Sgę́:nǫ’ | Shekóli | Sgęnǫ’ | Čwęʔn | Shé:kon | Nya:wëh Sgë:nö’ | Greetings
The Woodland Cultural Centre (WCC) was established in October 1972, under the direction of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians upon the closure of the Mohawk Institute Residential School (MI). WCC’s focus began on collecting research and artifacts, to develop its library and museum collections, expanding to include the arts in 1975, education programming in 1983and the language program in 1984. With over 35,000 artifacts in our Museum collection, the Centre is one of the largest facilities in Canada managed and administered by First Nations. The WCC serves to preserve, promote and strengthen Indigenous language, culture, art and history; bringing the story of the Hodinohsho:ni people of the Eastern Woodlands to life through innovative exhibitions and programs. As an organization with historic expertise and strong community connections, WCC has a key role to play in knowledge and learning through its program offerings, including museum, language, education, library and arts.
Through exhibitions, acquisitions, publications and public programs, the Centre promotes the careers of emerging and seasoned artists. The Centre contributes to the understanding of the Hodinohsho:ni world views and collaborates with other regional and national galleries.
The Language Program strengthens languages, produces resources, supports community grassroot language initiatives, and works with Elders, Faithkeepers, and speakers to preserve the languages so that future generations will also have the tools that they need to strengthen the languages in turn.
Both the WCC and the Mohawk Institute Residential School have a critical role to play in educating Indigenous and non-Indigenous people about the history, events and resiliency of Hodinohsho:ni people.
Dibaajimowin | Stories of this Land
Dibaajimowin highlights the Indigenous contributions to the history of this land. Contributions often overlooked in favour of the well established settler narrative. Dibaajimowin invites visitors to recognize how the way they look at things has been shaped and offers an opportunity of a closer look at the richness and depth of the stories that need to be told.
Virtual Tour of the Former Mohawk Institute Residential School (Group)
The virtual tour will guide you through the former Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School, giving the history of the institution over its 140-year history. Viewers will get to see different rooms inside the school, from the girls’ and boys’ dormitories, the cafeteria, laundry room, and other rooms throughout the building as well as hear interviews from five survivors.
Hodinohsho:ni Governance
Participants will be introduced to the history of the Hodinohshoni people beginning with the Peacemakers Story- the creation of the Hodinohshoni Confederace. Participants will learn about the Hodinohshoni people prior to and after European contact and colonization. Topics covered include the Hodinohshoni system of governance, use of wapum, the royal proclamation, the Haldimand Proclamation, the Indian Act and how these conflicted with the traditional Hodinoshoni Governance structure.
Museum – Self Guided
The self-guided tour guests will utilize our self-guided tour booklet to walk through the museum at their own pace and view the displays that showcase the history of the Woodland people, specifically the Six Nations (Onondaga, Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida, Seneca, and Tuscarora) from roughly 600 years ago up to present day. There are many artifacts to view, and stories to hear and discuss along the way throughout the tour.
Virtual Tour of Museum
The virtual tour of the Woodland Cultural Centre Museum will guide you through the permanent historical gallery from several of our staff members, including our Executive Director. The museum collects, preserves, researches, exhibits and interprets a collection of archaeological material, historical material culture, arts, crafts, documents and archival photographs.
