Deepen your understanding of Mi’kmaw and Indigenous culture and explore the unique perspectives and experiences of Indigenous artists from across Turtle Island through personal stories, artifacts, and artwork at these local exhibits.
Ta’n me’j Tel-keknuo’ltiek: How Unique We Still Are
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
The Mi’kmaq have enduring connections to their ancestral lands and waters, here in Mi’kma’ki. Ta’n me’j Tel-keknuo’ltiek: How Unique We Still Are is a continuing exhibit that shares diverse individual experiences from Elders and knowledge keepers in the Mi’kmaw community.
Presented in Mi’kmaq, English, and French, significant themes highlight Mi’kmaw one-word concepts and Treaty Education. Community boatbuilding, archived and contemporary canoes, featured objects, images, and powerful, symbolic artwork convey cultural expressions that relate past, present, and future in this place.
Ta’n me’j Tel-keknuo’ltiek offers visitors, especially non-Indigenous Canadians, opportunities to learn about the truths that must precede reconciliation.
Fortress Halifax: A City Shaped by Conflict
Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
Fortress Halifax is the newest exhibit at the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, covering seven rooms and providing visitors with an overview of Halifax’s history in one place. The history of Halifax and its fortress is both rich and turbulent, and can’t be told by just one person. With paintings, maps, and stories from various perspectives like the British, French, Mi’kmaq, Black Loyalists, Acadians, and more, Fortress Halifax lets you explore the history of the city and the land it was built on.
Ta’n a’sikatikl sipu’l | Confluence
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
Ta’n a’sikatikl sipu’l | Confluence celebrates the power of water and its ability to connect us all. This exhibit delves into the themes of connection and exchange, featuring works by contemporary Mi’kmaq artists, including paintings, sculptures, and textiles, as well as historic artifacts from the gallery’s collection.
With seven guiding topics, including Awareness, Reflection, Sustainability & Treaty, Community, Memory & Remembering, Gathering & Knowledge, and Sharing, Ta’n a’sikatikl sipu’l | Confluence aims to build meaningful relationships between visitors and the artwork. Visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the many perspectives and experiences of generations of Indigenous artists.
This Is What I Wish You Knew
Museum of Natural History in partnership with the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre
This Is What I Wish You Knew is a tile exposition that explores Indigenous self-identity. Fifty members of Halifax’s urban Indigenous community carved and painted their personal stories onto fourteen rectangular clay tiles. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of the tiles while listening as the artists reveal how their personal journeys are reflected in these works of art. This Is What I Wish You Knew is a must-see exhibit for anyone looking to learn more about the Indigenous community in Halifax and the impact of Canada’s Residential School System.
Indigenous Ingenuity
Discovery Centre – COMING MAY 5 – SEPTEMBER 3, 2023
Indigenous peoples from North America have long demonstrated a great sense of ingenuity, using nature as inspiration. The world we know today was in part fashioned by their innovations and approaches to science. This exhibition presents a clever and novel mix of science and culture intended to stir a sense of pride among First Nation, Inuit, and Métis communities.
Exhibit highlights:
EXPLORE First Peoples’ scientific principles by testing the centre of gravity in a kayak and during a virtual canoe race.
EXPERIENCE the wealth of Indigenous ingenuity by building an igloo and harpooning for fish.
TRIGGER animations on interactive frescoes.
DISCOVER the Indigenous peoples’ rich scientific knowledge, inspired by nature and the resources of the land.
