Science Communicator – PT Term

Science Communicator – PT Term

Posted on by Rebecca Watson

The Manitoba Museum, a not-for-profit institution, is Manitoba’s largest heritage centre and number one paid tourist attraction with over 300,000 on-site visitors annually, including 80,000 students. We uniquely combine human and natural history themes, multidimensional interpretation, science, and astronomy education with quality school and community programs, special events, and exhibits. We are pleased to announce a term part-time Science Communicator opportunity in our Learning & Engagement Division beginning in April 2025, or as soon as possible, until September 1, 2025.

Reporting to the Manager of School and Public Programs, the Science Communicator delivers interpretive programs on themes related to the Science Gallery and Planetarium and assists in other public program events for the general public and organized groups. The incumbent must exercise initiative and independent judgment in working with the Museum’s various audiences while maintaining an energetic and lively approach.  They must be able to work with minimal supervision and be available for weekend and evening work.

The successful candidate will have demonstrated knowledge of the general sciences and scientific principles, skills in public speaking and theatrical program delivery, as well as experience working with the public and children. Knowledge of astronomy is an asset. Fluency in both official languages is an asset for this position. The detailed job description is below.

Applications will be accepted until April 25, 2025, or until the position is filled. Interested applicants may forward a résumé and cover letter to:

Manager of Volunteer & Employee Relations
Manitoba Museum
190 Rupert Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0N2
HR@ManitobaMuseum.ca
Fax: 204-942-3679

 

The Manitoba Museum is committed to inclusion and employment equity and welcomes diversity in the workplace. The Manitoba Museum recognizes the importance of building a workforce reflective of the visitors it serves. Therefore, the Manitoba Museum supports equitable employment practices and promotes representation of designated groups (women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, visible minorities). 

Employment Equity is a factor in selection for this position. Consideration will be given to Indigenous people, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities. All applicants are encouraged to self-identify if they are members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, visible minorities) in their application.

This document is available in other formats and accommodations will be provided throughout the selection process upon request. Contact Human Resources at 204-956-2830 if you have an accommodation request.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those being considered for interviews will be contacted. We are not able to acknowledge receipt of applications submitted via Fax or mail.

Job Description

Pay Group: 3

 

General

Reporting to the Manager of School and Public Programs, the Science Communicator delivers interpretive programs on themes related to the Science Gallery and Planetarium and assists in other public program events for the general public and organized groups. The incumbent must exercise initiative and independent judgment in working with the Museum’s various audiences, especially schoolchildren while maintaining an energetic and lively approach. They must be able to work with minimal supervision and be available for weekend and evening work. Fluency in both official languages is an asset for this position.

Typical Duties:

  1. Deliver interpretive programs for the institution’s school and general public audience.
  2. Learn pertinent information on departmental programs, permanent galleries, and temporary exhibits as required.
  3. Perform Planetarium shows in the theatre including setting up technical equipment and all controls during performance of programs.
  4. Assist in training and support of part-time staff and volunteers.
  5. Perform all ongoing functions related to program operation including: setting up furniture, equipment, specimens, artifacts and other materials; operating A/V equipment; storing program materials.
  6. Handle program materials according to institution safety procedures.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

  1. Demonstrated skills in public speaking and program delivery.
  2. Ability to communicate effectively including the talent to present programs and demonstrations efficiently and enthusiastically to a wide range of age and interest groups.
  3. Capability to sense the dramatic nature of a presentation and respond to it appropriately during a performance
  4. Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to interact effectively with staff, volunteers and the general public.
  5. Knowledge of Physical and/or Astronomy Science.
  6. Ability to perform basic research.
  7. Ability to work in an organized manner, both independently and in a team environment.
  8. Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines.
  9. Fluency in both official languages is an asset.

 

Education, Training, and Experience

  1. Grade XII education, and
  2. At least one year of experience working with and presenting to the public, especially schoolchildren, or
  3. Equivalent combination of education and experience.

This is a term part-time position commencing in April 2025, or as soon as possible until September 1, 2025.  The incumbent will report to the Manager of School and Public Programs. The wage is $19.58 per hour. Availability for weekday, weekend and occasional evening shifts is essential. Fluency in both official languages an asset.

Applications will be received until Friday, April 25, 2025, or until the position is filled. Please submit your resume including cover letter to:

Manager of Volunteer & Employee Relations
Manitoba Museum
190 Rupert Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0N2
HR@ManitobaMuseum.ca
Fax: 204-942-3679

 

The Manitoba Museum is committed to inclusion and employment equity and welcomes diversity in the workplace. The Manitoba Museum recognizes the importance of building a workforce reflective of the visitors it serves. Therefore, the Manitoba Museum supports equitable employment practices and promotes representation of designated groups (women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, visible minorities).

