ECH Delegations to Woodland Cultural Centre
The Embassy Cultural House and co-founders Ron Benner and Jamelie Hassan have had a long history with the Woodland Cultural Centre (WCC) and many members of the cultural community from the Six Nations of the Grand River territory. Among the distinguished members are Kelly Greene, Rick Hill, Roberta Jamieson, Daniel David Moses (1952-2020), Shelly Niro, Bill Powless, Robbie Robertson, Dan Smoke, Greg Statts, and Jeff Thomas.
Over the decades, Ron and Jamelie would bring their visitors from across Canada and internationally to meet with the director/curator/artist Tom Hill and have the opportunity to become aware of this Indigenous centre of culture, which was formerly the Mohawk Institute, a residential school founded in 1831. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its report in 2015. The report documented the brutal impact of these schools which were church or government-run, and were dedicated to the erasure of Indigenous cultures and the students' identities. In 1970, the Mohawk Institute closed and in 1972 opened as a cultural centre, a significant conversion to the site of resistance that houses the language institute, the museum and exhibition spaces.
In 1990, the Embassy Cultural House project Indian Summer, curated by Jamelie Hassan, travelled to the WCC with the support of then-director Tom Hill and a grant from the Ontario Arts Council. The exhibition was in response to the “Oka" conflict. Later, in 2000, artist/curator Patricia Deadman and Ron Benner on behalf of the curatorial initiative Hoopoe Curatorial and the McIntosh Gallery at Western University, curated the exhibition Dust on the Road, in London, Ontario which included artists from SAHMAT, an activist collective from India and artists/activists from Canada.
With the recent launch of the online initiative of ECH by Tariq Hassan Gordon in 2020, the delegation visits organized by Ron Benner with WCC curator Patricia Deadman, began anew. These visits are supported by contributions from ECH and the London Arts Council and bring members of our community to the WCC together with Patricia and involve visits to the grounds, the collection and temporary exhibitions. The historic Mohawk Chapel from 1785 is also visited and the adjacent cemetery where Thayendanegra (Joseph Brant), diplomat and warrior, is buried.
Over the decades, Ron and Jamelie would bring their visitors from across Canada and internationally to meet with the director/curator/artist Tom Hill and have the opportunity to become aware of this Indigenous centre of culture, which was formerly the Mohawk Institute, a residential school founded in 1831. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its report in 2015. The report documented the brutal impact of these schools which were church or government-run, and were dedicated to the erasure of Indigenous cultures and the students' identities. In 1970, the Mohawk Institute closed and in 1972 opened as a cultural centre, a significant conversion to the site of resistance that houses the language institute, the museum and exhibition spaces.
In 1990, the Embassy Cultural House project Indian Summer, curated by Jamelie Hassan, travelled to the WCC with the support of then-director Tom Hill and a grant from the Ontario Arts Council. The exhibition was in response to the “Oka" conflict. Later, in 2000, artist/curator Patricia Deadman and Ron Benner on behalf of the curatorial initiative Hoopoe Curatorial and the McIntosh Gallery at Western University, curated the exhibition Dust on the Road, in London, Ontario which included artists from SAHMAT, an activist collective from India and artists/activists from Canada.
With the recent launch of the online initiative of ECH by Tariq Hassan Gordon in 2020, the delegation visits organized by Ron Benner with WCC curator Patricia Deadman, began anew. These visits are supported by contributions from ECH and the London Arts Council and bring members of our community to the WCC together with Patricia and involve visits to the grounds, the collection and temporary exhibitions. The historic Mohawk Chapel from 1785 is also visited and the adjacent cemetery where Thayendanegra (Joseph Brant), diplomat and warrior, is buried.
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July 16, 2021
Delegation and tour led by WCC curator Patricia Deadman. Attended by Ron Benner (organizer), Jamelie Hassan, Kian Saadani-Gordon,
Olivia Mossuto, Kody Laskowski and Connor George.
Olivia Mossuto, Kody Laskowski and Connor George.
WCC Curator Patricia Deadman meeting with Kian Saadani-Gordon, Jamelie Hassan and Ron Benner.
The Mohawk institute was the oldest residential school founded in Canada. It is now a centre for the renaissance of Indigenous culture. Photo by Jamelie Hassan.
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March 25, 2022
Delegation and tour led by WCC curator Patricia Deadman. Attended by Ron Benner (organizer), Anahí González, Imogen Clendinning, and Michelle Wilson.
Video production and editing by Anahí González
May 12, 2022 |
November 3, 2022 |
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Delegation and tour led by WCC curator Patricia Deadman. Attended by Ron Benner (organizer), Jamelie Hassan, Dan and Mary Lou Smoke, Ira Kazi, Bruno Sinder, Shelley Kopp, Lucas Kopp and Olivia Mossuto.
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Delegation and tour led by WCC curator Patricia Deadman. Attended by Ron Benner (organizer), Jamelie Hassan, Ashar Mobeen,
Jared Hendricks-Polack and Gabriella Solti. |
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From the Woodland Cultural Centre website:
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Quilt, n/d. Textile, ringed flower pattern. 196cm x 132cm. Found in Mohawk Institute dormitory building; third floor boy's side in hidden room front wall, during restoration in 2017. Collection of Mohawk Institute Collection, Six Nations Elected Band Council. Photo taken by Jamelie Hassan during the May 12, 2022 delegation.
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