Brantford is stepping up to help create a new cultural centre that will honor the history and stories of First Nations peoples with a $1 million contribution.
During a city council meeting on Tuesday, councillors approved a decision to allocate $250,000 annually for four years to the Woodland Cultural Centre’s “We Celebrate Our Stories” capital campaign. The campaign is aiming to raise $65 million for a new cultural centre that will provide a place for learning and cultural celebration.
To date, the campaign has raised more than $2.2 million, including a $1 million commitment from the Six Nations of the Grand River elected council and private donations. Further support is expected from both the federal and provincial governments.
The city’s contribution will be funded by revenue from Elements Casino Brantford. Mayor Kevin Davis expressed his enthusiasm for the project, emphasizing the opportunity to strengthen the relationship with the Haudenosaunee people and promote cultural understanding. “It’s a terrific opportunity for our community, with the long history we have with the Haudenosaunee people, to do something mutually beneficial,” Mayor Davis said. “This will be a centre that will foster a greater degree of cultural understanding and respect.”
Beyond its cultural significance, the project is also expected to have economic benefits, including construction jobs and local spending. The mayor envisions Brantford becoming a key tourism destination, attracting visitors with its cultural offerings. “I see Brantford becoming one of the ‘must see’ areas of Ontario for museum-goers,” he added. Visitors could tour the Woodland Cultural Centre, the former Mohawk Residential School, the Canadian Military Heritage Museum, the Bell Homestead, and the Canadian Industrial Heritage Centre—all while enjoying performances at the new cultural centre or the Sanderson Centre.
Before the council vote, Heather George, the executive director of the Woodland Cultural Centre, addressed the councillors. She outlined the centre’s vision of protecting, promoting, interpreting, and presenting the Haudenosaunee worldview. “We strive to be a centre of excellence,” George said. “We welcome many visitors from around the world every year.”
Currently, the centre operates out of a retrofitted 1954 residential school building located next to the former Mohawk Institute. The facility has undergone multiple renovations, but its age and condition have outlived its usefulness. The centre houses over 35,000 artifacts and pieces of contemporary Indigenous art, and it serves as one of the largest cultural institutions in Canada operated and managed by First Nations.
The new facility, designed by Two Row Architects of Ohsweken, will include a 300-seat theatre, workshop and studio spaces, a demonstration and learning kitchen, galleries for both permanent and temporary exhibitions, and additional rooms for educational purposes. The centre is expected to bring even more tourists to Brantford, benefiting the surrounding communities, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, and the city itself.
“The new centre will be a place to celebrate and share stories, to gather and enjoy each other’s company,” George said. “It will also provide a place to learn, build civic pride, and support a vibrant tourism and arts economy.”
Councillor Richard Carpenter called the contribution a unique opportunity to honor truth and reconciliation and to promote Indigenous culture. Councillor Dan McCreary echoed this sentiment, noting that the contribution is a tangible step towards advancing truth and reconciliation while simultaneously boosting the local tourism economy.
The new Woodland Cultural Centre is set to be a powerful symbol of both cultural pride and progress in fostering understanding between communities.
