BRANTFORD – Lisa Hepfner, Member of Parliament (Hamilton Mountain), on behalf of Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced funding of more than $1.4 million for the Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford.
The funding marks a significant investment in the cultural landscape of the region. It provides support through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund for the pivotal “Save the Evidence” project, the Canada Arts Presentation Fund to bolster the Centre’s performing arts initiatives, and the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program for a cultural showcase and workshop.
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund will specifically support the last stage of the Centre’s “Save the Evidence” project at the former Mohawk Institute Residential School. This phase will see the completion of exhibits within the school, transforming it into a living testament and national site of conscience, accurately portraying the experiences of its survivors and victims.
The Canada Arts Presentation Fund will provide $75,000 over three years (2024–2027) for the Centre’s “Gonahdoge.he.gye – She Is Growing” performance series. The Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program supported the Centre’s presentation of “Dwade?’nyota’ Dwaga:’sho?:’o?h – We Celebrate Our Stories,” a hybrid cultural showcase and workshop that celebrated the Summer Solstice.
“Our government understands that sharing the legacy of residential schools is at the heart of reconciliation. By supporting projects like the Woodland Cultural Centre’s ‘Save the Evidence,’ we hope to honour the experiences of Indigenous peoples, their families, and communities. Together, we can shed light on this dark chapter, fostering healing and understanding for everyone.” – Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage