Ska-Nah-Doht Village and Museum
Location
8348 Longwoods Rd.,
Mount Brydges, Ont.
N0L 1W0
42°52’52.3″N 81°28’38.3″W
General inquiries and rentals: [email protected]
Telephone: 519-264-2420
Facebook and Instagram: @skanahdoht
Ska-Nah-Doht Village and Museum is located within Longwoods Road Conservation Area is located in the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, at 8348 Longwoods Road (Middlesex County Road 2), Mount Brydges. It is 6.5 km west of the village of Delaware and 10 km east of the village of Melbourne.
Hours of Operation
Ska-Nah-Doht Village:
Open daily from 9 a.m. to dusk, weather permitting.
Ska-Nah-Doht Museum*:
May Long Weekend through Canadian Thanksgiving (excluding October 2 and 8, 2024)
Daily, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
*Given staff availability, construction timelines, and weather.
Admission
Admission to Ska-Nah-Doht Village and Museum is FREE with your parking pass!
Parking at Longwoods Road Conservation Area is $5 per vehicle, payable at the auto-attendant at the entrance of the conservation area, or with purchase of a Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority Annual Parking Pass.
From 1000 to 50
Ska-Nah-Doht was conceived by four educators during a road-trip to Toronto in 1969. It features a recreation Longhouse Village, Heritage Log Cabins, and an indoor museum. Ska-Nah-Doht Village and Museum is owned and operated by the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority.
The Village is reflective of those inhabited by the Haudenosaunee along Antler River (or the Thames River) close to 1,000 years ago. Find your way through the palisade maze. Then enter a longhouse and imagine cooking supper in a clay pot over a roaring fire. Pretend to grind corn into flour in a wooden mortar and pestle.
The Village has undergone many changes over the years but, as always, the information we share is based upon knowledge shared with us by local Indigenous community members and archaeologists who continue to conduct research into the history of this area 1000 years ago. Though the Village is not built on an actual site, three Haudenosaunee Villages were located within proximity to our recreation in the years 800 to 1200 CE. Two sites, the Kelly site (AfHi-20) and the Yaworski site (AfHi-21), excavated in the early 1980s, are located within Longwoods Road Conservation Area.
The Museum and the Turtle Trail Gift Shop are located in the Longwoods Resource Centre. The Museum offers hands-on exhibits focused on Indigenous culture and displays of artifacts from the museum’s archaeological collection. The excavation of two archaeological sites on the property comprise the majority of artifacts in the museum’s collection. The evidence confirms the sites to be from the Glen Meyer period (800 to 1200 CE), a perfect compliment to the Ska-Nah-Doht Village. More information about these sites can be found by contacting the Ontario Archaeological Society (OAS).
Public Consultation
The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority, in collaboration with the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Foundation, have undertaken the revitalization of Ska-Nah-Doht Museum and construction of a new Indigenous Community Learning Centre at Longwoods Road Conservation Area in Mount Brydges, Ontario. This work is a result of community consultation over the last decade. As we approach the completion of this phase of construction we are once again seeking community feedback regarding Ska-Nah-Doht Village and Museum’s mission, vision, values, and programming as we head into the museum’s next 50 years!
The current revitalization and construction plans will include:
- 2000 square foot addition
- accessible washroom
- a limited use limited application lift
- kitchen facility
- additional public and rental space
- safety upgrades
- Potential Future Work:
- new artifact storage
- new staff offices
- additional gallery space
Please take the time to participate or share our public consultation! We appreciate everyone’s time and feedback as we continue to develop, grow, and learn together.
Our Mission
Ska-Nah-Doht Village and Museum is an interactive museum that engages the public in the preservation and presentation of local Indigenous history, through experiences both on-site and in the community.
Our Vision
Ska-Nah-Doht Village and Museum is a community leader in collecting and preserving local history, while faithfully interpreting the Haudenosaunee – People of the Longhouse.
Indigenous Community Education Centre and Ska-Nah-Doht Museum Revitalization Project
As a result of community consultation (2017 Visioning Project, 2019 Feasibility Study) and direct input from leaders from our local Indigenous communities, Ska-Nah-Doht, the LTVCA, and the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Foundation are undertaking a capital project with the goal of providing a larger, revitalized a space for our community to engage with Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, cultural heritage, and environmental learning.
Learn more about the project from our partners at the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Foundation, or by listening to the Curator’s February 2024 presentation at the History Symposium in London, Ontario embedded above.
Our History
Reflect on our 50 year history and next steps with us!
Accessibility
Ska-Nah-Doht Village is wheelchair accessible, weather permitting.
Ska-Nah-Doht Museum is located on two floors, however a tablet with digital versions of exhibits not located on the main floor is available to those with mobility considerations.
Accessible parking is available outside of Ska-Nah-Doht Museum / Resource Centre.
Not able to make it to Ska-Nah-Doht Village and Museum in person? Reach out to us at [email protected] or call 519-264-2420 for access to our digital content.
How You Can Help!
If what you see and hear about Ska-Nah-Doht is something that interests you, there is a way you can help. Ska-Nah-Doht Village and Museum is always accepting applications for volunteer positions and roles on our Advisory Committee.
Every year the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority is committed to raising thousands of dollars for renovations and repairs to this recreated longhouse village. You Can Help! Each $10.00 donation buys 1 pole for the palisade. Tax receipts are available for donations over $20.00 (Registered Charitable Number: 107646580RR0001).
Mailing Address
8449 Irish Drive, RR#1,
Mount Brydges, Ont.
N0L 1W0
