Indigenous Oral History Sound Project
Julie Nagam (2008)
The purpose of this sound piece is to tell a story through an Indigenous perspective about a site-specific area of land surrounding the Humber River Valley in what is now known as Toronto, Canada. Searching the land for an Indigenous history in a city that perpetually transforms is a daunting and difficult task. To further compound the growing cityscape, the Indigenous history of the land is situated in many conflicting stories from historians, archeologists, Indigenous nations and competing ethnic groups. All of these associations want to lay a claim to the area and link their knowledge to the territory. As well, there are numerous groups of people who seek to create an exciting, exotic and romantic history in order to satisfy tourism and promote interest in the City of Toronto. Within this complicated mix, how does a person begin to push aside bloated egos, distorted ‘facts’ and competing knowledges for the area? First, (re)membering that history is a version of stories that are approached from different perspectives, knowledges and worldviews and second, digging up as much information and artifacts as possible to begin to connect the stories in a circular discourse as opposed to a linear time frame.
Therefore the project is a creative intervention, which challenges a linear 'factual' western account of the history of the area. The sound piece is a collection of voices and the knowledge of historians, archeologists, elders, various texts, landscape, maps and archival documents and testimonies. The sound piece is a walking tour that takes a person through the area, which tries to create re-remembered knowledges, re-imagined spaces and re-situates the importance of the land. You will be able to download a map and MP3 to take you through the space. It begins in the west end of Toronto at Jane St and Annette St and takes you through part of Baby Point, Tree Sanctuary, Etienne Brule Park and back to the Jane or Old Mill subway stop.
People to thank for making the project possible: Anna Friz (sound artist and technical support), Toronto Tree Tours, Liz Forberg, David Redwolf, Madeleine McDowell, Ron Williamson, Archeological Services, Eva Nesselroth-Woyzbun, Kate Wells, Future Cinema Lab, Janine Marchessault, Toronto Historical Society, Woodlands Cultural Centre, Carl Benn, Parks Canada.