The Chemong Portage 'Right of Way' Project Installation Nears Completion

A new public art installation, Right of Way, featuring work from Indigenous artists celebrating the traditional Chemong Portage route, is being installed and will be completed this month.

Right of Way is the latest project funded through the City of Peterborough’s Public Art Program. File Photo.

It is a commemorative project featuring works by Indigenous artists Tia Cavanagh, David Beaucage Johnson, Yvonne Garbutt, William Kingfisher, Josh Morley and Nuin Tara Wilson.

The City of Peterborough commissioned the artists to create original artwork for vinyl wraps to be installed on traffic signal cabinets and electrical supply boxes at intersections close to what is thought to be the traditional route of the Chemong Portage. Each artwork represents a traveller on the route. Together, the project tells the portage story and makes history visible says Shelley M. Knott, the City's Advisor, Indigenous Relations.

“Right of Way serves as a powerful bridge between past and present, visually highlighting deep connections to land and space while honouring Indigenous people along the historic Chemong Portage,” she said. “It invites both residents and visitors to connect with and respect the enduring legacy of this route.”

The route begins at Dalhousie and George Streets and continues north through downtown, crossing intersections along George and Water Streets until it reaches Brock Street. From there, it veers west, weaving to Parkhill and Chemong roads. It then follows Chemong Road to Broadway Boulevard.

“Public art transforms everyday spaces into places of meaning and connection. Right of Way beautifies our city and honours the stories and culture of the Indigenous peoples who travelled the Chemong Portage. It’s a celebration of history, told in vivid, modern form, that invites everyone to reflect and engage,” said Councillor Alex Bierk and Councillor Lesley Parnell.

Installation began in September and is expected to be completed in mid-November.

Finishing touches include mounting an information panel and portage map at each intersection. The panel also features links to an audio recording of ‘The Story of the Chemong Portage’ by Gidigaa Miigizi (Doug Williams), read by Anne Taylor of Curve Lake First Nation. The recording is in Anishinaabemowin and English. 

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Events and Programs to Mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Sept. 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

city of peterborough photo

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a day to honour the children who never returned home, the survivors of residential schools, their families and communities.

“The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is an important opportunity to reflect on our histories, learn about the injustices committed against Indigenous communities and dedicate ourselves to contribute toward reconciliation,” stated mayor Jeff Leal. “As a community, we need to take meaningful action to fulfil our collective commitment to reconciliation. I encourage everyone to take part in the activities organized by groups across our community.”

The Every Child Matters flag will be flown at City Hall for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Programs and Activities:

Peterborough Public Library

Adults and Teens

• Sept. 24: Adult Book Club - Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

• Sept. 27: Quilling with Sandra D. Moore

• Oct. 10: Just Get Over It: Exploring Stereotypes, Biases and Racism Between Indigenous Peoples and Settlers

• Oct. 17 - 22: Secret Path Film Viewings

Children

• Sept. 27: PA Day: Rabbit & Bear Paws - The Way with Chad Solomon

• Oct. 17: Indigenous Bilingual Story Time

Peterborough Museum and Archives

The Peterborough Museum and Archives is offering an Every Child Matters and reading centre and children’s activity during the month of September.

It’s also providing Every Child Matters stickers, buttons and bookmarks to encourage participation and learning through its National Day for Truth and Reconciliation activities.

Art Gallery of Peterborough

The exhibition “Watershed” is on display until Oct. 6.

It features work by Mary Anne Barkhouse, John Boyle, Brad Copping, Liz Magor, Stan Olthuis, Amanda Strong and Olivia Whetung.

Other Activities

Canadian Canoe Museum - Sept. 24 from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.: reading, Q&A and book signing of “North of Nowhere, Song of a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner” with Marie Wilson, the 2024 Jack Matthews Fellow.

GreenUP and Kawartha Land Trust - Sept. 25 from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. and Oct. 8 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Saving Native Seeds is a two-part workshop series.

Learn how to collect and save seed from a variety of native trees, shrubs, forbs, grasses and sedges.

Part I is at Ecology Park and Part II is a field trip to the Dance Nature Sanctuary.

Artspace - Sept. 27 from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.: launch and celebration of the Maker Space Mural, Niimikaage: she/he dances for a purpose, by Anishinaabe artist Josh Morley (Miskopwagan Asin)

Curve Lake First Nation - Sept. 28 (all day): 5th annual Mnoominkewin Gathering at Lime Kiln Park.

