“The First Nations people are very familiar with religious organizations,” said Allen. “Historically, missionaries attempted to strip them of their culture by enforcing their own traditions and way of life. Nations One had a very different approach. The organization empowers natives to embrace their rich history. Their efforts are focused on affecting a positive change in the desires of the heart through broadcasting the hope of the Gospel throughout these remote communities.”
One of the villages the team visited was Garden Hill, built on the shores of Island Lake. In the summer, a limited number of underdeveloped roads are open, but because they are not interconnected, most travel occurs by boat or plane. In the winter, trucks and snow machines can travel across the ice, and for the daring, people can also travel on foot.
The moment you arrive at any of these places, you realize how remote you are. You imagine the landscape in the darkness of winter, and it’s easy to think how the isolation closes in on you. The feeling of disconnect is real and it leads people down the darkest of roads.
“These communities have experienced incredible hardship,” continued Allen. “They’ve endured suicide of loved ones, alcoholism, abuse, and depression to name a few. Because of the work of Nations One, we had the privilege of capturing the fruit of these efforts. People have found freedom from their depression, broken the addiction to drugs, kids are thriving, and we truly saw a loving and generous community cultivated by this organization’s efforts. I can honestly say our job was truly a pleasure. When design is used for good… that’s a combination we get excited about!”
As the project came to completion, it was clear it served as a great example for how our four-step design process – Research, Strategy, Identity, Implementation – can guide the way.