The immersive dioramas at the Manitoba Museum are many people’s favourite part of the Museum. Did you know that five of the classic dioramas were designed and painted by iconic Canadian artist Clarence Tillenius?
Learn more about his process in this video with Erin.
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.
Images: Beautiful pairs of fur-trimmed, beaded moccasins created by workshop leader Gloria Beckman. © Gloria Beckman.
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!
What goes into preparing a fossil between when it’s found in the field and when it ends up on display or being used for research? In this video, join Fossil Preparator Urgon in the lab to see some of the tools he uses to reveal fossils like the ones on display in our galleries.
When we’re travelling, we may use a compass and map, a GPS, or the position of the sun to guide us home. But how do animals do it?
Join Corinne in this video to learn about the sixth sense of a bee and how it works as internal compass for them while they travel around their world.
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.
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Media Contact:
Brandi Hayberg
Manager of Marketing & Communications
204-988-0614
BHayberg@ManitobaMusuem.ca
It’s Indigenous Languages Day!
In this video, Tashina brings us an update on our upcoming language game, Anishinaabemowin with Amik, and shares some of the images that have been created for it by local artist Micaela Gilbert. To challenge herself, she’s sharing this update in the Anishinaabe language, which she has been learning.
We can’t wait to share this game with you all!
With the Hudson’s Bay Company being in the news quite a lot lately, some people have expressed concern for the objects in the Hudson’s Bay Company Museum Collection. Join Dr. Amelia Fay in the HBC Gallery to learn a bit more about how this collection came to be here at the Manitoba Museum!
Grizzly bears sighted along the coast of the Hudson Bay have made it into the news in recent years, but did you know they once roamed as far as southern Manitoba too?
Join Dr. Randy Mooi in the museum collection and the Prairies Gallery to learn how we know grizzlies roamed this far southeast.
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.
Aboard Stella’s submersible spacecraft, the two friends explore the wonders under the sea. ©RSACosmo
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.
Authentic underwater visuals will enchant audiences of all ages. ©RSACosmo
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.
If you live in North America and are set to have clear skies the night of Thursday to Friday, then you’ll have a chance to see a total lunar eclipse this week!
Join Planetarium Astronomer Scott Young to learn how lunar eclipses occur, and when to be on the watch for this one.