Employment Equity is a factor in selection for this position. Consideration will be given to Indigenous people, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities. All applicants are encouraged to self-identify if they are members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, visible minorities) in their application.

This document is available in other formats and accommodations will be provided throughout the selection process upon request. Contact Human Resources at 204-956-2830 if you have an accommodation request.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those being considered for interviews will be contacted. We are not able to acknowledge receipt of applications submitted via Fax or mail.

Preserving Tradition: The Art and Significance of Moccasin Making

Posted on by Rebecca Watson
Posted on: Friday April 11, 2025

Have you ever seen the beautiful moccasins in the Manitoba Museum galleries and wondered about their creation process? Who made them, who wore them, and where did they travel? Museums are filled with millions of objects and specimens, but it’s the stories behind these items that really matter. Discovering how these stories connect to present-day individuals and communities is truly the best part of my job.

While moccasins may seem ordinary, they preserve cultural heritage and have resisted colonial forces since first contact. As a young girl, I admired how my relatives paired their outfits with braids, beaded earrings, bolo ties, and stunning moccasins. There is an ongoing desire to preserve our cultural identity, even through everyday items like shoes and accessories.

One of our long-time friends and partners is Gloria Beckman, a Nēhîthâwâk artist skilled in many art forms, including moccasin making. Through her workshops, Gloria shares her expertise and passion, helping preserve these vital cultural traditions.

A pair of moccasins with light tan leather bodies, with beaded accenting and grey fur trimming.

Images: Beautiful pairs of fur-trimmed, beaded moccasins created by workshop leader Gloria Beckman. © Gloria Beckman.

Moccasins in museum collections storage. In the foreground, a pair of black moccasins with colourful beaded detailing around the body. In the background, a tan-coloured pair of moccasins with beaded cuffs at the ankles and a beaded panel on the top of the foot.

Gloria recently shared that moccasin making is a meditative, community building activity. She expressed that, “The excitement of seeing pahkîkinaskisina (leather footwear) is an intrinsically rewarding experience” that provides us with a sense of belonging.

We are honoured to partner with Gloria for various workshops throughout the year, offering guests the opportunity to create their own hand-made treasures, perhaps to pass down to future generations with love. Workshops also provide a unique experience to explore the techniques and artistry from our ancestors with a behind-the scenes look at artifacts in our collection.

If you are interested in hearing about future workshop opportunities be sure to sign up for our Manitoba Museum e-newsletter!

Tashina Houle-Schlup

Tashina Houle-Schlup

Head of Indigenous Programming & Engagement

Tashina Houle-Schlup is a young Anishinaabe woman with roots in Ebb & Flow First Nation who grew up in the foothills of Riding Mountain National Park on a bison ranch and natural hide tannery. Tashina grew up learning to sew, tan hides, bead, and practice quillwork. She has many passions, including sharing her knowledge of Indigenous history and culture in her role as the Head of Indigenous Programming & Engagement at the Manitoba Museum.

Manidoo Miiniigooizowin, A Gift from the Creator exhibit to close April 6, 2025

Posted on by Rebecca Watson
Posted on: Monday March 31, 2025
A promo image for exhibit 'Manidoo Miiniigooizowin: A Gift from the Creator'. On a red background to the left, below a large

Image: ©Southern Chiefs’ Organization.

Treaty No. 1 Territory – Winnipeg, Manitoba, (March 31, 2025): This Spring Break will be the last chance to see the Manidoo Miiniigooizowin, A Gift from the Creator exhibit at the Manitoba Museum. Manidoo Miiniigooizowin celebrates the beauty and resilience of the Anishinaabe and Dakota peoples and commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO).

Featuring objects from the 32 member Nations represented by SCO, the exhibit is a celebration of the past, present, and future. Many of the objects in this exhibit have been generously shared by individuals and families who proudly represent their respective Nations, and all were designed or made by talented artists and makers from the SCO member Nations.

