Voices of the Land
On Indigenous voices, land, and lived experience
in Mississauga
A multi-year oral history project shaped through interviews, writing, and film.
Context
Voices of the Land was created to listen more closely to the stories, relationships, and lived experiences that shape Mississauga, but aren’t always recorded.
Developed by Heritage Mississauga with support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the project brings together voices from the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, along with Indigenous residents living in the city today.
I shaped the project from initial direction through funding and development to final delivery.
Approach
Many of these stories are not formally documented, and when they are, they are often shaped through external frameworks rather than the voice of the storyteller.
This work centres the storyteller.
Each conversation follows its own rhythm. Some are direct and reflective. Others take time, moving through memory, place, and lived experience before arriving somewhere clear.
I led the interviews and shaped the narrative development across the project, from initial conversations through to final written articles and documentary pieces.
The work is grounded in listening. My role is to meet each storyteller where they are, shaping the material without overriding it, while creating a structure that allows it to be understood and shared.
Storytellers remain part of the process throughout. They review and approve their stories before publication, so what is shared remains theirs.
Execution
I conducted more than 18 long-form interviews, working closely with each storyteller to ensure their voice, intent, and meaning remained intact.
The work spans oral history interviews, written narrative articles, and short documentary films, along with digital storytelling across web and social platforms.
Lori Ouimette, participant in Voices of the Land
The process extends beyond documentation. It involves shaping stories into forms that can be accessed, revisited, and understood over time.
Impact
The project has developed into a growing body of oral histories, articles, and documentary content, preserving voices that might otherwise remain unrecorded.
Stories are shared across public platforms, expanding access to Indigenous perspectives and lived experience in Mississauga.
The work also supports ongoing relationships between Heritage Mississauga and Indigenous communities, creating space for continued storytelling, collaboration, and connection.
Each is shaped by the storyteller’s voice, grounded in connection to place.
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A story of land, memory, and a life shaped by place in Mississauga.
SIDNEY GENDRON
02
A reflection on identity, history, and what it means to live between worlds.
Darin Wybenga
03
A story of community, lived experience, and connection to culture and place.
LORI OUIETTE
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A growing collection of stories shaped by voice, memory, and connection to land.
READ ALL ORAL HISTORIES
05
A closer look at the Voices of the Land platform, including its purpose, process, and ongoing development.
EXPLORE THE FULL PROJECT
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Editorial
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An invitation to see place as story. These sessions document light, texture, and atmosphere—ideal for brands, artists, or collectors seeking a quiet, visual narrative of location and mood.
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Selected Stories
I’m drawn to work that sits at the intersection of story, identity, and place, where narrative deepens understanding, connection, and impact.
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