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City of Peterborough's Every Child Matters Community Project Accepting Submissions of Kids Artwork

The City of Peterborough invites local youth ages seven to 11 to submit artwork for an Every Child Matters community project that honours the victims, survivors and families of the Residential School system.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Artwork should reflect the theme, “What Does Truth and Reconciliation Mean to Me,” and be submitted for consideration by July 15.

The artwork selected for this project will be used to create a design that will be painted on a sidewalk or trail crossing. This will create a place where residents and visitors will be encouraged to pause, reflect, and continue to learn about the legacy of residential schools and the importance of reconciliation.

"“Throughout the year, this space will serve as a powerful reminder of the legacy of residential schools, honouring the healing journey of survivors and families,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “It is a call to action to our whole community to engage in the ongoing work of reconciliation. The City of Peterborough, and City Council, remain committed to reconciliation and building positive relationships with our Indigenous residents and our First Nations neighbours.”

The project is expected to be installed in September 2024, aligning with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The location will be confirmed later this summer. Throughout September, the Peterborough Public Library will display an exhibition of artwork submitted for this project.

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City's Public Art Program Seeking Indigenous Artists to Commemorate Chemong Portage

The City of Peterborough Public Art Program invites Indigenous visual artists living in Peterborough and local First Nations to submit proposals for a public art project to commemorate the Chemong Portage.

The Public Art Policy, adopted in 2009 and updated in 2022, recognizes the role public art plays in creating culturally vibrant cities, identifies processes for generating and selecting projects and committees and commits an annual Public Art fund to maintain existing artworks and to commission new projects from artists across the country. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CITY OF PETERBOROUGH.

The Chemong Portage is an approximately 10-kilometre-long footpath and portage that once ran between Nogojiwanong/Peterborough and gchi-maang (Chemong Lake).  

The intent of Right of Way - The Chemong Portage Project is to commemorate the portage in a way that allows people to experience it. Visual artists are invited to submit digital images of their original artwork. Selected images will be printed onto vinyl media and wrapped around traffic signal cabinets located close to what is thought to be the original portage route.  

“This is a great initiative to highlight the cultural richness of the Michi Saagiig and educate the city and visitors that they are on an historical portage route of our communities,” said Tom Cowie of Hiawatha First Nation.

The call for artists, including more information about the project parameters with tips about the application process, is on the City’s Public Art webpage at peterborough.ca/PublicArt.  

Information sessions 

Artists are encouraged to attend one of three information sessions in early June. Public art program staff will be in attendance to answer questions.   

Hiawatha First Nation Cultural Centre 

June 3 at 3:30 p.m.  

431 Hiawatha Line  

Hiawatha First Nation  

Peterborough Public Library  

June 3 at 6:30 p.m.  

345 Aylmer St. N, Peterborough 

Curve Lake Nation Cultural Centre  

June 4 at 4:30 p.m. 

1024 Mississauga St.

Curve Lake First Nation 

The application deadline is June 25 at 4 p.m. All applications must be submitted online. 

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Murray Whetung Community Service Award Act (Bill 31) To Be Presented For Third Reading

The Murray Whetung Community Service Award Act will be presented for a third reading on March 25, 2025, announced by Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith on Friday.

The second reading passed unanimously at Queen’s Park in early March last year. pHOTO courtesy of Dave Smith.

In the First and Second World Wars, roughly 7,000 First Nations individuals volunteered to serve. As a result, many who served were stripped of their rights for a time away from the reserve. Indigenous veterans able to retain their status were often ineligible for benefits available to non-Indigenous veterans following the wars.

If passed, the bill will create an award for Cadet Corps and Squadrons at the Annual Ceremonial Reviews. They will select a member who has displayed exceptional volunteerism and citizenship over the previous year for a new award from the province of Ontario, the Murray Whetung Community Service Award.

“Murray Whetung was a pillar in our community. He volunteered fight in the Second World War and dedicated his life to family and service. I was honoured to receive his endorsement for this legislation before his passing,” said Smith. “This bill does more than recognize the life of one man; it seeks to teach others of the injustices First Nations veterans faced for risking their lives in service to Canada.”

“My Shomis (grandfather) was humbled when MPP Smith approached him about the idea of an award named after him. My Shomis did what he thought needed to be done and didn’t expect special recognition,” Emily Whetung, Curve Lake First Nation former Chief. “He was a shining example of choosing happiness in the face of adversity and an inspiration to so many of us.”

The third reading will follow the Opposition Day Motion and will be live on the Legislative Assembly video feed.

“I’ve long stood proud on November 11 because of the commitment and sacrifice he has made and as our second Remembrance Day without him approaches I can’t think of a better way to celebrate his memory,” said Whethung. “Chi-miigwetch for learning our history and ensuring it is remembered by cadets across Ontario.”

