Let it Flood: Rethinking Flood Resilience for Indigenous Homes and Heritage

Abstract

Indigenous communities are not just the inhabitants of the land they live on, they are its stewards, storytellers and souls. Their homes, often passed down from one generation to another, hold the stories of their ancestors, struggles, and the rituals that define their sense of place. Yet, time and again, these communities are forced to evacuate due to flooding, temporarily uprooted from the lands they call home. Throughout Canada’s colonial history, numerous Indigenous communities have been displaced onto remote, flood-prone land increasing their vulnerability to floods. The impact of these repeated displacements ripple through the communities, disrupting cultural heritage, age-old traditions, and the sacred connection between land, water and people. This creates a profound sense of loss—both tangible and intangible. Many communities have felt the impacts that some residents were never able to return home, faced with the difficult decision to abandon their multigenerational homes.

With floods growing in frequency and intensity, the urgency to address the impacts of climate change is more pressing than ever. Beyond the cultural, social and mental toll, the economic burden of rebuilding is staggering, with billions spent on recovery and reconstruction. Communities without access to substantial resources for protective measures often bear the brunt of the impact. But while the physical structure of a home can be rebuilt, can one really rebuild and recover a sense of belonging?

This thesis advocates for amphibious architecture as a resilience-in-place approach—a way for Indigenous communities to remain safe on their land, even when floods come. Unlike relocation, which severs the deep bonds between people and place, amphibious architecture allows homes to rise with the water and settle back once it recedes, offering the possibility of living in harmony with natural cycles, rather than in fear of them. By exploring how this architectural form can be applied across Canada and incorporated into policies and regulations, I argue for a future where Indigenous communities need not choose between safety and staying on their homeland. This work is about more than protecting homes from floods; it is about safeguarding the cultural continuity and the deep connection to land that relocation threatens to erase. Ultimately, it raises the question of how architecture can protect and preserve the sacred bonds between land, water, and people, fostering a more resilient and equitable tomorrow.