“To commemorate SCO’s 25th anniversary, we wanted to celebrate the artistic talents and skills of our Anishinaabe and Dakota citizens and ancestors. This exhibition successfully demonstrated the breadth of artists at various stages of their professional and creative trajectories, incorporating both traditional and contemporary ideas and concepts. As our exhibition comes to a close, SCO extends our gratitude to all who visited and learned from Manidoo Miiniigooizowin. We give thanks to the artists and donors who provided such beautiful items to share in the exhibit. We also thank the Elders who gifted the exhibition with its name; to our co-curators Amanda McLeod and Dr. Amelia Fay; and to all those at the Manitoba Museum who assisted. I encourage everyone who has not yet viewed Manidoo Miiniigooizowin to visit the Manitoba Museum before it closes.” – Grand Chief Jerry Daniels, Southern Chiefs’ Organization

The exhibit also includes historical objects from the Manitoba Museum collections —community treasures from decades past. With both the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ on display, Manidoo Miiniigooizowin showcases a walk through many Dakota and Anishinaabe generations.

“This was a wonderful opportunity for co-curation, relationship building, and a chance to bring belongings from the collection to public display alongside the contemporary works. It has been a joy to see visitors’ eyes light up upon entering this exhibit, and to bring something new and exciting to the Museum experience.” – Dr. Amelia Fay, Curator of Anthropology and HBC Museum Collection.

After a year on display in the Manitoba Museum’s Welcome Gallery and Discovery Room, the exhibit will close on Sunday, April 6, 2025. Entrance to the exhibit is included in a Manitoba Museum All Attractions Pass, available online at ManitobaMuseum.ca. The Manitoba Museum offers complimentary admission for First Nation, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

-XXX-

 

Media Contact: 

Brandi Hayberg
Manager of Marketing & Communications
204-988-0614
BHayberg@ManitobaMusuem.ca

Premiere at the Planetarium: Voyage of the Stars

Posted on by Rebecca Watson
Posted on: Friday March 14, 2025

The Manitoba Museum’s newest Planetarium show will take you to the edge of space and the bottom of the sea.

Premiering Saturday, March 29, Voyage of the Stars: A Sea and Space Adventure is an exciting experience for all ages.

Astéria, an adorable little starfish, dreams of going on an adventure, just like her hero, Captain Octopus.

A cartoon of an underwater submersible with a star fish and space suit wearing star inside. Behind the craft various fish swim through the waters.

Aboard Stella’s submersible spacecraft, the two friends explore the wonders under the sea. ©RSACosmo

Cartoon image showing a humanoid figure in a space suit with a star-shaped head standing next to a red starfish inside of an underwater submersible. Through the window in front of them a large school of fish can be seen swimming past.

Realistic and stunning underwater scenes complement the planetarium’s awesome space imagery. ©RSACosmo

One morning, as she gazes at the starry sky giving way to dawn, a spaceship from outer space crash-lands next to her. On board is Stella, a daring shooting star who urgently needs to find fuel to be able to return to space!

Together, they embark on an exciting quest under the oceans. During their journey, Astéria introduces Stella to the fascinating diversity of marine species, while Stella shares her knowledge about Earth, the Moon, and the Sun. Exploring the deep oceans of Earth and exploring deep space have many similarities, which the two friends discover during their adventure. Gradually, they realize the magical connection that ties underwater life to the vastness of space.

Cartoon portrayal of a school of fish swimming in an upwards column.

Authentic underwater visuals will enchant audiences of all ages. ©RSACosmo

A cartoon starfish and a humanoid figure in a space suit with a star-shaped head hold hands and swing together on an orbit in space.

Astéria and Stella explore the motions of the Earth and Moon. ©RSACosmo

This film, designed for younger viewers, offers authentic underwater visuals that will enchant audiences of all ages. With a fun storyline and endearing characters, the show is appropriate for all ages.

Voyage of the Stars: A Sea and Space Adventure premieres Saturday, March 29 at the Manitoba Museum Planetarium and runs daily during Spring Break programming. It will continue to run weekends starting April 12.

Plan your adventure today!

 

Scott Young

Scott Young

Planetarium Astronomer

Scott is the Planetarium Astronomer at the Manitoba Museum, developing astronomy and science programs. He has been an informal science educator for thirty years, working in the planetarium and science centre field both at The Manitoba Museum and also at the Alice G. Wallace Planetarium in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Scott is an active amateur astronomer and a past-President of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

Manitoba Stories: DYK Discovery

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Memories on Paper – Preserving Family History

Posted on by Rebecca Watson
Posted on: Friday February 14, 2025

A birthday card, photograph, diary, or hand-written note – these little archival pieces can be some of the most treasured fragments of family history. Small and unassuming, paper objects tend to get pushed to the back of drawers where they become crinkled, creased, folded, and stained. The good news is that it does not require an archival conservation lab to preserve these historic heirlooms. With a few simple Conservator tips these pieces can last for many generations to come.

An individual wearing a navy blue lab coat leans over a paper map with a scalpel in one hand. Their other hand, in a black glove, carefully holds the paper in place.

