Honouring Indigenous Aid for Famine-stricken Ireland exhibition launch

Join us for the launch of this exhibition that honours the Indigenous Peoples of Canada who contributed to Irish famine relief in 1847
About this Event

The Honouring Indigenous Aid for Famine-stricken Ireland Exhibit brings together the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park, Irish Heritage Trust, Institute of Irish Studies and Centre for Public History at Queen’s University Belfast to pay tribute to the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Huron-Wendat First Nations in Canada that contributed to famine relief in 1847. It features newly discovered archival records of their donations as well as Indigenous descendants from donor communities reflecting on the compassion of their ancestors. They contributed substantial funds in response to a plea for aid on St Patrick’s Day, 1847.

The Lord Mayor of Belfast travelled to the Kahnwà:ke Mohawk Territory near Montreal in 2009 to meet with the Mohawk Council of Kahnwà:ke and thank them for providing aid. In bringing together newly discovered accounts of Indigenous generosity during the Great Hunger with new perspectives on the lasting influence of Irish colonial officials such as Lord Dufferin and Nicholas Flood Davin in shaping policy for First Nations communities, the Honouring Indigenous Aid for Famine-stricken Ireland Exhibit does not only pay tribute but also prompt reflection on the complex and little known shared heritage between the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and First Nations in Canada.

As such, the exhibit epitomises the spirit of reconciliation in both an island of Ireland as well as a Canadian context of supporting reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. The exhibit is funded by the Government of Ireland Department of Culture, Communications and Sport 2026 Cooperation with Northern Ireland Scheme.