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Trent University Hosting Feeding Our Spirit: 48th Annual Elders Gathering This Weekend

Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples will come together at Trent University in Peterborough and Durham filled with learning, community and connection as part of the 48th annual Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering, hosted by the First Peoples House of Learning (FPHL) and the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies from Friday to Sunday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“Every year, the Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering brings together elders, knowledge holders, community members, students and allies for a weekend of learning and renewal,” says Dr. Dawn Memee Lavell-Harvard, director of FPHL. “This year’s theme centres on the importance of land-based learning and cultural connection through teaching, performance arts and traditional foods. The Elders Gathering is a celebration of First Nations, Inuit and Métis vibrancy and resiliency.” 

The Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering allows attendees to share in First Nations, Métis and Inuit cultural knowledge through workshops, presentations, and performances. This year’s theme is focused on culture and land-based reclamation. 

Keynote Addresses 

This year’s Gathering features keynotes from high profile Indigenous leaders, including: 

• Niigan Sinclair, assistant professor from University of Manitoba, popular media commentator on Indigenous issues, and son of Senator Murray Sinclair; 

• Tony Belcourt, founding president of both the Native Council of Canada and the Métis Nation of Ontario; 

• Albert Marshall, elder from the Mi’kmaw Nation who coined the phrase Two-Eyed Seeing/ Etuaptmumk as a principal for cross-cultural collaborative work; 

• Dr. Sylvia Maracle O.C., former executive director of the Ontario Federation of Friendship Circles and Trent honorary degree recipient; and, 

• Jessica Outram, citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario, author of the newly released middle-school novel Bernice and the George Bay Gold, grade school educator and an instructor in Trent’s School of Education. 

• Trent’s Durham campus in Oshawa will host the Gathering on Friday, with an address by Dr. Sylvia Maracle, fire teachings and a drum circle, along with an Indigenous vendors market.  

Performances 

Performance art takes centre stage throughout the weekend with opening ceremony highlights on Friday night including: 

• Drum group Medicine Sky with pow wow dancer Kelli Marshall 

• Inuit throat singers Heidi Langille and Lynda Brown 

• Métis fiddler Alicia Blore and Métis jigger Auriele Diotte 

• Fashion show by Anishnaabe designer Ocean Kiana 

• Film screening in partnership with ReFrame Film Festival.  

On Saturday evening, Michi Saagiig artist Mr. Sauga will perform in the Great Hall of Champlain College. 

Workshops 

Interactive workshops to be held throughout the weekend include Inuit throat singing, Métis fiddling and jigging, language lessons, Inuit Elder teachings with Sheepa Papatsie, and smoking fish, among many others.  

A special highlight of the weekend is a sold-out feast on Saturday evening, which will feature the unveiling of the crest and colours of the University’s newest college, Gidigaa Migizi College, named in honour of beloved alum, professor and community leader, Doug Williams ’69.  

All Elders Gathering activities, except the sold-out feast on Saturday, are open to members of the community. Admission is $30; free for Elders, students, and youth under 24. All tickets include lunch, admission to all keynotes and workshops, and access to the vendor market.  

Indigenous Insights, the Elders Gathering pre-conference sponsored by the Provost’s Lecture Series for Reconciliation, will be held on Friday, February 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in collaboration with Trent University, Peterborough Public Health, Fleming College and Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre. Dr. Darrel Manitowabi, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, will deliver the keynote, Fostering Mino-Bimmaadiziwin: Indigenous Health in the 21st Century, followed by a panel of Indigenous health and cultural experts. 

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YMCA and Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre Partner To Create Provide Recreational Opportunities For Urban Indigenous Youth

After a Community Development Grant from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, the YMCA of Central East Ontario has partnered with the Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre’s Waawiye Kinoomaagzijig Alternative School Program to create a recreational platform for urban Indigenous youth announced on Tuesday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The youth are from the Waawiye Kinoomaagzijig Alternative School Program and have been granted recreational instruction, access to recreational facilities and specialized classes.

The two-hour program occurs twice a week at the YMCA of Central East Ontario, Balsillie Family Branch. Activities may include weight training, powwow dancing, self-defence and more. The second day is dedicated to free time with available activities such as basketball, pickleball, swimming and conditioning.

“We are excited for this opportunity to partner with the YMCA, supported by a generous grant from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities,” says Ashley Safar, Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre executive director. This partnership and funding will increase access and enhance our ability to provide engaging and culturally enriching recreational programs tailored to the needs and interests of youth in our Waawiye Kinoomaagzijig Alternative Secondary School Program.”

