In partnership with Landscape of Nations 360°, that developed the Niagara Region's Indigenous Education Initiative currently active among public and private school systems across the peninsula, Celebration of Nations has produced the virtual Indigenous Niagara Living Museum Tour as a special program and activity affiliated with Plenty Canada.
The Indigenous Niagara Living Museum Tour is found at thegreatniagaraescarpment.ca the Indigenous Cultural Map of the Niagara Escarpment website produced by Plenty Canada.
The significant Indigenous history of the Niagara Region has, heretofore, never been explored as subject matter for the development of an authentic tour of compelling Indigenous destinations, including Niagara Falls itself. This unique tour program holds great appeal for Canadians, Europeans (for whom 75 percent have an interest in gaining an Indigenous experience when visiting Canada), Asians (at 50 percent), and indeed a global market consisting of lifelong learners.
In addition to the beautiful vista that is Niagara Falls itself, with its stories of powerful forces and influences upon Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe identity, the Indigenous Niagara Living Museum Tour explores Indigenous history locations associated with the War of 1812 and Indigenous contributions that served to both defend and shape the development of Canada. It also explores the geology and ecosystems of the Niagara Escarpment, uses the Niagara Gorge as a timeline for chronicling the longstanding Indigenous inhabitation of the region, leads visitors to spectacular public artworks that convey, memorialize, and commemorate Indigenous culture and history in Queenston, Thorold, and St. Catharines, and much more.
The Indigenous Niagara Living Museum Tour has been conceptualized as a museum without walls. Rather than one building with all exhibits contained therein, the “Living Museum” tour transports visitors via the Internet to multiple locations each offering diverse encounters, many animated by video programs. These experiences are intended to deepen and build an enlightened and inspired understanding of the Indigenous peoples who have lived in the Niagara Region over the course of some 13,000 years.
Once again, the Indigenous Niagara Living Museum Tour is accessible at thegreatniagaraescarpment.ca. To navigate through the tour, begin from the home page and simply click on ENTER, then click on MENU in the upper right corner, then click on INDIGENOUS NIAGARA LIVING MUSEUM TOUR and begin exploring the destinations by clicking on the blue Pins. After clicking on a blue Pin go to MORE INFORMATION and then OPEN MENU in the pop-up dialogue box at the upper left of the screen. This will reveal a list of text information, photos, resources, and videos. Many of the destination sites contain introductory tour videos that, when combined together, create a fascinating virtual field trip of important Indigenous sites in the Niagara Region.
The platform is quite intuitive and easy to use. After visiting only a few destinations, you’ll be able to navigate efficiently from one location to another.
Welcome to the Indigenous Niagara Living Museum Tour!!