Towards Shared Visions
This paper deals with the design of culturally appropriate decision support tools in urban planning and architecture, as they were developed with the Innu community of Uashat mak Mani-utenam in Nitassinan. It illustrates the role and relevance of research-creation, based on the inclusion of Indigenous knowledge and experiences, in the development of pragmatic tools. These tools take the form of guides: the first for the renovation and adaptation of houses and the second for the development and rehabilitation of urbanized environments. They aim at supporting Indigenous communities and their planning professionals in three areas: planning issues, linking built forms and community aspirations, and building collective visions for the sustainable transformation of living environments. These intentions involve participatory methods and consultative processes which demonstrate that such decision-making tools can help build community and empower users.