Sponsors supporting this initiative include:
Welcome to the Gathering Place!
The Gathering Place is a web site designed to bring people together across generational and cultural borders, both online and off-line, around the work of generating accurate and positive understanding of the history of Native people in Toronto and Canada.
Mandate & Goals
The mandate of the Toronto Native Community History Project is to:
- develop respect and understanding between Native and non-Native cultures living in the traditional lands of Native people in the Toronto area
- produce a more thorough history, and increase awareness among both Native and non-Native people of the rich histories of Native people in the area
- research and record more accurate Native history
- generate resources and materials from this research aimed at countering Native stereotypes and racism
- promote positive relationships geared towards social action between Native and all communities in the area
- create cultural and economic benefit to the Native community by providing training and development opportunities for young Native people in the sector
Our current work revolves around three key components: Popular Education, Resource Centre and Youth Involvement. With our popular education program we run community classes and seminars on Native History and issues, and our "Great Indian Bus Tour of Toronto." In our Resource Centre, you will find a wide range of material documenting the contemporary history of Native people in the city, including a photograph collection, community-produced newspapers and reports, books, oral histories and so on. We also reply to and assist anyone researching Native history and issues.
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History
The
Toronto Native Community History Project (TNCHP) was founded in 1995.
On October 18, 1999, the work of the Toronto Native Community History
Project was recognized by Toronto Heritage with a Certificate of Commendation.
Attending on behalf of the TNCHP were Stephanie, Heather, who both currently
work with the TNCHP, volunteer and TNCHP supporter Mary Fox, Barbara Gajic,
contributing author to The Meeting Place: Aboriginal Life in Toronto,
and Chasity Toulouse, former TNCHP summer student intern, who accepted
the award on behalf of TNCHP.
Photo from left to right - Chasity Toulouse, Heather, Barbara Gajic and Stephanie.
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This Day in Our History
"This Day in our History" is a daily feature which reviews First Nations historical events with Monica Bodirsky. Tune in to 106.5 FM daily at 3, 7 and 10 (am and pm).
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Partnerships
The TNCHP is a member of the Ontario Historical Association, the Archives Association of Ontario, and Toronto Historical Association, and has been a partner in several ventures with other member organizations within the latter. For example, we have provided research and narrative content for an historical document provided to participants in the rededication of Yorkville park in recognition of the Aboriginal history of the area. We did the same for MPP Tony Ruprecht in a tourist document produced by the Ontario government called, Toronto's Many Faces.
Under the NCCT's partnership with the Department of Indian and Northern Affair's Canada, the TNCHP solidified its relationship with the Dodem Kanonhs'a by establishing a link to their Visiting Elders Program. Once per month, we will be conducting digital video recordings of the teaching sessions done by the Elders at their lodge. These are achieved here at the TNCHP and at Dodem Kanonhs'a. The TNCHP also maintains a partnership with the Royal Ontario Museum, with which we have collaborated on our "Great Indian Bus Tour of Toronto," the cataloguing of our artifact collections and fundraising.
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In Memory of A. Rodney Bobiwash - Founder of the TNCHP 1961-2002
The Warrior Way and the Bear
When
a people seeks, either consciously or not, the extinction of another group
of people the only rational position is war. In taking a position of war
against a much stronger enemy the only rational maxim then is "by
any means necessary." The defense of the people is a clan responsibility
for all people who are mukwa dodem (Bear Clan), and indeed for all Aboriginal
people, and the people take their lesson from the mother bear who defends
her young cubs, not out of malice or vengeance, but out of love.
This is among the first and hardest of lessons that Bear Warriors have - that what is done is done for the love of the people. This is the way the old warrior society of the Ogitchiidaa conducted itself - sacrificially and with such love for their people that they would give their lives.
Wacoquaakmik (A. Rodney Bobiwash)
August, 1999
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