In the same way that Conservators control the environment in a storage vault of the Museum, the location of where to store these collections in your home is the first place to start. It is best to avoid an attic or basement where temperature and humidity can fluctuate, leading to possible mould or insect damage. A combination of a stable environment, away from outdoor walls, off the floor, and away from any heat sources will help the preservation of personal memorabilia.

 

Image: Senior Conservator Carolyn Sirett repairing a map from WWII that was once folded and taped together.

In addition to an optimal environment, adding a second layer of protection to your archival assets is beneficial. Paper is a porous material, and will inherently absorb anything that surrounds it, this can include odours, colours, and acids. A method Conservators use to keep these deterioration factors at bay includes the use of storage enclosures. When choosing a box or paper folder as a storage enclosure make sure to choose a product that is lignin-free, acid-free, and buffered. Additional tips include removing staples or paper clips that can rust over time, and if choosing to use plastic enclosures make sure they are made of polypropylene or polyethylene.

An oval photograph of a soldier in uniform. from one side through to the centre the material the photograph is printed on has been torn. The edges are worn.

Poor storage environments can cause staining, tears, and mould on sensitive archival documents.

Four objects including several books and a binder that are themselves artifacts or contain and store artifacts. Each is place in a close fitting, folding box to support preservation.

Examples of archival storage enclosures used to keep collections preserved.

Our personal collections are important in different ways and can spark memories of events or people once cherished. Preserving these physical memories can be done without breaking the bank, and with a few small steps anyone can ensure they last into the future.

Carolyn Sirett

Carolyn Sirett

Senior Conservator

Carolyn Sirett received her B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Manitoba, Diploma in Cultural Resource Management from the University of Victoria, and Diploma in Collections Conservation and Management…
Meet Carolyn Sirett

Museum Stories: DYK Discovery

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Manitoba Museum’s Tribute Gala Celebrates the Life and Legacy of The Honourable Murray Sinclair

Posted on by Rebecca Watson
Posted on: Tuesday January 28, 2025
Headshot of Senator Murray Sinclair.

Treaty No. 1 Territory – Winnipeg, MB: January 28, 2025 – The Manitoba Museum has announced The Honourable Murray Sinclair as distinguished honouree at the 20th Annual Tribute Gala, taking place on Thursday, April 17, 2025. This celebratory evening will recognize his outstanding contributions to justice, reconciliation, and the preservation of Indigenous knowledge and cultures in Canada.

As a trailblazer in the legal field and a prominent advocate for Indigenous rights, The Honourable Murray Sinclair dedicated his life and career to building understanding and advancing truth and reconciliation. As Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), his leadership played a pivotal role in documenting the history and legacy of residential schools, the stories of survivors and honouring the children who never came home. Murray Sinclair paved a path and outlined actionable steps toward a more equitable future.

“We are deeply grateful for the privilege of recognizing The Honourable Murray Sinclair for his tireless efforts to create a more inclusive and just society,” said Dorota Blumczyńska, CEO of the Manitoba Museum. “His unwavering commitment to truth, reconciliation, and education shaped the Museum’s work and helped to transform many of our galleries. In his memory, we will continue to inspire discovery and understanding of Manitoba’s many diverse cultures and vibrant heritage. His is a light that will forever shine.”

Funds raised through the Tribute Gala support the Manitoba Museum’s Access for All initiative by removing financial, social, and cultural barriers to visitation. One of the key components of Access for All is providing Manitobans with access to the Museum at no charge – community members who would otherwise not have the opportunity to experience the Museum’s incredible spaces and stories. Through this initiative, the Museum aims to further engage new audiences in memorable learning experiences and create a place that belongs to all Manitobans.

“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Tribute Gala, a milestone that fills us with gratitude for the unwavering support of our communities, donors, members, staff, and partners. Building understanding, inspiring curiosity, and creating a more inclusive and accessible Manitoba is only possible when we do it together. Here, at your Manitoba Museum, every story is honoured and celebrated,” said Zoë McQuinn, Director of Fund Development at the Manitoba Museum.

The Manitoba Museum’s 20th Annual Tribute Gala will take place in Alloway Hall on April 17, 2025. For information on reserving tables, purchasing tickets, exploring sponsorship opportunities, or donating to the Access for All community initiative, please visit our webpage or contact Cassidy Nicholls at CNicholls@ManitobaMuseum.ca or 204-988-0629.

