Changing the Narrative: Toronto’s Indigenous – Settler History

About this event

Adults (18+). Learn more about Toronto's multifaceted Indigenous history, which has often been ignored or minimized due to the telling of the region's history only from settler perspectives. Join us for a panel discussion about a public history project that worked with five local First Nations to create a more accurate and inclusive story of the region's past, and is transforming the way settlement of 19th century Ontario is represented at The Village at Black Creek (formerly Black Creek Pioneer Village). Changing the Narrative: Reconnecting Settler and Indigenous Histories at Black Creek Pioneer Village was a collaborative project of York University historians, The Village at Black Creek, Jumblies Theatre, and the Mississaugas of the Credit, Chippewas of Rama, Six Nations of the Grand River, Chippewas of Georgina Island, and Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nations. This panel discussion will share research highlights, reflect on the process of collaboration, and explore how the project is expanding and enriching storytelling at one of the region’s prime living history museums. The project’s findings have also been published in Where Histories Meet: Indigenous and Settler Encounters in the Toronto Area, by Victoria Freeman. The book explores this history from multiple perspectives in an accessible and richly illustrated format and includes excerpts from interviews with twenty Indigenous elders and knowledge keepers. It was nominated for a 2026 City of Toronto Book Award and is the winner of the 2026 Heritage Toronto Book Award. Panel members include: Victoria Freeman, historical researcher and author of Where Histories Meet: Indigenous and Settler Encounters in the Toronto Area. Jennifer Bonnell, professor in the Department of History at York University and the lead of the Changing the Narrative Project. Allison White, curator at The Village at Black Creek (Toronto and Region Conservation Authority). Darin Wybenga, heritage interpreter for the Missis