Indigenous art along the waterfront
Artwork along the waterfront will form a public art trail of works by Indigenous artists. This will include permanent public artworks, murals on buildings near the waterfront and the use of natural materials in public art installations.
The City of Mississauga is located on the Treaty and Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Huron-Wendat and Wyandot Nations.
People have lived along the shores of Lake Ontario, in what is now the City of Mississauga, for over 10,000 years. The Lake Ontario Shoreline and Credit River are closely associated with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, who occupied the Credit River from the late 17th and early 18th centuries to the mid-19th century.
Mississauga’s waterfront shoreline along Lake Ontario measures approximately 22 kilometres and extends west from Toronto towards Oakville. While there is Indigenous art located throughout the city, the shoreline of Lake Ontario provides rich opportunities to celebrate and honour Indigenous peoples, their culture, history and ongoing stewardship of the lands and waters.
About the curator
Philip Cote is a Sundancer, Pipe Carrier and Sweat Ceremony leader from Moose Deer Point First Nation. He is a Young Spiritual Elder, Artist, Activist, Historian and Traditional Wisdom Keeper. Philip was selected by an external public art jury, which included representatives from the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, as the curatorial advisor to guide the commissioning of Indigenous public art along the waterfront.
Philip will be working with the City’s public art program to determine future locations along the waterfront that are suitable for Indigenous public art and develop guiding themes for the artwork.
Gallery
The City’s public art program supports City and community-led initiatives to bring Indigenous art to public and private spaces along the waterfront.
View the growing collection and learn more about some of these featured pieces.
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Emily Kewageshig, 2022, The Flame of Life. City of Mississauga Temporary Public Art Collection. Photography by Tori Lambermont. Commissioned by the City of Mississauga’s Public Art Program, in partnership with Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services. Emily Kewageshig, 2022, The Flame of Life. City of Mississauga Temporary Public Art Collection. Photography by Tori Lambermont. Commissioned by the City of Mississauga’s Public Art Program, in partnership with Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services. -
Sawmill Sid, 2022, The Dance. Photography from Heritage Mississauga and Sanborg Productions. Commissioned by Fram+Slokker. Sawmill Sid, 2022, The Dance. Photography from Heritage Mississauga and Sanborg Productions. Commissioned by Fram+Slokker. -
Lynn Taylor, 2022, Port Credit Bridge. Photography from the Mississauga Arts Council. Commissioned by the Mississauga Arts Council and the City of Mississauga. Lynn Taylor, 2022, Port Credit Bridge. Photography from the Mississauga Arts Council. Commissioned by the Mississauga Arts Council and the City of Mississauga. -
Moccasin Identifier activation in Port Credit, 2022. Photography courtesy of Ward 1 Councillor Stephen Dasko. Moccasin Identifier activation in Port Credit, 2022. Photography courtesy of Ward 1 Councillor Stephen Dasko.
The City’s public art program is grateful to collaborate with City and community partners to grow a collection of Indigenous public art along the waterfront: Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Ward 1 Councillor Stephen Dasko, Heritage Mississauga, FRAM + Slokker, Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services and local Port Credit residents.
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