City of Brantford Council voted in favour of investing an annual contribution of $250,000 over the next four years to the Woodland Cultural Centre’s Dwadę’nyota’ Dwaga:’shǫ:’ǫh “We Celebrate our Stories” capital campaign during its regular Council meeting on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
With the work to restore the former Mohawk Institute Residential School, which was supported by the roughly $25 million raised through the “Save the Evidence” campaign, nearly complete and with a grand opening date set for Tuesday, September 30, 2025, fundraising efforts are now underway to build a new Woodland Cultural Centre (WCC) to go along with it.
During the meeting, Heather George, Executive Director of the WCC, presented councillors with some information about the organization itself, the building and its role within the community.
“Our mission is to protect, promote, interpret and present Haudenosaunee world views, and we strive to be a centre of excellence. We welcome many visitors from around the world to our organization every year, and currently, we provide services to the community from a retrofitted 1954 residential school building at the site of the Mohawk Institute. …Unfortunately, it has gone through many renovations and retrofits, and is well past its lifespan,” she said. “We have between 35,000 and 55,000 items in our collection, depending on if you count each individual archeological piece, and we’re one of the largest facilities of our kind in Canada. Our annual operating budget is about $2.8 million, which supports 24 full time staff, as well as many contract and grant-based staff.”
George explained that between two signature events, National Indigenous People’s Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as well as four seasonal celebrations, three temporary exhibits and one permanent exhibit, the centre currently draws in 22,000-plus visitors annually. She said that with the former Mohawk Institute reopening in the fall, that number is projected to increase to 80,000 by 2029.
“Our impact as an international tourism destination site means we’re part of the almost $426 million of direct economic input that Indigenous tourism has in Ontario,” she said. “The benefits to Woodland Cultural Centre in terms of growth and economy and visitorship, don’t just benefit Woodland, they don’t just benefit Six Nations of the Grand River, but they actually have a direct economic benefit on Brantford and all of the surrounding communities.”
Noting that a new centre will allow staff to accommodate visitors without compromising infrastructure, the Executive Director told councillors that the total budget for the construction and operation of the cultural centre is sitting at an estimated $65 million.
She said those funds will cover the costs associated with the design, construction, archaeological studies, collections storage, staffing, programming and ongoing maintenance of the building.
When it comes down to financing the centre, George said that the campaign is looking to acquire funding from both the federal and provincial governments, but that she’s expecting that $20 million will need to be raised on the local level.
She also added that thanks to a $1 million commitment from the Six Nations of the Grand River’s Band Council, as well as various other private donations, the WCC has already secured $2.2 million.
As far as what to expect from the future state of the art 40,000 square foot facility (designed by Two Row Architect), the Executive Director said it will be a place to share and celebrate stories, to gather and enjoy one another’s company, to learn and build civic pride and compassion for friends and neighbours, and to support a vibrant and thriving tourism and arts economy.
“The space includes a black box theater with seating for 300, a wet and dry workshop, studio spaces, a demonstration and learning kitchen, dedicated rooms for school groups, permanent and temporary galleries, and ceremonial garden spaces,” said George.
Following her presentation and her formal request that the City match Six Nations’ commitment of $1 million, George then took the opportunity to answer any questions from councillors and a short while later, the item was put on the floor for discussions.
“The Woodland Cultural Centre is a part of our story, it’s a part of our history, [and] it’s woven into the fabric of Brantford’s story,” said Councillor Rose Sicoli. “It’s for future generations to see and appreciate and learn from the past, and I think that this is the story of the First Nations people and it’s important to support the preservation of this history just as we would with other associations here in town. …I think it’s important that we show our support for this particular project and that we do that through this capital investment.”
Councillor Richard Carpenter said he would also be supporting the request.
“This is an opportunity for us to recognize what’s come before us, to honour Truth and Reconciliation, and to take our role in that and promote Indigenous culture in our community. [We] have the largest Indigenous culture next door to us in the whole country, and for us to recognize this and to encourage the museum so we can teach, not just Brantfordians or Brant County residents, but everybody from across the country about how this area was built and why we’re here. [It shows] we have shared resources and that we are rowing in the same direction in different canoes as the Two Row Wampum suggests. This is a really unique opportunity, and I’m happy to support this.”
Mayor Kevin Davis later added that he thought a new Woodland Cultural Centre will lead to a better understanding of cultural collaboration.
“I think it’s a terrific opportunity for our community with the long history that we have with the Haudenosaunee people, to do something that’s mutually beneficial,” he said. “…It will be, I believe, a centre that will foster greater degree of cultural understanding, respect and cooperation.”
Davis said that not only will it create jobs and generate economic activity, but that it also supports the vision of Brantford becoming a tourism destination.
“I have this vision of Brantford becoming one of the must see areas in Ontario if you like museums,” he said. “…It’s the vision of us becoming a tourism destination, not just provincially, not just nationally, but internationally and that’s what this museum will do and bring to our area.”
The vote to contribute $1 million to the “We Celebrate our Stories” capital campaign, which is to be funded from the Casino Legacy Reserve, was then carried on a vote of 10-1.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
