A new set of exhibits coming to Muskoka aims to tell the complete history of all the region’s peoples.
The Muskoka Steamships and Discovery Centre has spent the last several years fundraising and developing an expansion to the Discovery Centre in Gravenhurst. This has included the development of a new set of historic exhibits which cover the history of Muskoka. Discovery Centre President John Miller spoke to Muskoka District Council on Monday about the project.
The project involves creating a 12,000-square-foot exhibit hall over Lake Muskoka. Inside this hall, there will be three new exhibits. The exhibits are designed to showcase the history of Muskoka. The first exhibit called ‘Muskoka: Life on the Edge of the Shield,’ will cover the settler history of the region. The second exhibit is called ‘Wanda III – Steam to Green’, Wanda is a steam yacht commissioned in 1915 currently being converted to electrical power as a symbol of sustainable heritage. Wanda III will be operated as a commercial vessel this summer as well.
But the most significant exhibit is called ‘Misko-Aki – Confluence of Cultures’ and it will focus on the Indigenous presence and history in Muskoka. The exhibit will include a symbolic canoe journey, which will represent thousands of years of Indigenous history in Muskoka.
According to Miller, there have been many advisors to the exhibit, mostly local elders who have been involved in its design. Tim Johnson, the curator of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in both New York and Washington created a curatorial circle for the Misko-aki exhibit. This circle of Indigenous peoples and local elders created a 350-page report for the exhibit. Miller stated several times that while the Discovery Centre was hosting the exhibit it did not design it.
“We’d like to be clear that while we’re hosting this exhibit, we did not create it, curate it or design it. It’s totally Indigenous exhibit created by Indigenous peoples,” Miller said.
Miller stated that the Misko-Aki exhibit will present an opportunity to educate people about Indigenous history.
“It’ll be a new level of awareness for the non-Indigenous population that will help grow the relationship with the indigenous community by showing respect, and providing continuous learning,” Miller said.
Governor General Mary Simon has been invited to attend the grand opening of the exhibit, although it has yet to be confirmed if she will be attending. Simon is the first Indigenous Governor General in Canadian History.
Miller stated that presently the Discovery Centre has purchased over $100,000 dollars in Indigenous artifacts and plans to display the flags of eight different Indigenous nations. The flags will be placed in the centre hall of the exhibit to display the collaboration that the Discovery Centre has had with these groups.
There will also be a virtual exhibit which will allow people outside of Muskoka to experience the exhibit.
“We will be able to make this Indigenous culture and history of Muskoka available to the world,” Miller said.
The cost of both the physical and digital exhibit will be $1.4 million dollars. Currently the Discovery Centre has raised over $1.2 million dollars. Scotiabank had become the presenting sponsor for the digital exhibit. Miller thanked District council for its contribution of $175,000 dollars to the exhibit as well as its support for funding from the Provincial Government. Miller stated that while there have been conversations with the Provincial Government, they have yet to make progress on securing funding.
Miller also highlighted the large number of volunteers who have contributed to this project.
“I’d like to recognize all the volunteers of our organization, both on our board and on our committees. Without their contributions this exhibit would not become reality,” Miller said.
Miller stated that the exhibit is estimated to bring $4 to $5 million dollars into Muskoka. He also stated that they are expecting 25,000 incremental visitors every year. Presently the Discovery Centre itself sees 20,000 people a year while up to 40,000 visit the ships preserved and operated by the Discovery Centre.
The goal is to open all exhibits by July this year according to Miller. After years of development, Miller stated that all members of the project were hopeful that the exhibit would prove a success.
“We’re very excited about the launch of the Muskoka story,” Miller said.
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