This funding covers YMCA staff assistance and instruction, external instructors, equipment, transportation and gym clothing for the participants. The grant aims to remove any financial obstacles and ensure Indigenous youth’s engagement in the program.

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Trent University’s Newest College to be Named Gidigaa Migizi to Honour Professor Doug Williams

To honour and celebrate the memory of the late Gidigaa Migizi (Doug Williams), Trent University is naming its sixth college will be named Gidigaa Migizi College.

Photo courtesy of Trent University.

The Gidigaa Migizi College is being built on the east bank of the Symons Campus in Peterborough. The building will include as many as 700 new beds for first-year students and classrooms, faculty offices and student spaces. The University expects it to open in the fall of 2028. The new college crest, scarf and colours will be unveiled next year.

“This naming is a testament to Trent’s ongoing commitment to recognizing and celebrating Indigenous culture and heritage,” said Marilyn Burns, vice president of Trent communications and enrolment. “Gidigaa Migizi, a respected elder and a pillar in the Michi Saagiig Anishnaabeg and Trent communities, has left a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire and educate our students for generations to come. Gidigaa Migizi College will stand as a beacon of knowledge, diversity, and respect, embodying the spirit of inclusivity and learning that is at the heart of Trent University.”

The professor, elder, and community leader was known for his dedication to Trent students and for protecting Anishnaabeg's treaty rights.

The decision to select an Anishnaabe name for the new college was a recommendation of the University’s Champlain Report to honour the treaty and traditional territory on which Trent University sits, according to a press release. Meaning ‘spotted eagle’ in English, the name Gidigaa Migizi College was recommended by the University’s Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers Council and approved by Trent’s Board of Governors.

“Gidigaa Migizi was a giant both at Trent and in the Anishnaabeg nation. He was a champion of knowledge, of learning, of students and of our community,” said Anne Taylor, Curve Lake First Nation Elders Council member. “In our culture, eagles are held in high esteem and symbolize honour, respect, strength, courage, and wisdom. These are all characteristics we want Trent students to embody.”

Migizi was one of the first graduates of Trent University’s Native Studies (now Indigenous Studies) program. After graduating, he remained involved with Trent, helping shape academic programs, administrative policies, and cultural practices and advancing education about Indigenous peoples.

He was co-director of the Indigenous Studies Ph.D. program and a professor at the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies. Migizi served on the University’s Indigenous Education Committee and the Elders Council. Before joining Trent as a student and then as a faculty member, Gidigaa Migizi was a bricklayer who helped build Champlain College at the University.

Migizi was an active negotiator for the legal recognition of treaty rights. His greatest accomplishment in this arena was the advocacy work he undertook in the precedent-setting case R v. Taylor and Williams, working through the court system to bring legal recognition of pre-confederation treaty rights through the interpretation of Treaty 20, 1818. As a result of this landmark case, he defended the right to hunt and fish for signatories to the Williams Treaties as stated by Trent.

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Innovation Cluster Introduces Barry Payne as Expert in Residence to Propel Indigenous Entrepreneurship

The Innovation Cluster welcomes entrepreneur and champion of Indigenous business development Barry Payne as its latest Expert in Residence.

file photo.

Payne’s appointment is a testament to the Innovation Cluster's commitment to fostering an inclusive innovation ecosystem, particularly extending the reach of its entrepreneurship program to Indigenous communities.

He comes with a wealth of entrepreneurial experience with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous owned businesses. A proud member of Hiawatha First Nation, he started his journey with Adirondack Technologies Furniture Inc., transforming it from a basement startup to a nationally recognized organization. He is also currently the Indigenous procurement ambassador at Procurement Assistance Canada, where he has the opportunity to work with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous owned companies to help them consider the federal government as a client.

"I am excited to take on this new role at the Innovation Cluster, which has demonstrated a sincere commitment to inclusion and Indigenous business growth,” said Payne. “As a member of Hiawatha First Nation and an entrepreneur, I understand the potential within our communities. I look forward to extending the reach of the entrepreneurship program and supporting the growth of Indigenous owned businesses."

As the Innovation Cluster’s new ExIR, Barry will provide mentoring to clients, helping them navigate government funding, optimize networking, and offering invaluable business advice. His involvement aims to bridge the gap between Indigenous communities and the entrepreneurship landscape, tapping into the Indigenous peoples' growing business creation rate, which is currently nine times that of the average Canadian.

In this new partnership, Payne’s commitment to working with Aboriginal companies and his expertise will significantly benefit all clients at the Innovation Cluster. His learned lessons will be a critical guide to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous entrepreneurs.

