Help Build Native American Education Center

Help Us Make History Happen: Old Fort Niagara's Native American Education Center

Long before Europeans arrived, the land where Old Fort Niagara now stands was part of the seasonal homelands of Indigenous nations-used for hunting, fishing, gathering and diplomacy. For centuries, it served as a meeting place, a crossroads of cultures, and a site of alliance and exchange.

During the American Revolution-the Fort became a refuge for thousands of Indigenous people seeking safety amid shifting alliances and conflict. It was not the beginning, but a continuation of a long-standing relationship between this place and the Native nations who have shaped its history.

Today, we're building something that reflects that enduring connection.

The Native American Education Center at Old Fort Niagara will be a dedicated space where Indigenous voices lead the conversation. It will celebrate rich cultural traditions, preserve traditional knowledge, and provide immersive educational experiences for all visitors. Most importantly, it will affirm that Indigenous history isn't separate from the story of Old Fort Niagara-it's central to it.

The structure itself is a reflection of that commitment. The Center is being constructed as a hewn log building, similar to those erected at the Fort in the 18th century to house Native leaders and refugees. Rooted in history and built with care, it's a space designed for community, connection, and understanding.

We are on the verge of completing this important project-but we need your help. To finish construction, furnish the space, and support powerful, Indigenous-led programming, we must raise at least $50,000. Every dollar brings us closer to opening the doors.

Your support helps us:

This center is more than a building-it's a promise. A promise to ensure Indigenous communities are not just remembered, but heard, seen, and respected in the ongoing story of Old Fort Niagara.

And if we raise more than $ 50,000?

Additional funds raised through this GoFundMe campaign will go directly toward furnishing the space, maintaining the building, supporting Indigenous-led programming, and ensuring the Center remains an active, welcoming, and well-cared-for space for years to come.

We're close. But we can't complete this project without your help.

Please consider making a gift today. Your contribution helps build a space of learning and connection that will serve generations to come.