At Little Pine First Nation, we had one week to design and build a bench from scratch using salvaged lumber from an old shed and a limited set of tools — mainly drills, hammers, and a mitre saw. The goal was to create something practical and durable while ensuring that every student could actively participate. The design focused on repetitive but meaningful tasks: pulling nails, cleaning up the wood with hand planes, cutting boards to size, and assembling them using a jig.

The finished bench was modular, consisting of five individual components that could be rearranged into different shapes depending on how it was needed — for seating near the playground or in a forest clearing used for student guidance sessions. Each slat was laser engraved with the students’ signatures and drawings, making it deeply personal. The simplicity of the process meant that every student could contribute, and the final product reflected both the community’s resourcefulness and the students' creative input.