The Toronto Native Community History Project First Nations Cultural Centre and Museum
Special Projects & Collections
The Toronto Native Community History Project First Nations Cultural Centre and Museum
"To hold faith with our ancestors; To speak our memory. To preserve and promote the history of Aboriginal people in the Toronto Area from time immemorial to the present, and for the future. To teach and share in the spirit of friendship, and with the goal of eliminating racism and prejudice."
Ahnee, Boozhoo, Sago:
We are working towards creating the first Aboriginal-owned and operated Cultural Centre and Museum in Toronto.
The need for this facility is growing daily. Our mandate, to develop respect and understanding between Native and non-Native cultures living in the traditional lands of the indigenous people of the area, as well as the promotion and production of a more accurate Native history, has brought Toronto Native community history to a new level of expansion.
We are ready to create a new space in which we can hold traditional teachings, cultural events, as well as house our artifacts and resources materials. As you can imagine, this is a large project which requires volunteer workers and donations. If you would be interested in volunteering your time, or, wish to make a financial contribution, you can contact Monica by phone at 416.964.9087 (ext. 319) or by email. Meegwetch/Nya Wen.
Keeping the Campfires Going
Starting in July 2002 the History Project received a grant from the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. The project is entitled: Keeping the Campfires Going. The project has two components to it, interviewing survivors of Residential School, which was completed in September 2002. The second component consisted of providing survivors access to a nutritionist to promote healthier eating choices, through three hour cooking sessions in 2003. We are currently completing a residential/diabetes manual which will be available in our resource centre.
Living History Circles
In July and August 2001 several recording sessions were conducted. The clips from these videos were created so that visitors to the site will be able to learn from first-hand accounts about how Native people have made their homes and raised families in Toronto, worked in a range of sectors from aviation to nursing to steelwork, who have borne the brunt of and defeated discrimination, who were involved in the foundation and growth of Aboriginal organizations in the city, and who have actively worked to foster a positive space for the understanding and strengthening of Aboriginal culture in Toronto. In the words of Historica Foundation Board Member, Thomas Axworthy, "History is narrative. It is the stories of the past. It is storytelling. Narrative is central to the history enterprise (and) intergenerational learning programs are key." (Archives Association of Ontario keynote, June 2001).
Jim Mason, shares his experience about growing up in Toronto and always working twice as hard to be better than his non-Aboriginal colleagues.
Clip 2 Beverly Cote *COMING SOON*
Beverly Cote, shares her experience about moving to Toronto and having difficulties finding suitable housing.
Ryan McMahon, shares his experience about moving to Toronto and having difficulty while at an acting audition and not looking "Indian" enough.
Clip 4 Native Youth Members, Ben Carnes and Amanda Soper
This clip is longer with brief shots of the protest that was held in Toronto, summer, 2001. Ben and Amanda (both members of the Native Youth Movement) share their experience about discrimination and what they've done about it.
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NCCT Permanent Artifact Collection
To date, a thorough database has been started, research has begun on the artifacts in the Centre's collection and several digital photos have been taken of individual items. The artifacts, which are comprised mainly of bead, hide and quilled articles, have been in the possession of the NCCT for several years, but remained undocumented. It is the TNCHP's goal to:
- fully research each piece
- allow access to the database for research
- offer educational discussions to Native and non-Native communities
- include photos and information on the TNCHP's web site
- preserve traditional craftwork and craftwork techniques for future generations
The collection may be viewed by making an appointment
with one of the TNCHP staff or volunteers. If you are in possession of
any traditional Native art or craft that you wish to donate to the project,
please contact us. (Please note, we are not
appraisers and will not put a dollar value on traditional articles brought
in).
- Item 1- Moccasins
- Item 2 - Baby Support
Object: Moccasins
Period: Early to Mid-Twentieth Century
Geo-Cultural Area: Plains
Culture: Siksika (Blackfoot)
Description: Fully beaded low-rise (summer) moccasins. Childs' size, two-piece, hard-soled construction. The colours used are translucent yellow, opaque sky blue, transparent navy blue, cut metal (gold or brass), and translucent green.
Narrative: Background beads are medium 'greasy' yellow, and are
a translucent type manufactured in France until the turn of the twentieth
century. After this time, most beads were manufactured in Bohemia (the
Czech Republic). The designs used are common Plains motifs and include
geometric symbols such as the squared cross (this motif was used long
before European contact and was a symbol representing the morning star),
and the stepped triangle or pyramid. The beads are stitched or 'tacked'
down every two beads with what is referred to as a "two-needle appliqué
stitch". The inside of the moccasins are lined with red plaid cloth.
Object: Baby Support
Period: Early Twentieth Century
Geo-Cultural Area: Woodland
Culture: Anishnabe (Ojibwe) or Cree
Description: Heavily beaded floral belt for supporting a baby on the back. A wide variety of coloured glass seed beads are used to create flowers, buds and tendrils on a black velvet background. The method of beadwork used is a "two-needle appliqué stitch". The edging is a beaded 'zipper-edge' style. The floral pattern is not symmetrical. The ends consist of solidly beaded horizontal bands.
Narrative: This is a belt worn around the waist and tied at the
front to support or carry a baby on the back or at the side on the hip.
Several areas used supports of this type and it is likely to have originated
in Northern Ontario.
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