“Voices of the Land: Preserving Indigenous Stories of Mississauga” is a project by Heritage Mississauga with funding by the Ontario Trillium Foundation to capture the stories of Indigenous peoples of Mississauga, develop content to share and ensure that their stories are preserved.

Description of Project:
Mississauga has a rich Indigenous history as part of the Treaty and Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Huron-Wendat and Wyandotte Nations. Today, the city is home to diverse Indigenous communities whose stories are vital to understanding Mississauga’s development.

This project will preserve these stories through oral history interviews, articles, and videos. Heritage Mississauga, with 25 years of experience in cultural heritage programming and relationships with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, will collaborate with the City of Mississauga’s Indigenous Relations team to engage local Indigenous residents.

The collected stories will be shared widely through digital platforms and educational initiatives, ensuring Mississauga’s Indigenous history is documented and accessible for future generations.

Why This Project Is Important:
Mississauga is a young, multicultural city where preserving and sharing the stories of its Indigenous residents is essential for fostering community understanding and pride.

This project will highlight the contributions of local Indigenous communities, connecting residents to their history and strengthening a shared sense of identity. By creating lasting resources such as videos and articles, we provide accessible tools for teachers, researchers, and residents to learn about Mississauga’s Indigenous heritage.

The project also supports participants in feeling valued as part of the city’s cultural fabric, fostering a stronger connection to their community and a deeper sense of place.

Building Connections with Mississauga’s Indigenous Community:
Many Indigenous residents in Mississauga live far from their home communities, often separated from their traditions and culture. This can lead to feelings of isolation in a city where they may lack support networks.

This project will address these challenges by building relationships, fostering collaboration, and creating a safe environment for participants to share their stories. Recognizing potential barriers to participation, we will focus on trust-building and cultural sensitivity throughout the process.

We will work with the City of Mississauga’s Indigenous Relations Department to connect with the local Indigenous community and ensure their voices are heard and preserved.

Outcomes of This Project:

• 25 Oral histories recorded and transcribed to preserve Mississauga’s Indigenous stories.
• Published articles and two (2) professional videos in partnership with Sanborg Productions made accessible through Heritage Mississauga’s YouTube channel.
• Content from oral histories for articles on our website and podcast channel, plus new contacts for our Way Back Wednesday program, Ask A Historian program
• Educational resources for teachers, researchers, residents, and visitors.
• Strengthened connections within the local Indigenous community, fostering pride and belonging.
• Increased awareness and appreciation of Indigenous contributions to Mississauga’s history and development.
• A report delivered to the City of Mississauga’s Indigenous Relations team and the Indigenous Network detailing project progress, outcomes, and recommendations.

Call for Volunteers:
To ensure the success of this project, we aim to gather 10 dedicated volunteers to assist with various aspects of the work. Volunteers will play a vital role in:

• Outreach and Engagement: Helping us connect with Indigenous community members and build trust.
• Interview Support: Assisting with scheduling, setup, and documentation during oral history interviews.
• Content Development: Supporting the creation of articles, videos, and reports to share the collected stories.
• Administrative Tasks: Helping with organization, data management, and communication with stakeholders.

Who We’re Looking For:
We welcome volunteers who are:

• Passionate about Indigenous history and cultural preservation.
• Skilled in communication, organization, or media production.
• Comfortable working in a team and engaging with diverse communities.

How to Get Involved:
If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact us Meghan Mackintosh at [email protected] / (416) 837-9728. Training and guidance will be provided to ensure you feel confident and supported throughout the project.

By volunteering, you’ll contribute to preserving the rich stories of Mississauga’s Indigenous community and help create meaningful resources that will benefit generations to come.