. . . where students learn from accomplished Indigenous mentors who share their culture
. . . . where the celebration of Indigenous knowledge fuels a stronger society
. . . where Indigenous artists hold leadership roles in post-secondary institutions across Canada.
Visit & Connect
The Longhouse Labs (LLabs)
263 Philip Street, East Campus Hall (ECH)
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
N2L 3G1
Our Mission
The Longhouse Labs exists to empower, support, advance, and promote Indigenous creative leadership, artistic growth, and heritage practices in Waterloo Region and beyond.
The LLabs focuses on the FAIR (Fellowship for Indigenous Artists-in-Residents) program. Each year, the UW Fine Arts department invites Indigenous artists as Longhouse Lab Fellows to develop their creative work through self-directed artist residencies. Fellows receive dedicated studio spaces, access to experts, mentorship opportunities, and chances to share their work and ideas. The LLabs supports Indigenous creative practices that meet the needs of contemporary and traditional Indigenous artists and craftspeople. Our flexible facilities allow for community gatherings, intimate access to Indigenous material culture from museums, land-based artistic practices, and the use of both digital tools and traditional studio methods (like ceramics, painting, and sculpture). The LLabs also creates space for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members to join in Indigenous-led projects and programs, including exhibitions, collaborative sessions, workshops, and discussions.
Longhouse Labs Namesake
The traditional longhouse was and continues to be vital to Indigenous communities in the territory which the Waterloo Region is situated among. It continues to be of great cultural significance among the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas of New Credit, and Haudenosaunee. The longhouse, was a shelter, and continues to be a space where communities gather, support each other, and scaffold upon to make room for more. Named in tribute to this rich legacy, the Longhouse Labs (LLabs) operates on the same principles. The LLabs honours past and present Indigenous connections to land, concretely to the Haldimand Tract (where this project is located), land designated to the Haudenosaunee of Six Nations of the Grand River. It also evokes the recently unearthed Indigenous villages in the Waterloo area, from which over 30,000 items have been excavated alongside the remains of numerous longhouses. Naming this initiative the Longhouse Labs underscores the project commitment to nurturing a collaborative, supportive Indigenous-led environment dedicated to correcting the current state of exclusion in arts and cultural institutions across Canada.
LONGHOUSE LABS FACILITIES & CAPITAL FUNDING PARTNERS
Good Foundation
LONGHOUSE LABS PROGRAMMING & RESEARCH FUNDING PARTNERS
We extend sincere thanks to the following organizations, companies and individuals who joined with us to bring the Longhouse Labs vision to reality. Funds were received between 2022 - 2025.
Chalmers Family Foundation
Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company
Lynne & Peter Woolstencroft
K.M. Hunter Charitable Foundation
Rex Lingwood
Lynne & Peter Woolstencroft
