Colville First Foods – Confederated Colville Tribes

Akana partnered with the Confederated Colville Tribes (CCT) to develop a comprehensive Master Plan for a modern First Foods processing facility and potential satellite ice facilities across the Tribe’s 1.4 million-acre service area. This initiative addresses the need for equitable access to critical food resources in an underserved region, ensuring the community can process and store large fish yields and safely handle ungulates such as deer, elk, moose, and bison.

The planning process included extensive community engagement, with multiple stakeholder meetings involving Tribal elders, Colville Fish & Wildlife staff, and public surveys. Feedback emphasized the importance of creating a facility that not only increases processing and storage capacity but also serves as a cultural hub for sharing knowledge and traditions surrounding First Foods. These practices are sacred to the Tribe and symbolize stewardship of these essential resources.

Three distinct building and site concepts were generated and presented, with the concept design named “The Overlook” selected as the preferred scheme. This concept was inspired by the tradition of fishing—the platform and the act of looking over the water—and reflects the Tribe’s deep connection to the land and its resources. The design integrates ceremonial spaces, cultural features, and sustainable elements such as solar orientation and vegetated stormwater swales. Key features include a second-floor overlook with panoramic views, a looping walking trail, and traditional elements like hide-hanging racks and a salmon fire pit. Satellite facilities were also planned to provide ice access, temporary storage, and distribution points, ensuring resource availability across the Tribe’s expansive geography.

Akana’s role encompassed public engagement, architecture, landscape architecture, and civil and structural engineering, delivering a solution that honors cultural traditions while meeting modern operational needs.