The Honourable Murray Sinclair or Mizanay (Mizhana) Gheezhik-iban, meaning “The One Who Speaks of Pictures in the Sky” in Anishinaabemowin, CC, OM, Chief Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, lawyer, judge, senator (born in 1951 in Selkirk, MB; died 4 November 2024 in Winnipeg, MB). Called to the Manitoba Bar in 1980, Murray Sinclair focused primarily on civil and criminal litigation, Indigenous law and human rights. In 1988, he became Manitoba’s first, and Canada’s second, Indigenous judge. Sinclair joined the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as its Chief Commissioner in 2009, before becoming a senator in 2016. He retired from the Senate in 2021 but continued to mentor Indigenous lawyers. The breadth of public service and community work completed by Sinclair demonstrates his commitment to Indigenous peoples in Canada. In recognition of his work, Sinclair was a Companion of the Order of Canada and received the Order of Manitoba.

-XXX-

 

Media Contact: 

Brandi Hayberg
Manager of Marketing & Communications
204-988-0614
BHayberg@ManitobaMusuem.ca

Reconciliation in Action

Posted on by Rebecca Watson
Posted on: Monday January 13, 2025

Hello Manitoba Museum friends,

Happiest New Year. I wish you and your loved ones much joy in the year ahead.  

I reflected over the winter holidays on the many changes we’ve made at the Museum in recent years. It’s been an intense and intentional period of transformation. In an organization’s life cycle, there are varying periods of operations; steady, growth, or decline. Occasionally, when an organization faces intense internal or external pressures, incremental changes aren’t enough. It must make an evolutionary leap. That’s what we’ve done at the Manitoba Museum over the last few years. We leapt. Our evolutionary leap has meant: 

  • Redefining our raison dêtre – reason for being,
  • Recognizing, with gratitude and humility, that the ways in which we were operating no longer served our future,
  • Renewing our vision and calling upon the courage needed to become something significantly different, and
  • Releasing our grip on what was so that we could become a museum which not only honoured and continuously reexamined the past, but also one that would take meaningful actions to shape the future.

When an evolutionary leap takes place, the organization will either transform and realize a viable future, or it will miss the mark and face possible decline.   

The Manitoba Museum bravely chose to change, work which will continue for many years to come. Thankfully, our efforts have been warmly welcomed by our communities, generously supported by donors, enjoyed by Members, and appreciated by partners, collaborators, and co-creators.    

An important example of how we’ve changed is the implementation of a very important policy; the Indigenous Complimentary Admission Policy. Since actively promoting this policy in 2021 and working to strengthen our relationships with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, over 60,000 Indigenous visitors have come to the Manitoba Museum to connect and reconnect with their own heritages, histories, artifacts, and stories.  

There is perhaps no stronger example of the impact of our efforts to exist in the service of our communities than these new and renewed relationships.  

Why is complimentary admission for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples important, you might ask?  

I’d like to take a few minutes of your time to answer this question. 

 

Indigenous Complimentary Admission at the Manitoba Museum 

In alignment with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Manitoba Museum proudly offers complimentary admission to all First Nations, Inuit, and Métis visitors. This initiative reflects a deep commitment to reconciliation, cultural revitalization, and the reclamation of knowledge and language. 

  

Reconciliation in Action 

The TRC’s Calls to Action urge institutions across Canada to take meaningful steps toward healing and repairing relationships with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. For the Manitoba Museum, providing complimentary access is a tangible response to these calls, embodying the principles of respect, inclusivity, and acknowledgment of the profound contributions of Indigenous cultures and histories. 

Similarly, UNDRIP emphasizes the rights of Indigenous peoples to maintain, develop, and share their cultural heritage. By opening its doors to Indigenous visitors at no cost, the Museum acknowledges its role in supporting these rights and creating an environment where Indigenous voices, stories, and traditions can flourish. 

Photograph of the Treaty Number 6 handshake medal. A circular medal portraying a representative of England shaking hands with an Indigenous leader. They stand on grassy ground in front of tipis and the rising sun. Text around the edge of the medal reads, “Indian Treaty No. 6 / 1876”.
A Shared Commitment to Cultural Revitalization

The Manitoba Museum recognizes the unique relationship it holds with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. For generations, the Museum has been a repository of artifacts, stories, and histories that bear witness to the vibrant cultures and resilience of Indigenous communities. Indigenous Complimentary Admission strengthens this relationship by actively supporting the practice and revitalization of cultural traditions—past, present, and future. Moreover, complimentary access also acknowledges the Museum’s problematic role in colonialism. The forced removal of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis artifacts, knowledge, and stories in order to fill the collections vaults at museums globally has robbed Indigenous communities of their own cultures. The Manitoba Museum is in the process of conducting a thorough assessment of its collections to determine their provenance – the record of an object’s origins and ownership over time. Repatriation, rematriation, and complimentary access are all steps the Manitoba Museum is taking to right these historic wrongs. 

