Mewinzha - "A Journey Back in Time" features tools and weapons dating back 11,000 years as well as contemporary Native artwork. Mewinzha (pronounced mawinja), is an Anishinawbek word meaning "a journey to a long time ago." The gallery was named this since Fort Erie has been inhabited for more than 10,000 years.
Working with Terry Heard Designers, ASI was asked to select the display objects, provide text introducing the gallery's themes as well as descriptions of each of the artifacts and illustrations used and to design a diorama showing the excavation of a dog burial.
Within the Mewinsha Gallery.
The floor design, by native artist Delbert Jonathan, depicts the various clans of the Iroquois nation that lived along the Niagara River thousands of years ago. According to Delbert, the turtle in the middle, symbolizes Turtle Island, which is located in the Niagara River between both countries.
Diorama showing the excavation of a dog burial. This is one of several dog burials that have been discovered and investigated at the Peace Bridge site. Prior to European contact, the dog was the only animal domesticated by Aboriginal peoples in the Great Lakes Region. They were used for hunting and companionship, and as evidenced by this and other burials, were held in great esteem and treated as dear departed friends.
The Meadowood Cache Bifaces are projectile point performs found at the Peace Bridge Site. They were recovered from two caches that date to approximately 2800 years ago. Caches such as these may be evidence of ritual offerings or return of flint to Mother Earth although in some cases, bifaces may also have been stored in the ground for later use.
Shaun Austin observes a clay smoking pipe, which was recovered from the excavations conducted at the Peace Bridge Site. It was used approximately 1,200 years ago to smoke tobacco and other kinds of plant material.
The ceiling sculpture is by Kris Nahrgang. It dipicts a Thunderbird and a number of hanging elements such as tobacco, feathers, and antler. Thunderbirds were viewed as protectors and overseers and are believed to have perched in high places such as rock ledges, locations that were often held in high regard.
Get information on the Mewinzha Gallery in Fort Erie.
