A space at the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre dedicated to showcase local Indigenous heritage and culture took a few years to put together and now it's been recognized.
Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) joined with the museum and the "Anishnaabwe Endaat – Where We Live” exhibit opened in November 2018.
The exhibition shares the heritage of SON through artifacts and stories. There is also a space for collaborative programming where SON members may share their heritage, talents and knowledge of Indigenous culture and values with visitors to the museum.
“Members of our community worked collaboratively with the Museum in the development of this exhibit, which represents our history in a broader environmental and cultural context and is something we can all take great pride in,” said Lori Kewaquom, Saugeen First Nation, program coordinator for Advocacy for Healing Program.
The collaborative project has been recognized with the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation. This award recognizes exceptional contributions to heritage conservation, environmental sustainability and biodiversity, and cultural and natural heritage.
The Ontario Heritage Trust (OHT) is an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. The trust identifies, protects, promotes and conserves Ontario’s heritage. The trust conserves provincially significant cultural and natural heritage, interprets Ontario’s history, educates Ontarians of its importance in our society, and celebrates the province’s diversity. The trust envisions an Ontario where the places, landscapes, traditions and stories that embody our heritage are reflected, valued and conserved for future generations. The award was presented by the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario at an awards ceremony at Queens Park, Toronto, Ontario on February 20.
“The Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre has been the centre for history and heritage in the County for 65 years. The County of Bruce is very proud of our Museum. I would like to recognize and thank the Museum staff and the SON community members for all their work on this project,” said Bruce County Warden Mitch Twolan.
“Anishnaabwe Endaat – Where We Live” received support from the Government of Canada (Canadian Cultural Spaces Fund and Museum Assistance Program), Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation. For additional details on this exhibit, programs and events please visit brucemuseum.ca.
Photographed at the awards ceremony are Glen James Kewaquom, Knowledge Keeper
Saugeen First Nation; Lori Kewaquom, Program Coordinator Advocacy for Healing
Programs Saugeen First Nation; Chris Irvine, Exhibit & Graphic Designer, Bruce County
Museum & Cultural Centre; Mayor Steve Hammell, Museum Committee Chair; Warden
Mitch Twolan, Bruce County; Cathy McGirr, Director, Museum & Cultural Services,
Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre. (Submitted photo)
