With a variety of ecosystems across our province, Manitoba also has a fascinating variety of rare plants. You might not think of sand dunes as the most hospitable of environments, but some plants know how thrive there!
In this video Dr. Diana Bizecki Robson shows us some of the rare plants that make their homes in sand dunes.
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.
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Media Contact:
Brandi Hayberg
Manager of Marketing & Communications
204-988-0614
BHayberg@ManitobaMusuem.ca
A new exhibit has prowled its way into the Parklands Gallery and we can’t wait for you to see it! This exhibit showcases the cougar and shares the story of a specific cat named SK10.
In this video, join Dr. Randy Mooi in the Gallery to learn more about how this elusive creature came to be at the Manitoba Museum.
When we have temporary closures, it gives staff like Senior Conservator Carolyn Sirett an opportunity to do maintenance on some of the most beloved aspects of the Manitoba Museum – the dioramas!
In this video, she takes us inside a few of the dioramas to chat about some of the conservation work they do to keep them preserved for years to come.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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,
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.
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.
Have a staring competition with SK10 while experiencing the travels and lives of cougars in Manitoba. ©Manitoba Museum
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
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
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.
In Cortney Pachet’s last video she shared some objects from our collection that might be surprising to some – toys from the 1980s! And now she’s back to share some more iconic childhood dolls from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.
Will her ultimate artifact dreams come true? Watch to the end to find out!
Did you know that some minerals glow under ultraviolet light? Join Dr. Joe Moysiuk in the collections storage to see four different glow-in-the-dark minerals, and learn why they glow under UV light.
Which of these colourful glowing rocks is your favourite?
Did you know that museums don’t only collect really old things? Museums collect contemporary objects all the time in anticipation of future research, education, and exhibits well after we’ve all retired.
In this video, Cortney Pachet shows us some of the 80s toys in the collection. Did you have any of these toys growing up? Which of your toys would you want to see represented in the Museum’s collection?
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.
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.
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 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
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 Moysiuk, Curator of Palaeontology and Geology (front) and a colleague making the discovery of the new sea scorpion. ©Manitoba Museum/Joseph Moysiuk
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.
