Calgary's Future: An Indigenous Art Museum Aims to Showcase Heritage and Culture

Imagine stepping into a building that not only houses stunning Indigenous art but also harmoniously blends with the natural landscape. This is the ambitious vision for a new museum in Lac la Biche, Alberta, that Allison Stephen, a local real estate professional, is excited to share with the expat and digital nomad community in Calgary.

The proposed Museum of Aboriginal Peoples’ Art and Artifacts (MOAPAA) is a project by the renowned Alberta-based architecture firm Spectacle. The museum will sit near Lac la Biche, showcasing the world’s only permanent display of works from the Professional Native Indian Artists Inc. (PNIAI), a group that emerged in the 1970s to advocate for Indigenous art as fine art.

Designed with themes of duality and contrast, the building features a rooftop garden with healing plants and seven elliptical paths, each representing one of the PNIAI members. Inside, the museum plans to include gallery spaces, classrooms, and ceremonial areas, all dedicated to preserving and showcasing Indigenous culture.

While the design has won recognition, significant fundraising is still required to bring this ambitious project to life. For those interested in supporting or learning more, the project details are available on Spectacle’s website.