"We are honoured to have Barry Payne join us as an Expert in Residence. His unique perspective and experience will undoubtedly provide invaluable guidance for our clients and further our mission to drive innovation-focused, entrepreneur-led economic growth in the region, which must include Indigenous communities,” said interim CEO Nicole Stephenson. “At the Innovation Cluster, we understand the importance of Indigenous owned businesses in Canada's economy, and we're excited about our part in shaping the future."

Stephenson further emphasized the organization's dedication to fostering a diverse, purpose-driven workplace. "We're proud to not only talk about diversity but to make it part of our operational fabric. Partnerships like the one with Barry are critical to an inclusive and diverse community of entrepreneurs. It's an exciting time at the Innovation Cluster, and we can't wait to see the growth and development that will stem from this partnership."

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City of Peterborough Community Activities for National Indigenous History Month and Pride Month 2023

Activities are being held throughout the community, including at City of Peterborough facilities, for residents to take part in National Indigenous History Month and Pride Month in June.

photo courtesy of the city of peterborough.

Highlights from the activities at City of Peterborough facilities:

Art Gallery of Peterborough

250 Crescent St.

• Exhibition: Special Project: Tea with the Queens, June 7 to June 29, 2023

• Opening reception for new exhibitions, June 7, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Afternoon Tea with the Queens, June 11 and 14, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and June 11, 13, and 22, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

• Indigenous Day Celebrations at Hiawatha First Nation: Art Gallery of Peterborough tent; June 17, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Peterborough Public Library

345 Aylmer St. N.

• PA Day Family Movie: Indigenous Cinema Shorts for Children, June 9, 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

• Crafternoon: Beaded Rings with Malinda Gray, June 10, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• Teen Book Club: Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley, June 13, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• Sunset Story Time with Betty Baker, June 16, 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• Non-fiction Book Club: Unreconciled: Family, Truth, and Indigenous Resistance by Jesse Wente, June 20, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• Summer Solstice Story Time, National Indigenous Peoples Day at Millennium Park, 130 King St., June 21, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

• 10 Indigenous Titles You Should Read this Month featured at the Seniors Showcase, Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr., June 21, 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

• Tween Book Club: Barren Grounds by David Robertson, June 22, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Friday Film & Discussion: Voices Across the Water, June 23, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• Adult Book Club: A Minor Chorus by Billy-Ray Belcourt, June 27, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

• Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Legacy Space, open during library hours

Peterborough Museum and Archives

300 Hunter St. E.

• ‘To Honour and Respect: Gifts from the Michi Saagiig Women to the Prince of Wales’ exhibit, open during museum hours until mid-November

• Quillwork Workshops, June 21, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., registration required

• Pride Flag Scavenger Hunt, during open hours all through June

• Pride Craft based on the book ‘My Rainbow’ and Stories station, during open hours all through June

• Indigenous Day Kids Crafts, June 21, during open hours

• Interpretive tours of the ‘To Honour and Respect: Gifts from the Michi Saagiig Women to the Prince of Wales’ exhibit, available June 21, watch for details on the Museum website and social media

The City of Peterborough’ s Public Art Program invites you to visit The Nogojiwanong Project

The Nogojiwanong Project, located at the south end of Millennium Park, was a collaboration undertaken in the spirit of kinship between local First Nations, Indigenous peoples, and the City of Peterborough in recognition of the 200th anniversary of Rice Lake Treaty No. 20. Through the collaboration, this gathering space was created to encourage learning and reflection with a series of interpretive panels highlighting the evolution of local treaties and inherent rights of Indigenous peoples. The “Gathering” provides the focal point for the space.

Michael Belmore’s, entitled “Gathering,” complements the panels and anchors the space. It consists of a grouping of glacial erratic boulders, carved, lined with copper, and fitted so that they sit slightly apart and seemingly radiate heat. The stones are embellished with the Treaty 20 Clan Totems or Dodems as they are called in Anishinaabemowin.

Nogojiwanong is an Anishinaabe word meaning “place at the foot of the rapids” and the name given to the gathering place, at the bottom of a turbulent stretch of the Otonabee River, renamed Peterborough by European settlers.

Millennium Park forms the present-day landfall and eddy along the western shoreline. It is also the site of the trailhead to the Chemong Portage – a six- or seven-mile historic footpath between the Otonabee River and Chemong Lake.

The Nogojiwanong Project location acknowledges these ancestral lands and the thousands of years the Michi Saagiig navigated this route between their winter camps and traditional fishing grounds at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on Lake Ontario.

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