Rideau District High School students explore over 10,000 years of Indigenous history
RIDEAU LAKES – On September 25, 2025, staff and students at Rideau District High School (RDHS) gathered to mount a travelling, museum-quality exhibition in the school’s cafeteria, making RDHS the new temporary home of The History of Indigenous Peoples of Rideau Lakes: An Archaeological Approach.
The exhibition, created by archaeologist and historian Ted Stewart in partnership with the Newboro and Area Heritage Society, was first unveiled at Newboro Town Hall on June 21, 2025 to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day. With overwhelming community interest, the panels are now set to travel throughout the region, beginning at Rideau District High School.
The four-panel display traces a timeline of continuous Indigenous presence in the Rideau Lakes area, from the Paleo period (11,500–9,000 years ago) through the Archaic and Woodland eras, up to the period of European contact. With a focus on the Frontenac Arch and Rideau Canal system, the exhibition highlights both the depth and continuity of Indigenous history in the region.
Rideau District High School staff see the exhibition as a valuable educational resource. “The benefit for our students is the chance to connect more deeply to the land they live on and the history of this area,” said RDHS teacher and iLead advisor Leanne Schachow. “Indigenous culture is often overlooked or underrepresented in mainstream history. This exhibition helps students recognize the long-standing presence and contributions of Indigenous peoples right here in Rideau Lakes.”
As part of the school’s Orange Shirt Day activities on September 30, students will be invited to view the panels and hear a presentation about their significance. Stewart will also return later in the year to deliver a more in-depth talk and share archaeological artifacts dating back thousands of years.
“The exhibition helps open people’s eyes to the reality that Indigenous peoples have lived here continuously for over 10,000 years,” said Stewart. “Too often, people think Indigenous communities only passed through the area or lived here seasonally. The evidence tells a very different story.”
The exhibition will remain on display at Rideau District High School until May 2026, offering students, staff, and community members a unique opportunity to engage with over 10,000 years of local Indigenous history.
Source: Submitted by Upper Canada District School Board
Keep connected to your community—Read the latest Rideau Lakes news.
