Souvenirs from Niagara Falls 

Indigenous Peoples,* notably the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe, have lived in the Niagara Region for thousands of years. Following the War of 1812, colonial settlement in that region increased. First Nations Peoples were forced onto Reserves, their ceremonies were banned, and their traditional economies were halted. One way that Indigenous communities participated in the capitalist, colonial economy was through inventing, producing, and selling souvenir goods, at fairs, exhibitions, and tourist sites. 

Niagara Falls became a tourist site during the nineteenth century. Settlers sought out the natural wonder of the thunderous Falls, but a key part of their visit involved admiring and purchasing the beautifully sewn and beaded picture frames, bags, boxes, pillows, pin cushions, and moccasins made by Indigenous women. These fashionable items were deliberately made to appeal to Victorian tastes, and were prized by their purchasers, who wore them with pride or displayed them in their homes. The raised beadwork in this exhibition case is iconic of local Indigenous beaders in the Niagara Region, and it was purchased by travelers from Camrose who later donated it to the museum. 

*We are using the term Indigenous to refer to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples in what is now called Canada.