On September 29, 2025, the Ontario Historical Society presented a talk by the editors of a new book, “Behind the Bricks: The Life and Times of the Mohawk Institute,” about the history of Canada’s oldest and longest running residential school, located in Brantford, Ontario.
Co-editors Dr. Alison Norman and Rick Hill, joined by contributor Diana Castillo, discussed the unique project which brought together community and academic historians and resulted in an important new book.
Rick Hill is a Tuscarora of the Beaver Clan, and is a community-based historian at the Six Nations of Grand River. He is also an artist, writer, and curator. Rick has worked for many years on exhibits for the Woodland Cultural Centre. He is the founder of the Mohawk Institute Research Group.
Alison Norman is a historian working for the federal government, at Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. She is also a graduate faculty member at Trent University. She is a founding member of the Mohawk Institute Research Group. Alison is a former board member of the Ontario Historical Society, and the current book review editor for Ontario History journal.
Diana Castillo obtained her bachelor of arts in sociology from the University of Calgary and a juris doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School. She is a member of the Ontario Bar and has focused her legal practice on child protection matters. She is a native of Colombia and currently resides in Toronto.
OHS executive director Daniel Dishaw opened and closed the presentation.
To buy the book or to read it open access, please visit: https://press.ucalgary.ca/books/9781773856520/.