences on Indigenous collaboration and engagement. 

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Community Circle Approach to Project Delivery for First Nations Communities
Thursday, October 28 | 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM
The Lhoos’kuz Dene Nation’s main residential community of Kluskus is situated approximately 200 km west of Quesnel, on Kluskus Lake. Access to Kluskus is by forestry roads and year-round access is difficult/limited during winter and spring thaw. The Nation has been working towards clean, safe, and reliable drinking water for over 20 years, and has been supplying bottled water for drinking/food preparation/cooking since early 2000’s. TRC: Calls to Action states “Commit to meaningful consultation, building respectful relationships, and obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples.” Our commitment to this call to action was through the adoption of a Community Circle Approach for this project. This approach involves open dialogue and idea-sharing from all members of the Community Circle. The aim is to encourage and facilitate full, honest, and respectful collaboration with the Nation from feasibility investigation through to construction and Water Operator training.
AE Presenters: Freda Leong, Robyn Casement

Burrard Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Thursday, October 28 | 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
This session will present the structural and functional renewal of the Burrard Street Bridge. The Burrard Bridge is a massive, 870 m long concrete and rivetted steel truss bridge spanning False Creek, connecting Vancouver’s downtown peninsula to the city further south. This heritage Art Deco structure opened as a six-lane gateway bridge in 1932 and remains a beloved city landmark. Seeking to address significant deterioration the project addressed significant rehabilitation needs, restored failing or missing heritage features, and incorporated functional enhancements to allow the bridge to continue to meet the City’s needs.
Presenters: Shane Cook, David Harvey

The post Associated presents at Engineers & Geoscientists British Columbia 2021 Annual Conference first appeared on Associated Engineering.