The Misko-Aki: Confluence of Culture exhibit at the Muskoka Steamship and Discovery Centre in Gravenhurst has won an award from the Canadian Museums Association.
The Outstanding Achievement in Exhibitions award was given to the organization, beating out 25 others who were up for the honour.
The exhibit was part of a $9 million project at the Discovery Centre. The facility reopened in the summer of 2023.
Chief Ted Williams of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation and Tim Johnson, project director, accepted the award on behalf of the Discovery Centre during CMA’s virtual ceremony on May 1.
Williams explains the exhibit was created to detail the history of Indigenous people in Muskoka.
“The building of relationships are the foundation of our culture, our nature, our people, and all living beings,” says Williams. “Working with the Muskoka Discovery Centre we have supported the development of this exhibit to make a difference in our region and across Canada. As a result, the Centre is now able to present components of the real Indigenous history in an educational and enlightened manner.”
Johnson explains how the design and implementation of the project were Indigenous-led.
“This kind of project is a game changer because it rounds out the long-established historical narrative of a very important region of the country by adding back the Indigenous stories that were missing,” adds Johnson. “The curatorial approach of taking visitors on a canoe journey through time and to landing areas where events and issues are revealed becomes a transformative learning experience.”
Mayor of Gravenhurst Heidi Lorenz offered her congratulations to the Discovery Centre for the honour, adding it’s an important part of Gravenhurst. She says she saw the display first-hand when it opened last year.
“The exhibit does a wonderful job at telling the story of our rich Indigenous history,” she says. “The exhibit is moving, informative, and engaging.”