Community Call for Materials: Interactive Public Artwork by Ash Street

Peterborough, ON – As part of the City of Peterborough’s 2025 Canada Day celebrations, the public is invited to contribute to "The Living Memory of Her People," a large-scale, interactive multimedia installation by Michi Saagig artist Ash Street of Nogojiwanong/Peterborough and Hiawatha First Nation. 

This monumental dress installation honours the rich layers of Memory, Oral History, Anishnaabe Worldview, Land, and the shared responsibilities of all Treaty Peoples in the Williams Treaty Territories. The work invites reflection on the interwoven stories that shape our relationships with each other and the land. 

Community Call to Action 

The City invites residents to take part in this meaningful collaboration by donating textiles, beads, feathers, ribbons or other symbolic materials that reflect their identity, heritage or connection to the land. These materials will be woven into the Dress, creating a living memory that speaks to the diversity and unity of our shared home. 

Donation Details: 
Drop-off Location: Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St. N., Main Circulation Desk 
Deadline: Sunday, June 22, 2025 

Experience the Work and Meet the Artist 

On Canada Day, Tuesday, July 1, the artist or a representative will be present at Millennium Park, 131 King St., from noon to 6 p.m., alongside the installation. Visitors are encouraged to: 

• View the artwork in person 

• Learn more about its meaning and creation process 

• Contribute materials and reflections directly on-site 

This collaborative project offers a space for remembrance, learning, and shared creation. It is a powerful expression of reconciliation, identity, and the enduring spirit of this land and its peoples.