Monique Ekaete Bassey, College of Architecture Hyde Chair of Excellence, will be joined by José de Jesús Leal Loera, director of the MIG Native Nation Building Studio, and its co-founder, Paul Fragua, to deliver the next Hyde Lecture, “Land as a Relation: Bridging Practice and Education to Support Indigenous Connections, Truth, and Healing.” The lecture will take place at 4 p.m. on March 3 in Architecture Hall West, Room 127.

Over the past two semesters, Bassey and the professional landscape architecture firm MIG Native Nation Building have co-taught studios with architecture and landscape architecture students, exploring how design fosters cultural literacy and meaningful community engagement. This lecture will be particularly valuable for design and planning students, offering key insights into culturally responsive design and authentic community engagement.

In spring 2024, the UNL Landscape Architecture Program partnered with the UNL Native American Coalition and the Indian Center, Inc. to develop renovation and site plans reflecting local Indigenous identities while enhancing community services. Building on this foundation, a second studio in fall 2024, “Walking in the Footsteps of Our Ancestors: Reconnecting with Southeast Nebraska,” collaborated with the Center for Great Plains Studies and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma. Supported by Mellon Foundation funding, this initiative helped students explore ancestral homelands while deepening their understanding of Indigenous history and contemporary connections to place.

To prepare, students participated in Tribal engagement training led by UNL Extension Educator Ted Hibbeler (Lakota) and attended historical lectures by Christina Goodson (Otoe-Missouria). These sessions provided essential context for respectful collaboration and reinforced the importance of community-centered design that balances cultural, environmental and practical considerations.

Through these partnerships, students gained valuable experience in community engagement and collaborative design. Guided by Indigenous leaders and local stakeholders, they contributed to meaningful projects while expanding their understanding of cultural literacy in design.

About the Hyde Lecture Series:
The Hyde Lecture Series is an endowed, public program hosted by the College of Architecture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Each year, the series invites leading experts from architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and planning to present on topics that inspire thought-provoking discussions. The 2024-2025 Hyde Lecture Series is centered on the theme “TRAJECTORIES,” focusing on the varied and complex career paths within and adjacent to the design and planning fields. These lectures provide a unique opportunity for students, professionals and the public to engage with top industry leaders and explore diverse career possibilities in the design disciplines.