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Ren1ai·ks by Tim Johnson Woo<lland Cultural Centre October 29, 2012 On behalf of the Sruithsottlan Institution's National Museum of the American Indian f e:-.-tend cong:ratu1ations to E~cutive Director J,mis Monture, to her staff, and to the Woodland Cultural Centre Board of Directors on tlte development .md installation of this timely, relevant. .md v,eryimportant e:cluDit. <\Var Clubs & Wampwll Belts: Haudenosaunee E.'\l)eriences Of The Wai· Of1812," I .Uso want to recognize and honor the V.'Ol'k of Curator Rick Hi11. l've kno¼n and worked with Rick for over 30years and n ever ce-ase to be amazed by his relentless commitment to education, to CWNt-al preservation. and to the pubJic interest. Rick is a ma.st er teacher who bel.-ps us al) better Wlderstand how past events have shaped dte comple.'l realities.of otU' contemporary lives. The War of 1812 was a defitun.g period for Si."'i Nations and other Native Nations th.at became involved in. the conflict. For SL': Nations. as but one ex.ample, the war' s outcome .seived to stem the u.ncet'tainty of two centuries of upheaval and relentless violence. For Canada. d1e unfin;ished business of the Amei;c.an Revohltion finally yielded to peace and the 6.nn establishment of secure border!> ,..-ithin which their fledgling countrycottl d take root. Canada's identity emerged during this time. In numerous battles de£eitding again.st invading American forces an es-i,m·r de corps emerged from the accumulated victories, But let us never forget that m.my critic-al engagements in the War of 1812 induded the participation and .sacrifice of Native peoples - on both sides of the disputed border, In the Canadian context the p.u'ticipation of Si.': Nations leadership and forces, as v,eU as that of numerous other Fll"st Nations. were crucial to the .successful repulsion of invading American forces. One could ui.tke a strong circumstantial cas.e that Canada would be very different today wer e it not for the involvement of Native peoples. And yet. who, v,ithin otu- own communities, and. mot'e broadly, ,.,;thin educ.uional systems a cross Canadla. fully comprehends this history? Th~