Woodland Cultural Centre — Attraction in Brantford

Today I visited the newly re-opened Mohawk Institute Residential School Museum which is part of the Woodland Cultural Centre. Despite, over the years, having read books on the subject, and listened to survivors of the Residential School system speak of their experiences, this immersive museum, in my opinion, is a ‘must see’ . It is only with a better understanding of history can true reconciliation occur. My perspective of the museum, and the impact it had on me, is that of a non-indigenous, Canadian immigrant, I don’t of course speak for others ! Most of the exhibits have a ‘content warning’ as they show examples of the cruel treatment of so many of the young Indigenous children who attended. You can hear the words of survivors, you can see the dorms they slept in, the places where they were taken and abused, secret spots where they hid to be safe and speak their forbidden languages, examples of the unsanitary conditions, the resulting illnesses and death, and the ever present hunger. The informative multimedia exhibits , historical timelines, information on the perpetrators, and the policies behind the Residential School system are all there. The staff take great care to ensure visitors emotional well-being with warnings of the content and opportunities to sit in the Wellness Room if needed. I would highly recommend taking the audio device tour for additional information to the written text accompanying the exhibits , allow 2-3 hours, and on the advice of staff consider finishing off in the art gallery as she reminded us the museum content ’is heavy’. A difficult but necessary visit! Thank you to all involved who have worked so hard ‘to save the evidence’ and ensure a place like this exists from which...

This cultural centre is a truly hidden gem and needs to be visited!!! On the approach this is a VERY deceptive building on the outside and appears small, but once inside it is an explosion of Woodlands culture in what turns out to be a HUGE display in a marvelously curated exhibit. Starting with a bright and well-stocked Gift Shop managed by a friendly and informative lady who begins your journey with a brief introduction to the centre and answering any questions you might have. Into the modern beautiful and bright art gallery and hallway leading to the unique exhibits of artisans, stay to the LEFT and do the history first. (SUGGESTION: Save the art gallery to the end when when you exit from your self-paced tour of the multi-level exhibits....it will be much more enjoyable.) A surprising number of artifacts beautifully displayed considering how small this museum is. (I might suggest you visit CRAWFORD LAKE VILLAGE in Milton first to get an introduction to the longhouse experience.) The actual RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL exhibits is in the process of (hopefully) opening...

Poignant reminder of the Residential school system that is a dark chapter in Canada's history. Visited on September 30th, Truth and Reconciliation day. The place was busy and there were lots of events organized. The tour of the school had some waiting but that was due to it being September 30th and large crowd sizes. The place is under renovation but you can still visit and see the living quarters of the children and the dining hall etc. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and patient with all the questions. Some of the stories will break your heart so be ready for some disturbing narratives. There is also a museum on site which explains the history of the Indigenous people from origin to the settlers to modern day. A must visit if you're in the area. And please educate and donate. They need funds constantly for supporting the survivors and for helping to bring their lost...