On tour: People of the Eye - Écomusée du fier monde

Quadrilingual exhibition: Quebec Sign Language (LSQ), American Sign Language (ASL), French and English

Institut Raymond-Dewar archives, CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal

Come into contact with Deaf culture and identity! The expression “peuple de l’œil”, or “people of the eye”, underlines the importance of sight for speakers of sign languages in their relationship to the world.

Discover the places, people and events linked to the history of Deaf persons in Canada. The exhibition also offers avenues for reflection about the contemporary Deaf community and presents works of art.

Deafhood: celebrate Deaf culture

Being Deaf is a cultural identity. It means living as a linguistic minority that often goes completely unrecognized by the majority. Experience what it means to be immersed in Deaf culture: exhibition texts are essentially replaced by videos in LSQ and ASL. Hearing persons will be given a textual guide.

Visiting offers a chance to learn about sign languages, a form of communication that dates back to Antiquity. It’s also an opportunity to discover Deaf art – a strong movement affirming Deaf culture – through the presentation of works in various artistic media.

160 years of history

Explore Deaf history through places and events that have made a lasting impression in both Canada and elsewhere in the world. Major institutions like Deaf schools and organizations serve as key landmarks of this 160 year old heritage. Montréal is the only Canadian city where three grand teaching institutions for the Deaf coexisted. See the lives of students in classrooms and workshops as depicted in numerous photographs. In addition, pamphlets and posters illustrate the energy of various organizations created by the Deaf, allowing them to bring their culture to life.

Inspiring figures of the grassroots Deaf movement are also featured: Thomas Widd and Margaret Fitzakerly Widd, founders of the first Montréal school for Deaf Protestants; and Raymond Dewar, one of the authors of the first LSQ dictionary whose advocacy efforts helped advance the Deaf cause. Today, that same cause is being taken up by activists like Patrick Lazure and artists like Hodan Youssouf.