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Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day at the Canoe Museum!
June 21, 2018
Visit the Canoe Museum in celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day!
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people were the first to paddle here in Canada, and this enduring relationship continues. The shapes and styles of canoes and kayaks now (not dramatically different from many centuries ago) are the result of millennia of intergenerational knowledge sharing by Indigenous People, and this knowledge sharing is still happening today.
Last fall, we had the honour of hosting Chuck Commanda at the museum for the project Jiimaan: A Canoe for this Land. Chuck is the grandson of the late William and Mary Commanda, Algonquin canoe builders and elders. When he was young, Chuck helped his grandparents work on several canoes that are now a part of the museum’s collection, including two seen here in our galleries. Chuck is now a celebrated First Nations birch bark canoe makers.
As part of our National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration this special canoe will be on display on the Grand Portage. Bring the kids for drop-in crafts and a chance to use our canoe drum, included with regular admission all day long!
We will be offering free admission after 5pm with an option to go on a guided tour at 7pm.
We hope you can join us!