Monday, January 30, 2023

The First Steps Of A New Canada

Confederation of the colonies brought them all under an autonomous dominion. While it started with the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, in time the rest would follow.


This is the city of Kingston, Ontario, on the day that Confederation was enacted: July 1st, 1867.


A photograph of the original Centre Block on Parliament Hill from that time is here.


The path led me on.


This is one of the treasures of the Museum. The Blackfoot people ranged through the northern plains on both sides of the border, and one of their longstanding traditions was the winter count. An elkskin would be decorated each winter, starting at centre and spiraling out, depicting the most important thing about the year that had passed.


It is side by side with a saddle and a rifle. The horse and the gun changed the ways of First Nations peoples forever.


This large painting dates to 1869, and is by Frances Anne Hopkins. Canoe Manned By Voyageurs Passing A Waterfall depicts a typical scene of the French-speaking traders who went deep into the continent, establishing relationships with First Nations peoples, often marrying into their tribes. Out of those relationships eventually came a new culture, distinct all their own: the Metis.


A canoe, too big to get into frame on its own, is mounted across from the painting, suspended over the space below.


For today, I end here.

46 comments:

  1. I like that path. The winter count could go to Sami´s Monday Murals.
    Nice tent.

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  2. The poor horses had no choice, they were used in almost all battles and wars ! Fortunately not today anymore, but they still have to work for the police.

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  3. How nice to make an annual overview of the most important events on an elkskin.

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  4. We are the twenty-first century descendants of this political union and inhabit a beautiful landscape. Let's hope we can develop the wisdom to protect it and stop electing destructive politicians whose only aim is to destroy it. Are you listening Doug Ford, Danielle Smith?

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  5. Hello,
    The elkskin is beautiful, I like the paintings and the canoe. Great exhibit. Take care, have a wonderful week!

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  6. The canoe is a marvel, how they made them so well to be loaded down like that. Beautiful pictures of the exhibits

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  7. Un nuevo Canadá moderno, de acuerdo con estos tiempos y lleno de prosperidad...y a fe mía que lo han conseguido. Es lo que siento desde la lejana España.
    Que tengas una buena semana.

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  8. The elk skin is an amazing artifact.

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  9. Fascinating history. I also like the elk skin story.

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  10. Surprising groups who influenced Canada's formation.

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  11. ...this all seems to be so orderly.

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  12. That pathway in the fifth photo is very attractive.

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  13. wonderful series of photos of the pathway to a new Canada ~

    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  14. What a wonderful museum and exhibit.

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  15. The fireworks over the Parliament are beautiful. Loving that canoe.

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  16. The interior deco is similar to a palace

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  17. A fascinating post, thanks William!

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  18. Such beauty in their presentation of this exhibit, the photo with the hanging lights is it? absolutely stunning!

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