Written By David Gomez
A visit to Fanshawe Pioneer Village in winter can feel almost surreal. Snow covers the wooden walkways and historic buildings stand silent; their doors closed for the season. Yet inside one of the galleries, a small exhibition offers visitors a thoughtful look at the region’s deeper history.
Naakonigewnan Ezhi-Zhitoong: Wampum and Treaties of London & Middlesex County explores how wampum belts were used by Indigenous nations to record agreements, relationships and responsibilities. The exhibit is presented through a partnership between Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and the London & Middlesex Heritage Museum.
Although the village itself was nearly empty during my recent visit, the quiet atmosphere made the exhibition feel even more reflective. Displays explain the cultural significance of wampum and its role in diplomacy between Indigenous Peoples and European settlers. The exhibit also includes artwork and research created by students from Antler River Elementary School.
Historical documents and photographs connect the exhibit to the broader story of the region. Some displays reference the Mount Elgin Industrial Institute, one of Canada’s early residential schools, along with later Indian Day Schools that operated in the area. The residential school system, created to assimilate Indigenous children by separating them from their families, languages and cultures, left deep and lasting harm across generations. By including these materials, the exhibit places local treaties and relationships within the wider and difficult history experienced by many Indigenous communities in Southwestern Ontario.
Outside the gallery, Fanshawe Pioneer Village remains frozen in time for the winter season. Buildings such as the Denfield Post Office, a small newspaper building, and weathered wooden structures like the London Brewery sit under fresh snow. Even without visitors, the site retains a quiet charm, offering a glimpse into everyday life in 19th-century rural Ontario.
While the village may feel like a ghost town in February, the exhibition inside reminds visitors that the history of the region stretches far beyond its pioneer past.
The exhibit runs at Fanshawe Pioneer Village through March 20, open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
