Media Advisory/Photo Op - Dawn Ceremony to Open Whales / Tohora at the
Ontario Science Centre

TORONTO, Oct. 27 /CNW/ - Media are invited to attend a traditional Maori dawn ceremony led by Maori Elders from New Zealand and a Canadian First Nations representative to bless the exhibition Whales / Tohora. This exhibition features intriguing objects and interactive science from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. The Maori Elders will lead the way into the exhibition, stopping to recite traditional prayers. The delegations will then hear whaikorero (speeches) from the Elders, which will weave together the past, present and future. When the speeches are over, the ritual of hongi (pressing noses) and shaking hands will take place, and the ceremony will conclude with the sharing of food.

Visitors to Whales / Tohora will see a sperm whale hunt giant squid, understand echolocation, crawl through a model blue whale heart and build a digital dolphin and see if it can swim. The objects in the exhibition include astonishing and rare specimens such as a 17.8 metre fully-articulated sperm whale skeleton.

* Please note, certain Maori accents do not appear in this text due to formatting issues.

What:	Special pre-dawn opening ceremony and media preview of the exhibition Whales / Tohora
Who:	Matiu Rei, Executive Director Te Runanga o Toarangatira Huia Winiata Kaihautu (leader) Te Whare Whakatupu Matauranga at Te Wananga o Raukawa. H.E. Andrew Needs, New Zealand High Commissioner Michelle Hippolite, Kaihautu Co-Leader, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Chief Bryan LaForme, Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation Lesley Lewis, CEO, Ontario Science Centre
When:	Wed. Nov. 3, 2010 7:30 a.m. Dawn ceremony, exhibition tour, interviews 9:30 a.m. Media availability
Where:	Temporary Exhibition Hall, Level 6 Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills Road, Toronto PLEASE ENTER VIA SOUTH C SECURITY ENTRANCE www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca

Developed and presented by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
This exhibition was made possible through the support of the New Zealand Government.

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