Mapping the Evolution of Fort York, Sophia Noetzel
Mapping the Evolution of Fort York
Sophia Noetzel
“Connecting Past and Present”
Ideal Audience: School Groups Grades 7 & 8 or anyone who wants an educational activity
Location: Can be done virtually or on the site for more hands-on learning
Materials: Paper, Drawing Utensils (pencils, crayons, etc) Maps Provided here
In Grade 7 of the Ontario curriculum students start learning about the Battle of Fort York, to help support their learning students are asked to consider the implications of the battle on the land. Using maps students will draw connections between Fort York's recorded history, lost Indigenous perspectives, and the possibilities for the future. Applying student's knowledge of the area to making maps allows them to visualize the events within the area better and consider the space around them.
This activity involves physically merging the site's history with its present and imagining its future. Using old maps from Fort York, and current maps of Toronto, you will draw out a Map considering the recorded and possibly lost Indigenous history of Fort York and its impact on Toronto as a city. Through merging maps of the past and present the audience is invited to question what life would have looked like then and how could it look moving forward. Starting with historical maps you will revisit the past of Fort York and how the battle of 1812 impacted the Fort and in turn the city. Then you will compare it to a current map of Fort York and of the city of Toronto comparing how the site fits into the city's history merging it with more recent history. Finally, you will watch a trailer for an Indigenous dance performance that took place at Fort York for the Indigenous Arts festival, the performance honors those who fought in the battle, and through watching this you are asked to consider ideas for other events or ways the Fort York site can be used for reconciliation and community gathering. The final activity will involve creating a map of Fort York's history, possible forgotten history, present, and imagined future, marrying the site to itself, and imagining the opportunities in the future.
1st object: Map of Fort York from 1815
Think about how the map looks and discuss these questions: What do you see? How is it labeled? Which of these landmarks do you recognize? How did the structure of the Fort impact the battle?
How did the battle impact the site? How might the site have looked then compared to today? How might it have looked before European settlers when it was Indigenous land?
2nd object: Map of current Fort York and Map of Current Toronto.
Consider the last map shown and discuss the differences. How is it drawn differently? What's different in the first map compared to this one? Also, think about the map of Toronto. What locations did they deem important? Which of these are historic sites like Fort York and what are is part of the more recent history of Toronto?
How have the maps, and the site, changed from the first map to the current one? How does Fort York compare to other landmarks in Toronto? What other sites should be included in these maps that might not be there? How can we better honor the indigenous peoples who helped us in this battle?
3rd object: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyBt0huzI3I
The Honouring by Kaha:wi Dance Theatre trailer performed at Indigenous Arts Festival at Fort York June 2013
“The Honouring pays homage to Onkwehon:wen and First Nations warriors and their families who sacrificed to protect Haudenosaunee sovereignty, culture, and land during the War of 1812. Audiences have the opportunity to understand the complexity of the War of 1812 through the experiential lens of First Nations, offering a human face to our history. Devised through extensive cultural research within the Onkwehon:wen community, The Honouring is a re-telling of our historical truths not told in the education system. Through body and voice the performance shares the symbols, philosophy, and worldview of the Six Nations and their First Nations allies.”
From Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s Website
How does this honor people who lived and fought in this space? How does this piece work to reconcile the land with its indigenous population? What do you think the future of Fort York could be? What are some events we could hold in this space? How can we continue to reconcile the historic site with its Indigenous history?
Image of The Honouring by Kaha:wi Dance Theatre
Courtesy of Andy Moro
https://andymoro.com/kahawi-dance-theatre/
Activity: Draw a Map of Fort York and the surrounding area. Combining both discussions, include both historic elements from the Battle of 1812 and elements from Toronto's more current history. Consider how you can honor the indigenous people who inhabited this land on your map. Think about what other elements you find important to this area that may not have been included, and draw them on your map. Finally, consider the future of this area, how can it be used in the future, and think of ways to use the space like in the video shown previously that honors its history.
Final Discussion: Now that you have your map, consider how it differs from the earlier maps. How has the site changed? How can it continue to evolve? How has this assignment taught you about the evolution of Fort York? How can we further honor Indigenous histories that were overlooked? How might your map compare to others doing this activity?
Take Home Activity:
Reflect on what you learned from the Fort York map activity. How did mapping the space teach you about its surroundings? Can you better visualize Fort York? How does your map of combined memory compare to the official maps of Fort York? Take a moment and jot down some of the things you learned and will take away from that assignment.
Consider what you learned from the map drawing. What other things can you map? Try mapping your personal surroundings, your house, your school, your neighborhood, etc. Maybe try mapping your walk to school or the drive to your grandparents. Compare the way you approach mapping to others in this activity. Or write about what you chose to map, what things were important to include, and why.
Have two people map the same thing based off of memory alone. How do the two maps compare? What can this teach you about the process of memory? Or try drawing a map once from memory and once with a picture. How do these two maps compare? How does your memory of a place differ from reality? What does this teach you about your memory? Try one of these exercises and write comparisons between the two versions
Now that you have tried the different mapping exercises consider mapping as an act of memory. How does your map compare to your memory? What if you mapped a dream or a fictional land? What makes something important to map? How can maps be a process of memory? How are maps considered art? How can you apply this discussion of space and memory to other aspects of your life?
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