The city of Hamilton is situated on the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Mississaugas and is home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island.

As part of its unique tapestry, Hamilton's Indigenous community celebrates and shares its identity through art, fashion, and culture.

Explore the threads of this diverse cultural fabric when visiting the city at these art exhibits, events, shopping, and dining stops.

Indigenous Art & Installations

Indigenous art, culture and history blend seamlessly at art installations across the city.

Museums & Galleries

Hamilton’s museums and galleries are no strangers to showcasing Indigenous history, art, and culture. Get a beautiful infusion of heritage at these must-visit sites.

  • Art Gallery of Hamilton showcases Indigenous art on a rotating basis through exhibits, artists in residence, and programs. Their permanent collection also includes an impressive 116 works by renowned Ojibwe artist Norval Morrisseau, thought to be the largest collection of his work in a public art installation.
  • Hamilton Civic Museums hosts the ‘Talking About Treaties’ virtual space. Developed in collaboration with Indigenous communities, the exhibit presents multimedia and interactive content on traditional Indigenous territories.
  • Rotating art exhibits by Indigenous creators can often be found on display at local galleries such as Hamilton Arists Inc. and McMaster Museum of Art.
  • If visiting the AGH before mid-May, check out the Greg Staats: Runners Continuum solo exhibit exploring the identity and role of runners as they run between nations with the wampum string with notifications of condolences.

Indigenous Events

  • The Soaring Spirit Festival & Pow Wow is an annual two-day event held in June at Battlefield Park. With a sunrise ceremony, live music, food vendors and crafts, and dance and drum specials, the event allows Hamiltonians and guests alike to learn more about Indigenous culture.
  • The Re-enactment of the Battle of Stoney Creek is a much loved, annual free event at Battlefield House Museum & Park held each June. Witness a narrated lacrosse game and the sharing of song and dance on the battlefield prior to each re-enactment, recognizing the role of the Haudenosaunee in this pivotal encounter in the War of 1812. Featuring music, fireworks, food, and demonstrations, this event has something for everyone.

Cuisine

  • A great way to immerse yourself in Indigenous culture is through food, and in Hamilton, the best place to do that is at the Gage Park Diner. Owner Christine Cayuga launched the local eatery in 2016 and serves up delicious offerings such as sweet grass iced tea, strawberry juice, corn soup, bison burgers, and their latest menu addition… blackberry cedar tea!
  • Mohawk Chef Tawnya Brant takes guests on a hands-on journey with Indigenous cooking workshops at Dundurn National Historic Site sharing traditional Indigenous recipes inside the museum's 19th century historic kitchen. Check out their calendar for upcoming cooking workshops.

Shopping

These Indigenous A-list style makers help make up Hamilton’s stylish and diverse shopping scene.

Indigenous Experiences

Talented Indigenous advisors have been instrumental in building the type of experiences Hamilton is known for. When visiting, check these out as a starting point for creating long-lasting memories:

  • Indigenous themed shows at the W.J. McCallion Planetarium on McMaster University campus bring sky-lore to life with traditional night sky storytelling. Popular shows like Onekwa:tara - the Seven Dancers of the Pleiades and The Celestial Bear: The Six Nations' Night Sky are available by reservation.
  • Royal Botanical Gardens' Indigenous Plant Medicines Trail begins at the Arboretum and explores the cultural and ecological connections between the Anishinaabe peoples and plants. Visitors are invited to walk the curated interpretive trail, learning about plant medicines along the way.
  • The Indigenous Healing Gardens on the Bruce Trail are being developed in collaboration with advisors from the Indigenous communities within whose traditional territories this footpath runs. One such space is in the Smokey Hollow Nature Reserve, where visitors can experience the sharing of nature, knowledge, and respect.

About the Author:

Spring Carter is a writer and Editor-in-Chief at Uncommonly Grand. She has strong interests in all things outdoors and tourism-related and coupled with her own Mohawk lineage, she shares her love of everything local, including her home community of Six Nations of the Grand River.

More Resources

Indigenous Relations – City of Hamilton
Hamilton Regional Indian Centre