i s the traditional knowledge and intimate understanding of the boreal forest ecosystem by the
Tr’ondek Hwech’in and other First Nations of value to our modern and environmentally detached lifestyles? Janine Benyus ( Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature , 2002) describes organisms able to adapt and survive in hostile natural environments.The Namibian beetle survives in the desert through an ingenious mechanism. It catches moisture from fog that rolls off the Atlantic by tilting its body and allowing the small peaks on its shell to scratch the incoming fog, harvesting the water. Once the water droplets grow to a sufficient size they succumb to gravity and roll along troughs that lead to the beetle’s mouth. Researchers have begun to reproduce the special textured surface for harvesting drinking water in arid regions of the world.
A straight spruce or pine pole was laid on the two tripods making a ridge beam which sup- ported tanned hides draped over it. If a larger structure was required, additional ridge beams would be added to new tripods. A variation replaced hides with small diameter poles placed side by side to form leaning walls. A more permanent structure used a rect- angular or hexagonal shaped post and beam framework to support leaning walls made up of small diameter logs.The system allowed dis- assembly and transportation of the hides and perhaps the ridge beam, however the plentiful small diameter aspen and spruce trees were often cut on site. We are surrounded by examples of survival in the most severe of climates.And lessons from nature are not alone as we can see in First Nations traditional dwellings. We can choose to continue along our current path that seems to direct us further away from these lessons, or we can engage with our diverse north- ern environments and run the risk of living more fully the ingenuity and beauty contained therein.
throughout much of the Yukon. Dwellings used boreal forest resources — trembling aspen, lodgepole pine and black spruce poles, spruce boughs, willow and alder stems, moss, caribou and moose hides, sinew and spruce root twine. Winter, or moss houses, provided shelter and warmth through their semi-subterranean configuration.A circular hole two to five metres in diameter was dug a half to one metre deep. Over this was assembled a framework of small diameter, bent willow or aspen poles tied together with sinew or split spruce root.The framework was covered by a patchwork of tanned hides with a central smoke hole and access openings.The final layer was a thick blanket of moss that pro - vided an efficient insulating layer.The interior dirt floor and walls were covered with a layer of spruce boughs, hides and furs. When warmer spring weather arrived, the moss houses were vacated in favour of simpler and less permanent moveable stick and skin structures.These were spruce or aspen poles lashed together to form two tripods spaced two to four metres apart. One tripod support was taller than the other for water drainage.
Antonio Zedda is an architect and partner in Kobayashi + Zedda Architects. He lives in Whitehorse,Yukon.The firm’s work can be viewed at www.kza.yk.ca
On Site review 11
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Spring 2004
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