The Indigenous Design + Planning Institute (iD+Pi) is a new initiative of the School of Architecture and Planning, University of New Mexico created in the Fall of 2011. Its goal is to educate and inform Indigenous design and planning by engaging faculty, students, professionals and community leaders in culturally responsive practices. Its three principal areas of activity are academic, professional, and tribal.
iD+Pi works in an interdisciplinary fashion with the three major programs in the School of Architecture and Planning by providing a learning environment for students, faculty and professionals to engage, its activities serve to inform Indigenous design and planning practice.
Tribes which are located principally in New Mexico and the Southwest are afforded the expertise and resources of the School’s to support projects that entail aspects of design and planning. The overarching goal of this activity is to foster sustainable communities among Indigenous populations—communities guided by principles of social justice and distinguished by healthy environments, strong local economies, and thriving cultures.
iD+Pi works in an interdisciplinary fashion with the three major programs in the School of Architecture and Planning by providing a learning environment for students, faculty and professionals to engage, its activities serve to inform Indigenous design and planning practice.
Tribes which are located principally in New Mexico and the Southwest are afforded the expertise and resources of the School’s to support projects that entail aspects of design and planning. The overarching goal of this activity is to foster sustainable communities among Indigenous populations—communities guided by principles of social justice and distinguished by healthy environments, strong local economies, and thriving cultures.
Theodore (Ted) Jojola, PhD
Director
Theodore (Ted) Jojola, PhD, is a Distinguished Professor and Regents’ Professor in the Community & Regional Planning Program, School of Architecture + Planning, University of New Mexico (UNM).
Currently he is the founder and Director of the Indigenous Design + Planning Institute. iD+Pi works with tribal communities throughout the SW region as well as internationally by facilitating culturally informed approaches to community development. One of these is the ArtPlace Zuni MainStreet project, which is working with Pueblo artists to inform how they can be better represented in the streetscape and the local economy.
From 2008-2010, he was Visiting Distinguished Professor at Arizona State University where he was a member of the faculty of the School Geographic Sciences and Planning. He was Director of Native American Studies at UNM from 1980-1996, and established the interdisciplinary undergraduate degree program in Native Studies.
He is actively involved in major research projects on Indian education, Indigenous community development and architecture. He is coeditor of two books—The Native American Philosophy of V.F. Cordova entitled How It Is (U. of Arizona Press, 2007) and Reclaiming Indigenous Planning (McGill-Queens University Press, 2013). A third book is in the works, Contemporary Indigenous Architecture: Local Traditions, Global Winds (working title, UNM Press). In addition, he has published numerous articles and chapters on topics relating to indigenous design & planning, stereotyping and economic development. He is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Isleta.
Director
Theodore (Ted) Jojola, PhD, is a Distinguished Professor and Regents’ Professor in the Community & Regional Planning Program, School of Architecture + Planning, University of New Mexico (UNM).
Currently he is the founder and Director of the Indigenous Design + Planning Institute. iD+Pi works with tribal communities throughout the SW region as well as internationally by facilitating culturally informed approaches to community development. One of these is the ArtPlace Zuni MainStreet project, which is working with Pueblo artists to inform how they can be better represented in the streetscape and the local economy.
From 2008-2010, he was Visiting Distinguished Professor at Arizona State University where he was a member of the faculty of the School Geographic Sciences and Planning. He was Director of Native American Studies at UNM from 1980-1996, and established the interdisciplinary undergraduate degree program in Native Studies.
He is actively involved in major research projects on Indian education, Indigenous community development and architecture. He is coeditor of two books—The Native American Philosophy of V.F. Cordova entitled How It Is (U. of Arizona Press, 2007) and Reclaiming Indigenous Planning (McGill-Queens University Press, 2013). A third book is in the works, Contemporary Indigenous Architecture: Local Traditions, Global Winds (working title, UNM Press). In addition, he has published numerous articles and chapters on topics relating to indigenous design & planning, stereotyping and economic development. He is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Isleta.
Michaela Paulette Shirley (Diné), MCRP
Program Specialist
Michaela Paulette Shirley (Diné), MCRP, is Water Edge clan, born for Bitter Water clan, her maternal grandpa is Salt clan, and her paternal grandpa is Coyote Pass clan. Michaela grew up in Kin Dah Lichii in northeastern Arizona on the Navajo reservation. Several of her summers were spent at sheep camp in the mountain with her paternal grandma Isabelle Shirley. At sheep camp, Michaela contemplated the important Diné values of sheep, family, community, the land, and education. She received her bachelor’s in urban planning from Arizona State University, and a master’s in community and regional planning from the University of New Mexico. Michaela’s background is in urban planning, community planning, and Indigenous planning, with research interests in community development, community-school relationship, youth engagement/development, biographies of landscape, Indigenous Planning, and Navajo feminism/cultural studies. She is a current PhD student in the UNM American Studies program. Michaela is a program specialist for the Indigenous Design and Planning Institute at UNM. She plans and coordinates the development and implementation of sub-programs, special projects, and other initiatives to achieve the overall mission of iD+Pi. Michaela oversees the day-to-day operations of the various iD+Pi programs and activities. She serves as a primary liaison for the iD+Pi and represents the University with respect to program activities on a local, regional, national, and international basis.
Program Specialist
Michaela Paulette Shirley (Diné), MCRP, is Water Edge clan, born for Bitter Water clan, her maternal grandpa is Salt clan, and her paternal grandpa is Coyote Pass clan. Michaela grew up in Kin Dah Lichii in northeastern Arizona on the Navajo reservation. Several of her summers were spent at sheep camp in the mountain with her paternal grandma Isabelle Shirley. At sheep camp, Michaela contemplated the important Diné values of sheep, family, community, the land, and education. She received her bachelor’s in urban planning from Arizona State University, and a master’s in community and regional planning from the University of New Mexico. Michaela’s background is in urban planning, community planning, and Indigenous planning, with research interests in community development, community-school relationship, youth engagement/development, biographies of landscape, Indigenous Planning, and Navajo feminism/cultural studies. She is a current PhD student in the UNM American Studies program. Michaela is a program specialist for the Indigenous Design and Planning Institute at UNM. She plans and coordinates the development and implementation of sub-programs, special projects, and other initiatives to achieve the overall mission of iD+Pi. Michaela oversees the day-to-day operations of the various iD+Pi programs and activities. She serves as a primary liaison for the iD+Pi and represents the University with respect to program activities on a local, regional, national, and international basis.