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

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

(Winnipeg, MB: December 3, 2024) – 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.

Many are surprised to learn that cougars are found in Manitoba at all. Though they’ve likely existed here for thousands of years, confirmed records are only available from the last 50 years. These elusive cats are seen across the southern half of the province, with most records from forested regions like Duck Mountain, Riding Mountain, and Turtle Mountain.

“The Museum partners with Manitoba Wildlife officials and the Assiniboine Park Zoo to study and preserve any accidentally killed cougars,” said Dr. Randy Mooi, Curator of Zoology, adding, “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.”

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 features SK-10 dramatically lit as if by a full moon; his fully-mounted skeleton, which provides an incredible and unique look at the inner-workings of this powerful predator; illustrated interpretative panels; and interactive and touchable elements such as paw prints, scat (poop), and cougar purrs and screams, which provide a glimpse of cougar life in Manitoba.

Members of the media are invited to a behind-the-scenes tour of the new exhibit at 9:30 am on Wednesday, December 4. To RSVP or if you would like to arrange a one-on-one tour with Curator of Zoology, Dr. Randall Mooi, please reach out to the media contact below.

The addition of The Cougar – Manitoba’s Big Cat exhibit was made possible with generous funding from the Thomas Sill Foundation and The Manitoba Museum Foundation, and in cooperation with the Manitoba Wildlife Branch, the Assiniboine Park Zoo, researchers at the University of Alberta, and Parks Canada.

Click here for a Image Gallery

Click here to watch Dinosaur Valley Studios’ Reconstructing SK-10 video

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Media Contact: 

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

Winnipeg, Manitoba – November 13, 2024 – The opportunity to see Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon planetarium experience is quickly coming to an end. As of December 31, 2024, Pink Floyd and NSC Creative – the firm behind the visual production of the show – will be permanently retiring all licenses for the digital planetarium show. The planetarium program originally opened in 2023 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic album, which was first released in a London planetarium in March of 1973.

With the help of modern technology, Pink Floyd’s planetarium show transports you through space and time. The show combines breath-taking views of the solar system and beyond, played out to 42 minutes of The Dark Side of The Moon. Each song has a different theme; some futuristically looking forward and some a retro acknowledgment to Pink Floyd’s visual history, all relating to a time and space experience, embracing up to the minute technology that only a planetarium can offer. The show is a truly immersive and all-encompassing sound and visual treat that will transcend reality and take you way beyond the realms of 2D experience.

“This isn’t the old-style ‘laser show’ of the past,” says Scott Young, Planetarium Astronomer at the Manitoba Museum. “The show was produced to use the latest digital planetarium system, and Winnipeg is one of only a handful of planetariums in Canada equipped to show it.”

The Manitoba Museum Planetarium has had the pleasure of hosting multiple sold out runs of the show since its launch in 2023. This November the Planetarium’s schedule will include the final run of shows before the license expires in December.

“While the Planetarium is looking at other music-based shows, the Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon 50th anniversary experience will never be seen again,” says Young. “We literally have to delete the files. This really is the last chance to see the show.”

For music lovers looking for a more hands-on concert experience, come early and you’ll get the chance to explore the universe with an adult twist! Show attendees can enjoy beverages at a pop-up bar prior to showtime in the Museum’s Science Gallery and relive the explorations of their youth with hands-on science fun!

Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon plays at the Manitoba Museum Planetarium for select showings starting November 14. Doors will open one hour prior to the show to give attendees a chance to enjoy a beverage and explore the Museum’s Science Gallery.

Visit ManitobaMuseum.ca/DarkSide for show times and information.

View the image gallery here: Pink Floyd Images and Trailer

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Media Contact: 

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

Scot Young
Planetarium Astronomer
204-988-0627
ScYoung@ManitobaMuseum.ca

Treaty No. 1 Territory – Winnipeg, Manitoba: July 8, 2024 – The Manitoba Museum is pleased to welcome Tabitha Harper in the role of Museum Advisor on Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation (M.A.I.R.R.).  In this new role, Harper will be instrumental in supporting and strengthening new and existing community relationships, developing a framework to guide the Museum’s implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and will meaningfully contribute to advancing Indigenous reconciliation efforts with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

Harper was raised on Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation, located on the west shore of Lake Winnipeg, and attended high school in Winnipeg. She graduated with a diploma from Red River College Polytech’s Social Innovation and Community Development Program, with a major in Indigenous Social Entrepreneurship. Harper also draws on an informal education through lived experiences, such as ceremony and being an active helper in her community. Harper notes these experiences have helped her to remain humble and prepared to be ready and willing to support those in need.

Harper has held roles as Child Development Worker and Assistant Case Manager for Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation Jordan’s Principle and was the first Indigenous Cultural Program Instructor for the Assiniboine Park Conservancy (APC). Although her role at APC allowed Harper to reconnect and embrace her culture confidently, it also served as an often-painful reminder of her ancestors who were not able to legally practice their cultures and traditions.

