Native memorial unveiled at Queenston Heights
A large crowd attended the opening of the Landscape of Nations memorial in Queenston Heights Park Sunday. It commemorates the role of First Nations during the War of 1812. PHOTO: John Law / Niagara Falls Review
Eight years in the making, a memorial recognizing the role of First Nations in the War of 1812 was finally unveiled to the public Sunday at Queenston Heights Park.
Landscape of Nations: The Six Nations and Native Allies Commemorative Memorial recalls the historic ceremony of reconciliation which took place on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, 1815, restoring peace among native nations who fought against each other during the war.
“It’s a reflection of what those people sacrificed 200 years ago,” said Six Nations artist Raymond Skye, one of the project’s commissioned artists. “Let it be not about us, let it be about them. That’s why we’re here today.”
The ceremony began in a downpour as dignitaries took their seats. A huge crowd gathered around as a Procession of Nations entered the memorial — believed to be on the tallest patch of land within the Niagara Parks.
The $1.4-million project includes two bronze sculptures of native leaders John Norton and John Brant, time markers indicating the start of the War of 1812 and when peace was achieved, bronze medallions integrated into a memory circle, and a Tree of Peace under which children buried weapons of war during Sunday’s event.
“This memorial will serve to make people more aware of the significant contributions and sacrifices that were made by the people of Six Nations and their allies during the War of 1812,” said Ava Hill, elected chief of Six Nations of the Grand River. “People will be reminded of how much our people did to defend our lands, their lives and the lives of their allies.”
The project began in 2008 by The Working Group, a subcommittee of the Niagara-on-the-Lake War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee. After receiving $420,000 in funding from the Canadian Heritage Legacy Fund, a campaign began to raise the remainder of the cost.
The ceremony included performances by native American bands Dark Water Rising and The Ollivanders, and a dance production of The Honouring by the Kaha:wi Dance Theatre.