Indigenous experiences in Montréal

daphne is the first Indigenous artist-run centre in Montréal, and highlights the work of emerging, mid-career and established Indigenous artists through exhibitions, workshops, residencies and curatorial initiatives. It is also a community space where people can explore contemporary Indigenous art that encourages meaningful exchange between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

The Biennale d’Art Contemporain Autochtone (BACA) is a recurring event that recognizes and supports contemporary Indigenous art and artists, with a fresh theme for every edition. It was recommended as one of the must-see events in Quebec by Condé Nast Traveler in "The 24 Best Places to Go in 2024."

These venues are regular participants in the BACA: La Guilde, Art Mûr, the McCord Stewart Museum, the Maison de la Culture de Verdun – Quai 5160, the Musée des beaux-arts de Sherbrooke, the DRAC, the Musée régional de Rimouski, the Stewart Hall Art Gallery and Expression, le centre d’exposition de Saint-Hyacinthe.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has an important collection of First Nations and Inuit art and often shows thematic exhibitions showcasing it.

Over the last few years, the McCord Stewart Museum has been in the process of indigenization with the goal of increasing the accessibility of the Indigenous Cultures collections to Indigenous communities and the general public. It has a permanent must-see exhibition, Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience. The exhibit includes about 100 objects selected from the museum’s Indigenous Cultures collection that were combined with more than 80 compelling stories from 11 First Nations communities to bring to the forefront the still unrecognized knowledge of Indigenous peoples in Quebec and Canada. 

The Sacred Fire Productions' cultural space in Old Montréal is dedicated to sharing contemporary Aboriginal arts, artists and cultures in Canada. Be sure to check out Ashukan 2.0, their online store.

The Galerie d’art Images Boréales features Inuit art and represents nearly 200 Inuit artists from all over Nunavut. In addition to working with young emerging artists and fostering their career development, the gallery also showcases pieces from artists from different Indigenous communities, including the Dene, Haida, Coast Salish and Ojibway.

The Galerie Le Chariot has been dedicated to Inuit art for over 40 years. It has an international reputation for providing the widest selection of Inuit sculptures, with over 2,000 works of art on permanent display. 

Wachiya is a store that specializes in Cree arts and crafts products from Eeyou Istchee, the largest traditional territory of the Cree people, located in northern Quebec. Each piece is unique and represents the artist's background and expertise.

The Pointe-à-Callière Museum of archaeology and history in Old Montréal highlights the vision and values of the First Nations that were integrated into its revamped flagship exhibition, Crossroads Montréal. The vital role of oral traditions and intangible heritage in Indigenous communities inspired the interactive installation Ancestral Memories of the Island. The original stories included in the installation recount the lives of Indigenous peoples past and present and provide visitors with the opportunity to dive headfirst into the rich sounds of Indigenous languages and immerse themselves in the spirit of the site. 

Ondinnok - Compagnie de théâtre autochtone francophone à Montréal is the first French language Indigenous theatre company in Canada. The company was founded in 1985 to establish a theatre rooted in ancestral values and to give a voice to Indigenous peoples.

McGill University’s First Peoples’ House hosts a series of events and activities, including its annual Pow Wow in September, weekly beading workshops with local artists, and feasts that foster community bonds. 

Several murals that embellish Montréal’s public spaces pay tribute to Indigenous artists, including one of Alanis Obomsawin by the Atikamekw artist Meky Ottawa. The mural celebrates Obomsawin’s lifelong commitment to defending First Nations, specifically the rights and education of Indigenous children. 

Qanuqtuurinq is a mural created by five young Inuit artists and two artists from Toronto that seeks to create an exchange between cities and Indigenous communities and empower young Indigenous artists to thrive. 

In 2017, Shanna Strauss, a Tanzanian American artist living in Montréal, completed a mural of Mohawk activists Ellen Gabriel and Mary Two Axe Earley in Parc des Hommes-Forts in the South-West borough. Strauss created the mural to show her solidarity with the Mohawk women who fought against colonial violence and the recognition of Indigenous rights.  

Dans l’attente...while waiting is a sculpture by artist Nadia Myre, who is of Algonquin descent and a member of the Anishnabeg Kitigan Zibi Nation. The concrete and bronze sculpture is based on a reproduction of the Great Peace of Montreal treaty and represents the totemic marks used as signatures by the representatives of the First Nations.

Générations, a mural painted by Montréal artist Gene Pendon during the International First Peoples’ Festival in 2014, pays tribute to the Innu women of Northern Quebec and their legacy of fighting for respect and protection of their rich heritage. Pendon has worked with Indigenous communities in Nunavut and created the mural to honour their enduring struggle.

The Kwakiutl Totem serves as a landmark on Notre-Dame Island. It was commissioned by artist Henry Hunt for Expo 67 and stands as a symbol of unity among the various Kwakwaka’wakw communities of the Pacific Northwest coast.

The First Nations Garden, located at the heart of the Montréal Botanical Garden, highlights the close bond that Indigenous peoples and the Inuit have always had with the land and mother nature. The garden consists of over 300 different plant species and is the culmination of three years of work. The 2.5-hectare garden first opened in August 2001. 

Mount Royal (or “the Mountain” as it is known to Montrealers) offers three breathtaking views of Montréal from its three summits, one of which was renamed Tiohtià:ke Otsira’kéhne in 2017 to honour Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) heritage and the peak’s use as a First Nations fire beacon. Come for a hike or a drive to enjoy the beautiful views. 

Archaeological digs carried out between 2016 and 2019 on Sherbrooke Street and Peel Street in downtown Montréal have revealed a 14th-century Iroquoian village. This major discovery is the inspiration for Tsi niion kwarihò:ten (“Our ways: Peel Trail”) is a tribute to the Iroquoian peoples on the island of Montréal. 

Dotted with bronze sculptures, the trail encourages reflection and mutual understanding between various native and non-native cultures. The trail offers a dialogue between the works of MC Snow, a Kanien'kehá:ka artist, and Kyra Revenko, a non-Aboriginal artist. Inspired by the Kanien'kehá:ka thanksgiving ceremony “Words Before All Else”, their works honor every essential element of life, reflecting the richness of cultural diversity.

The experience also includes a podcast that features 17 Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants who share their different perspectives on history as you walk along the trail.

For a truly immersive Indigenous culture experience, the Kanien’kehá:ka reserve of Kahnawá:ke is only a 30-minute drive from downtown Montréal. Over the last few years, the destination community has begun offering tours, arts and crafts, a yearly Pow Wow, and of course, amazing food and drinks, all surrounded by beautiful greenery and views of the St. Lawrence River. 

At the Kahnawá:ke Marina, you can dance to the beat of a different drum at the annual Echoes of a Proud Nation Pow Wow, a vibrant, high-energy celebration of traditional and contemporary Indigenous cultures. Sample traditional native cuisine and pick up authentic artworks, crafts, carving, beadwork, jewelry and more from onsite artisan vendors.