Through access to exhibitions, programming, and educational resources, Indigenous visitors can engage with artifacts and narratives that resonate with their heritage. This access facilitates the transmission of Indigenous histories, languages, oral traditions, ceremonies, technologies, skills, philosophies, writing systems, and literature to current and future generations.

Image: This Treaty No. 6 Medal, first presented to Chief Red Pheasant on Aug. 28, 1876, came to the attention of the Manitoba Museum’s former curator, Katherine Pettipas, in 2002. The medal was acquired by the Museum in 1994 as part of a large donation of over 25,000 artifacts in the Hudson’s Bay Company Museum Collection. Records and oral history indicate that in 1885 an Indian Agent removed it from the possession of Chief Red Pheasant. Pettipas contacted Red Pheasant Cree Nation to initiate the repatriation of the medal to the Community, and in July 2019 Red Pheasant Chief and Council formally requested the repatriation of the medal. Director of Research and Collections, Seema Hollenberg worked with Chief Clint Wuttunee and the Band Council to returned to Red Pheasant Cree Nation, which occurred at Treaty Days on July 3, 2019.

An Anti-Colonial Stance

Providing complimentary admission to Indigenous visitors is more than a policy; it is a conscious anti-colonial act. By challenging barriers to access and welcoming inclusivity, the Museum rejects colonial practices that have historically excluded or marginalized First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. Instead, it creates opportunities for empowerment and self-determination, affirming the centrality of Indigenous perspectives in understanding Manitoba’s shared history.

A pair of mid-calf high moccasins with floral beadwork. On the shin of the boot are orange flowers with green leaves, and on the top of the foot are red and black flowers with green leaves.
Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future

The Manitoba Museum’s commitment to Indigenous Complimentary Admission is a step forward in its ongoing journey of reconciliation and partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. It reflects a profound respect for the past and a dedication to inspiring discovery, learning, and connection for generations to come. 

This initiative underscores the Museum’s belief in the transformative power of knowledge and the importance of sharing stories that shape our collective identity. By welcoming Indigenous visitors into its spaces, the Museum honours the rich tapestry of cultures and histories that define Manitoba and reaffirms its pledge to uphold the values of reconciliation and respect. 

  

Removing Barriers to Connection 

It is vital that the Manitoba Museum continues to remove any and all barriers faced by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in reconnecting with and experiencing their own cultures and histories. As an institution founded on colonial principles, the Museum acknowledges the need for definitive and direct action to change this reality. The Museum also recognizes that many artifacts held within its collection were not always acquired freely, fairly, or with proper compensation. Coercion, oppression, and systemically imposed policies resulting in poverty forced the hands of many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples to engage in trade and commercial relationships that exploited them. 

Image © Manitoba Museum, H4-2-527

We cannot change the past, but we are responsible for changing the future. By providing accessible opportunities for cultural engagement and education, the Museum takes responsibility for its role in shaping a more inclusive and equitable future for all. 

  

Thank you for your support as we undertake this important work. 

  

Sincerely,

The name "Dorota," handwritten in blue ink.

 

 

 

Dorota Blumczyńska
Manitoba Museum CEO

  

Is the Manitoba Museum an independent organization? 

Yes, the Manitoba Museum is an independent legal entity guided by its mandate, mission, vision, and values in its service to Manitobans. Unlike many museums in other provinces across Canada, the Manitoba Museum is not an arm of the government, nor a department or crown corporation.  

The Manitoba Museum is a not-for-profit organization with charitable status. It is governed by a Board of sixteen volunteers who set the organization’s strategic priorities, approve Board policies and procedures, and provide judicious oversight of the Museum’s resources. The Museum is led by CEO Dorota Blumczyńska, who determines day-to-day operations including the implementation of the Complimentary Admissions Policy.

The Cougar – Manitoba’s Big Cat

Posted on by Rebecca Watson
Posted on: Friday January 10, 2025

Image, above: Visitors can experience a cougar and its skeleton up close and can experience the amazing journey of SK10 through maps and trail cam images. Explore the life of cougars through touchable paw prints, scat, and cougar screams and purrs. ©Manitoba Museum

 

The Manitoba Museum has a brand-new, permanent exhibit, and we invite visitors to pounce on the chance to see this exciting addition to our Museum Galleries.  “The Cougar – Manitoba’s Big Cat” is an extraordinarily in-depth look at one of the most enigmatic creatures to roam our province.

