Posted : October 21, 2024
Our blog is chock full of great ideas for fun things to see and do in York Durham and Headwaters. We are always adding new content and updating old posts, but sometimes you might stumble upon something from our vault. If this article has inspired you to hit the road, be sure to double-check that the featured stops in this post are still welcoming visitors.
The Village at Black Creek has been Toronto’s living history museum since the day it opened in 1960. Many locals and visitors alike have come to connect with Toronto’s past through its iconic experiences. However, the village is in the midst of some change. The city isn’t like it was over six decades ago as it’s become even more multicultural with an incredible diversity and range of voices.
This is why as of October, the site will now be known as The Village at Black Creek.
“We’re really leaning into the word village as it’s always been central to who we are.” says Wendy Rowney, Senior Manager of Community Outreach & Education at The Village at Black Creek. “ A village is a gathering place for people, stories, and ideas. It’s a place where people from many different backgrounds come together to create community. And that’s how we see The Village at Black Creek. We’re continuing to provide and share the same iconic experiences and stories that people have enjoyed at The Village for decades but we’re growing to provide a wider variety of fun, meaningful and immersive experiences for visitors.”
Recognizing that the site had focused on settlers of European descent for too long, in 2017 The Village began collaborating with Indigenous scholars, artists, elders, and community members from five southern Ontario First Nations: The Mississaugas of the Credit, Six Nations of the Grand River, Mississaugas of Scugog Island, Chippewas of Rama, and Chippewas of Georgina Island in order to rectify this. The result has been a large-scale collaboration between these aforementioned communities as well as the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) within The Village of Black Creek, York University and the Jumblies Theatre known as the Changing the Narrative Indigenous research committee.
With the goal of bringing Indigenous voices to the forefront, this project has a plethora of original research completed by historians that focuses on both archival research as well as oral histories. Currently you can enjoy a sneak peek during your visit as bigger plans are in motion to share more of the findings in the years to come. This focus on Indigenous voices is paving the way for future endeavours as there are plans to also dive into Black history, queer history and more.
Currently, Changing the Narrative: Reconnecting Settler and Indigenous Histories at the Village highlights Indigenous perspectives through art, events, experiences and installations. One such installation is Spirit Wind by Inuk artist Barry Best. Using felled trees from the northern area of The Village at Black Creek, he has crafted six wooden carvings that illustrate the Inuit narrative, The Soul That Let Itself Be Born Again in All the Animals Of The Earth. This tale follows a shaman who wishes to learn more about the world around them through the eyes of various animals, symbolizing a deep understanding and respect for all walks of life.
Each carving shares a part of the tale, meaning you need to explore the grounds to piece the entire story together. Visitors will love the vibrant imagery of the Shaman, caribou, muskox, wolf, polar bear and seal. Not only will you enjoy the tale itself but you’ll learn more about the symbolism within each of these installations as well as how important they are to Inuit culture via the accompanying signage. Visitors will also learn some Inuktitut words with the names of these various creatures too!
Barry is also a part of The Village at Black Creek’s First Saturdays series where Indigenous and other equity-deserving artists demonstrate their artistic prowess with visitors on the first Saturday of every month. Currently he shares the process of spoon carving and the importance of trees as well as the environment.
“I talk about the process of carving a spoon as well as about the trees themselves. I have a forestry background and so I share about harvesting properly and respectfully, how important the forest is, how the trees interact with us and each other and why the forest itself looks the way it does. Then I bring out my spoons for those who are respectful to be able to touch them. The kids are pretty eager and being able to interact with something reinforces that learning and experience.” says Barry.
The Village at Black Creek has many more events occurring throughout the rest of 2024 with even more in store for next year. First Saturdays is a microcosm of the Changing the Narrative initiative with additional events such as the “Enchanta Village” and “Step into the Past” adding to the iconic experience that so many have grown to love. Be sure to take a look at their calendar for full details of upcoming events. Operating hours can vary by time of year so be sure to double check their opening times before arriving for your visit.
While the name may be changing, The Village at Black Creek still carries the same wonder that has made visitors fall in love with it since day one. This new trajectory is only making the space even greater as it continues to evolve and grow with these important perspectives leading the way.
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