With more sightings of a black bear around the region, the Lambton Heritage Museum wants to give it a name.
Curator Dana Thorne says they’ve received a number of submissions honouring the area’s Indigenous history.
“The black bear came to our area at an emotionally difficult time as people across Canada struggle with the discoveries of unmarked graves at former residential school sites,” Thorne says. “Some of the contest participants have reflected that the mukwa is a spirit bear that has come to our area to promote healing and give people strength.”
The Name the Bear contest also coincides with the museum’s new exhibit called Nnigiiwemin / We Are Going Home, exploring the relationship between colonialism and the loss of land by the Chippewas of Kettle & Stony Point First Nation.
To enter the contest, submissions can be made under Lambton Heritage Museum’s Facebook page or by email at heritage.museum@county-lambton.on.ca.
Prizes include an exclusive guided tour of Nnigiiwemin / We Are Going Home with the exhibit co-curators, an original artwork, “Sacred Bear”, by Jeffrey “Red” George of the Chippewas of Kettle & Stony Point First Nation, and a Family Pass to the Lambton Heritage Museum. The contest closes July 16th. The winner will be chosen by a jury and announced July 23rd.
Although currently closed to the public due to Provincial COVID-19 restrictions, Lambton Heritage Museum anticipates reopening to the public in August 2021.