“The Cougar – Manitoba’s Big Cat” is unique because it tells the story of one cougar, known as SK-10. In the spring of 2010, a cougar was born in Saskatchewan’s Cypress Hills. When he was just over one year old, he was given an ear tag, labeled SK-10, and fitted with a satellite tracking collar as part of a study by the University of Alberta. This study would reveal his remarkable 10-year journey through the prairies.

Face on view of a taxidermized cougar skin. The cougar is wearing a tracking collar and prowling through tall grasses.

Have a staring competition with SK10 while experiencing the travels and lives of cougars in Manitoba. ©Manitoba Museum

A profile view of a mounted cougar skeleton, primarily in frame are the skull and front legs.

Discover the inner workings of a cougar with a close-up look at its skeleton and understand how it is one of Manitoba’s most impressive predators. ©Manitoba Museum

SK-10 was destined to wander, but he traveled farther than any other cougar documented in the study. In just 100 days, he covered an astounding 750 kilometers, roaming through Montana before reaching Moose Mountain in Saskatchewan. His tracking collar malfunctioned that spring, but SK-10’s journey was far from over. From 2016 to 2018, he reappeared, caught on trail cameras in Riding Mountain National Park—a rare park visitor!  He had traveled another 300 kilometers, reaching his final stop near Duck Mountain, where, in early February 2020, SK-10 was found accidentally caught in a legal coyote snare. This is where his journey to the Manitoba Museum began.

The Museum partners with Manitoba Wildlife officials and the Assiniboine Park Zoo to study and preserve any accidentally killed cougars. Placing the skin and skeleton in a museum gives the animal a second life of sorts, a lasting legacy by making it available for scientific study to better understand cougars in Manitoba and to tell their story to the public.

The skeleton of SK10 being mounted for exhibit. Each bone sits in a unique cradle that permits removal for later research. ©Manitoba Museum

A taxidermized cougar on a plywood mount being wheeled through a Museum hallway on a dolly by a staff member.

SK10 arrives at the Museum from the taxidermist in April 2022. There is still a lot of work to get the cougar and its skeleton ready for exhibit. ©Manitoba Museum

A fully mounted cougar skeleton. Through the skeleton's legs the taxidermized cougar skin can be seen already within the exhibit case.

The taxidermy mount and skeleton of the cougar are placed in the exhibit through a sealed back door to prevent damage from pests and dirt. ©Manitoba Museum

Because SK-10’s story is so extraordinary, the Manitoba Museum was determined to bring it to visitors as a permanent feature of the Parklands Gallery. “The Cougar – Manitoba’s Big Cat” is an incredible and unique look at the inner-workings of this powerful predator, providing a glimpse of cougar life in Manitoba.

 

Plan your visit today!

 

Dr. Randy Mooi

Dr. Randy Mooi

Curator of Zoology

Dr. Mooi received his Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Toronto working on the evolutionary history of coral reef fishes. Following a postdoctoral fellowship in the Division of Fishes of the Smithsonian Institution…
Meet Dr. Randy Mooi

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Witness Scientific Discovery at the Manitoba Museum

Posted on by Rebecca Watson
Posted on: Friday December 13, 2024

The Manitoba Museum is a place of discovery, and not only for our visitors! Our Curators travel far and wide to acquire specimens and artifacts for the Museum’s collection. Some of these objects eventually end up on display in our galleries, while others may be significant for scientific research. Some even turn out to be new species.

A large, colourful screen shows animations of a variety of extinct marine life forms. Below the screen are small cases, text, and graphics.

Alongside a large, animated sea scape, you can see a selection of 450-million-year-old fossils of organisms that once inhabited Manitoba in the Earth History Gallery, Ancient Seas Exhibit. ©Manitoba Museum

This past summer, our Curator of Palaeontology and Geology made some spectacular fossil discoveries near Churchill and Grand Rapids, including at least one never-before-seen extinct species. Back at the Museum, these specimens will be carefully prepared under the microscope, removing overlying rock to tease out secrets hidden in stone. Then, they can be studied and shared through publications and exhibits with the scientific community and the public.

Three polar bears walking across a craggy shoreline.

These polar bears interrupted us while collecting an important fossil specimen along the coast near Churchill. Fortunately, we were able to enjoy the photo opportunity and return to collect the specimen once the coast was clear. ©Michael Cuggy

A slab of rock with a horseshoe crab fossil in the middle.

A freshly split rock surface showing a specimen of Lunataspis aurora, the oldest known horseshoe crab. The species was first found in northern Manitoba and described by Manitoba Museum researchers and colleagues in 2008. The specimen is about 4 cm long. ©Manitoba Museum/Joseph Moysiuk

Two horseshoe crabs with barnacles in spots on their shells on a sandy beach.

