Posted on: Tuesday October 1, 2024
Did you know these fun facts about beavers? In this video, join Learning & Engagement Producer Erin in the Boreal Forest Gallery to learn some of the amazing adaptations that help beavers thrive.
Fossil Unboxing!
Posted on: Friday September 27, 2024
Dr. Joe Moysiuk spent some time in the field this summer looking for fossils. Join us in this video for an “unboxing” of one of the fabulous specimens that he found!
Learn more about Palaeontology research being done at the Museum, here.
Truth & Reconciliation
Posted on: Friday September 13, 2024
By Tabitha Harper, Museum Advisor on Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, & Amelia Fay, Curator of Anthropology and HBC Museum Collections
As we approach the annual National Day for Truth & Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, folks maybe be curious about their role in Truth & Reconciliation. Many Indigenous leaders and community members have urged that truth needs to come before reconciliation, followed by action to create meaningful impact. Museums have a uniquely important role in changing past narratives and practices to move forward with ReconciliACTION.
Although museums carry a lot of colonial baggage, the Manitoba Museum staff (past and present) have been working hard to make the Museum a safe space to learn about history. In-person visitors to the Museum can choose from various programs and exhibits to engage with difficult histories, we also have resources available on our website and YouTube channel that you can view from home.
The Orange Shirt Day Reflection Wall encourages you to share your thoughts and make a commitment to reconciliation. © Manitoba Museum
The digital kiosk in our Prairies Gallery Schoolhouse exhibit provides opportunities for learning and reflection about the truth of residential schools. © Manitoba Museum
Not sure where to begin? Below are a few topics that I think are a great starting place, no matter where you are in your reconciliation learning journey.
- The colonial process in Canada started long before Confederation, so I encourage visitors to reconsider the history of the fur trade, including the early beginnings of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Learn more about the Hudson’s Bay Company Royal Charter in this video on our YouTube channel:
- Take time to learn more about Residential Schools in Manitoba, visit the schoolhouse exhibit in the Prairies Gallery and use the digital kiosks embedded in the desks. You can also click here to see the same information on our website.
- We are all vulnerable and learning when it comes to truth and reconciliation, but by understanding how we are going to engage, learn, and grow with Indigenous peoples, take a look at the ‘Indigenous Connections’ section in the Truth & Reconciliation page on our website, here.
During Orange Shirt Days, daily powwow demonstrations by Beautiful Cloud Company provides the opportunity to learn about the resilience of Indigenous culture. © Manitoba Museum
For many non-Indigenous readers, learning more about these topics might bring up a lot of feelings and make you uncomfortable, and that’s okay. The important thing is to not dismiss information that challenges what you knew about Canadian history, but instead sit with the discomfort and think about why you might feel this way. Moving forward, I recommend looking at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s website for ‘ReconciliACTION Plans’ (nctr.ca/reconciliaction-plans) to create your own action plan.
Orange Shirt Days @ the Manitoba Museum
Join us for a time of learning, reflection, and response.
Three days of free admission to all areas September 28 – 30. No tickets required.
Tabitha Harper
Museum Advisor on Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
Tabitha Harper began her role of Museum Advisor for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation in June 2024. In her role, Harper is instrumental in supporting and strengthening new and existing community relationships…
Meet Tabitha Harper
Dr. Amelia Fay
Curator of Anthropology & the HBC Museum Collection
Amelia Fay is Curator of Anthropology and the HBC Museum Collection at the Manitoba Museum. She received her BA in Anthropology from the University of Manitoba (2004), an MA in Archaeology…
Meet Dr. Amelia Fay
Museum Stories: DYK Discovery
Artists of the Criddle Family
Posted on: Tuesday September 10, 2024
The Criddle family had a wide variety of interests and talents, which some of them pursued as careers and others as hobbies. While patriarch Percy Criddle wasn’t a visual artist, some of his family members were very skilled artists.
In this video with Collections Technician Cortney Pachet, we’ll take a look at some of the work done by three artists within the family: Percy’s mother, Mary Ann, his son, Norman, and his granddaughter, Ann.
The Passing of Grand Chief Cathy Merrick
Posted on: Monday September 9, 2024
We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Grand Chief Cathy Merrick, and offer our sincerest condolences to her husband, children, grandchildren, her home community of Pimicikamak Cree Nation, and all her relations. Grand Chief Merrick offered wise counsel, immense knowledge, and warm kindness to everyone who had the honour of being in her presence. Grand Chief Merrick was a courageous warrior, a truth teller, and an advocate who never wavered in her calls for justice for Indigenous peoples.
When she was first elected in 2022, Grand Chief Merrick met with us at the Manitoba Museum to ensure we understood how to be true allies to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. She generously offered her guidance and support to the changes we would make and returned to sit in circle with us many times as we undertook the work of fulfilling our promises.
“Grand Chief Merrick was direct in her words about where the Museum needed to do better, she was clear about our unique responsibilities, and thoughtful in her expectations. She was also hopeful. When we last saw each other, she left me knowing the monumental tasks that were ahead of us, and that she believed we would do the work needed, that she had faith in us. To me that is who Grand Chief Merrick was, an incredible leader who demanded the world be better while dedicating every moment of her own life to making it so.” – Dorota Blumczyńska, CEO
The Manitoba Museum Board of Governors and staff grieve the loss of Grand Chief Cathy Merrick, our province’s greatest Matriarch, our most resolute Warrior, and beloved Kukum to generations.
Did you know about this avian actor?
Posted on: Tuesday September 3, 2024
Have you ever heard of the killdeer? This bird has a clever way of keeping predators away from its nest of eggs. Learn how in this video with Learning & Engagement Producer Erin!
Did You Know? Finding the unexpected
Posted on: Tuesday August 27, 2024
Sometimes our Curators find unexpected items in donations to the Museum Collections. What at first may look like it falls under one discipline, like Archaeology, may in fact fall under another discipline entirely! Learn about one neat example in this video with Curator of Archaeology Dave Finch.
It’s Science! Making rocket fuel
Posted on: Tuesday August 20, 2024
Can you get rocket fuel from water? Join Science Communicator Rhianna in the Explore Science Zone to conduct some hydrogen electrolysis and learn about rockets!
Catch Forward to the Moon in the Planetarium this summer!
What played recorded music before vinyls?
Posted on: Tuesday August 13, 2024
You may be familiar with large, round, vinyl records for playing music, but do you know what was used to play recorded music before that?
Join Learning Facilitator Erin in this video from outside the Ukrainian Booksellers and Publishers Ltd storefront in the Museum’s Winnipeg 1920 Cityscape to learn more.
Criddles at Work! Woodworking
Posted on: Friday August 9, 2024
The Criddle family made money in all sorts of different ways, from farming, to community service, to handcrafts! In this video Collections Technician of Human History, Cortney Pachet shows us some of the beautiful mother of pearl inlay work done by Evelyn and Stewart Criddle.