from Laura Peers
On September 7, 1860, Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg gave beautiful quilled birchbark makaks to the Prince of Wales. Thirteen of these remain in the Royal Collection, and—most unusually—many are associated with the names of the women who made them. The makaks will be loaned by His Majesty The King from the Royal Collection to the Peterborough Museum & Archives in Ontario from late April to mid November 2023.
The exhibition and project are co-curated by Lori Beavis (Hiawatha) and Laura Peers, and the project planning circle includes Gimaa-kwe Laurie Carr (Hiawatha), Kim Muskratt (Hiawatha), Veronica King-Jamieson (Mississaugas of the Credit), and Susan Neale, Director of the Peterborough Museum & Archives. The exhibition examines the cultural knowledge, love, respect and diplomacy that went into the makaks, theirgifting to the Prince of Wales, and their meanings today.
The visit of the makaks will be enhanced by workshops on porcupine quillwork, Michi Saagiig dialect of Nishnaabemowin, curriculum resources, special tours, and an exhibition catalogue. Please follow our project Facebook page for updates, or contact us at: THRcommunityengage@gmail.com
Miigwech and hope to see you there!