Modern horseshoe crabs, Limulus polyphemus, gathering on the shores of Long Island, New York, to reproduce. ©Joseph Moysiuk

Fossil deposits in northern Manitoba are of global scientific significance and Manitoba Museum researchers have been at the forefront in their discovery and study. These fossils are remarkable for their quality of preservation – even traces of soft organisms like jellyfish and seaweeds have been preserved. The rock layers date back to about 450 million years ago, a time long before the dinosaurs when Manitoba was covered by a shallow, tropical sea.

Dr. Joe Moysuik and a coleague on a rocky outcropping holding up a recently found fossil specimen.

Dr. Joe Moysiuk, Curator of Palaeontology and Geology (front) and a colleague making the discovery of the new sea scorpion. ©Manitoba Museum/Joseph Moysiuk

Close up view of a fossil eurypterid, or “sea scorpion”. In the stone slab the head is at the left side and the segmented body extends to the right.

A new species of eurypterid (sea scorpion) discovered this past summer, showing the head at left and segmented body to the right. So far this is the only specimen known and the largest sea scorpion that has been found in Manitoba. ©Manitoba Museum/Joseph Moysiuk

Few other places in the world preserve such a remarkable record of this time period, and the Manitoba Museum is the only place you can see specimens from these sites on exhibit.

Dr. Joe Moysiuk

Dr. Joe Moysiuk

Curator of Palaeontology & Geology

Joe Moysiuk recently completed his doctoral dissertation at the University of Toronto and Royal Ontario Museum. His expertise centers on the oldest animal fossils and insights they provide about the evolution…
Meet Dr. Joe Moysiuk

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Find inspiration and community at Manitoba Museum Bead-a-Thon

Posted on by Rebecca Watson
Posted on: Thursday December 12, 2024
Promotional graphic for the Manitoba Museum's Bead-A-Thon event on Sunday, January 5, 2025 from 10 am to 3 pm. Digital art in a floral beadwork-like pattern branches around the right side of the graphic.

Treaty No. 1 Territory – Winnipeg, Manitoba: December 12, 2024 – The Manitoba Museum is ringing in the new year with their first ever Bead-A-Thon, hosted by renowned Métis beadwork artist Jennine Krauchi and the Manitoba Museum’s Head of Indigenous Programming & Engagement, Tashina Houle-Schlup.

Taking place Sunday, January 5 from 10 am to 3 pm in the Museum’s Alloway Hall, the Bead-a-Thon will include a day of mini ‘learn-to-stitch’ tutorials, an ‘Artist Open Mic’, and food vendors such as Indigenous, woman-owned businesses Sharecuterie and Anishinaa-Bakes. Attendees will also enjoy pop-up visits from the stunning historical beadwork found in the Museum collection.

“This event is inspired by the grandmothers – the ancestral belongings of the Museum collection. These are works of art that were designed, stitched, beaded, quilled, and sewn by Indigenous women throughout history. Several of these beautiful pieces will be shared with Bead-A-Thon participants at three separate times throughout the day to help fuel their inspiration for their own beadwork,” said Tashina Houle-Schlup, Head of Indigenous Programming & Engagement at the Museum.

The Bead-a-Thon is an opportunity for beaders of all experience levels to enjoy time with community to share, learn, and bead together. Whether you’re an experienced beader, a keen learner, or have never held a needle, this fundraising event welcomes all to share skills, meet new people, and connect on a personal level with ancestral belongings cared for by the Museum.

“As the Head of Indigenous Programming & Engagement at the Museum, I often see numerous artists visiting the grandmothers in our collections to examine the materials used, take measurements, and, most importantly, connect with these significant works. This event aims to extend that access to others seeking to connect with their Indigeneity. Additionally, it offers an opportunity for non-Indigenous members of our diverse community to learn more about Indigenous people and cultures, thus fostering an appreciation for our rich history and beautiful way of life,” said Houle-Schlup.

Tickets are on sale now on a ‘pay what you can afford’ scale and a 50/50 draw will close out the day. This inaugural fundraiser will support the Manitoba Museum’s Access for All program which offers a wide array of community initiatives including free admission on First Fridays, subsidized supplies and workshop fees for the Museum’s Indigenous art workshop series, and complimentary field trips for children from every corner of Manitoba.

To learn more and to purchase tickets for the Bead-a-Thon click here.

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Media Contact: 

Brandi Hayberg
Manager of Marketing & Communications
204-988-0614
BHayberg@ManitobaMusuem.ca