“Through my schooling, I studied the lack of Indigenous representation and perspective within institutions and organizations in Manitoba, specifically about the interconnections between microaggressions, high turnover rate, and hesitancy on both sides for reconciliation. My passion is for overall wellness of Indigenous peoples so that they may thrive, heal, and strive towards self-determination and self-governance. Managing difficult conversations that support vulnerability and respect is an environment needed when discussing reconciliation; I feel my new role at the Manitoba Museum supports Indigenous inclusion, perspective, and reconciliation in a good way.” – Tabitha Harper, Museum Advisor on Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.

In 2022, the Manitoba Museum introduced a 5-year Strategic Plan intended to guide the Museum’s way forward to becoming a more impactful and transformative institution. Highlighted in this plan was the necessity to acknowledge the role the Museum played in colonization, and to demonstrate its commitment to advance decolonization, reconciliation, and repatriation in all facets of the Museum’s work.  This new role was in part created to ensure the Museum’s decisions and actions were properly informed, and to maintain respectful and collaborative relationships with Indigenous communities.

“I want to be a bridge not only for Indigenous people, but also non-Indigenous people, to provide support and engagement opportunities for transparent communications. I believe that my work in this position will help Indigenous peoples feel more welcome to attend, connect, and interact in Museum spaces, and I’m looking forward to developing relationships and connecting with Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples – because I feel the most rich and fruitful connections happen through meaningful and respectful relationships” – Tabitha Harper.

The Canadian Museums Association’s ‘Moved to Action: Activating UNDRIP in Canadian Museums’ Report is a direct response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #67. The Manitoba Museum uses this vital resource as a guide to determine their compliance with UNDRIP and identify what work is still needed. With Harper’s guidance, the knowledge and support of the Indigenous Advisory Circle to the Manitoba Museum, and the expertise of museum colleagues from coast to coast to coast, the Manitoba Museum will develop an implementation framework to ensure museum policies and practices uphold the Articles of UNDRIP related to museums and heritage institutions.

“While Tabitha brings invaluable knowledge and wisdom to this role, the Museum as a whole carries the responsibility to repair relationships with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. As the Museum Advisor on Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Tabitha will work together with colleagues across our institution to dismantle existing systems which fail to uphold the rights of Indigenous peoples to self-determination, and control and authority over their own heritage, tangible and intangible.” – Dorota Blumczynska, CEO of the Manitoba Museum.

The Manitoba Museum, as a steward of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis artifacts, has a profound responsibility to partner with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities in sharing their stories, stories that are at the heart of Manitoba’s history. In the spirit of truth and reconciliation, cultural revitalization, and knowledge and language reclamation, the Manitoba Museum recognizes its larger commitment and responsibility to honour the unique relationship between Indigenous peoples and the Museum. This conscious recognition endeavors to support the practice and revitalization of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultural traditions—past, present, and future.

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Media Contact: 

Brandi Hayberg
Manager of Marketing & Communications
Manitoba Museum
BHayberg@ManitobaMusuem.ca

The Rupert Avenue entrance will be completely revamped with improved accessibility, lighting, and safety in mind.
Header image: ©Stantec/Manitoba Museum  

Winnipeg MB (June 20, 2024): The Manitoba Museum announced an exciting journey of transformation with a groundbreaking ceremony held today at their Rupert Avenue entrance. With a focus on improved accessibility, enhanced visitor experience, and updated safety measures, the ambitious renovations will result in significant upgrades to the Museum’s Rupert Avenue entrance, followed by a comprehensive reimagining of the Museum’s visitor foyer.

The updated exterior will see a newly designed and fully accessible entrance, sheltered by a canopy that will provide prominent signage and improved lighting; dark corners and poorly lit areas will be eliminated, enhancing safety and aesthetics. The Museum’s visitor foyer will become a larger, brighter space, creating a welcoming atmosphere for visitors and contributing to an enhanced Museum experience.

To complete this work, the Museum’s Rupert Avenue entrance will be closed to the public starting July 22, with a reopening date tentatively set for November; visitors will be directed to enter the Museum via its Main Street entrance. During this time, a temporary accessible ramp will be in place.

“While we recognize that these renovations may create a short-term inconvenience for some of our staff and visitors, we are beyond excited about how much more accessible and inviting our museum will be. Our commitment to the community is that the Manitoba Museum can be a space that everyone can enjoy and feel like they belong.” – Dorota Blumczyńska, CEO, Manitoba Museum.

The construction, executed by architecture and engineering firm Stantec, will be completed in multiple phases with a goal completion date in summer 2025. The Museum will keep the public updated on entrance closures and other disruptions on their website at manitobamuseum.ca/construction.

The project is funded jointly by the Manitoba Museum and a grant provided by the Manitoba government.

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Media Inquiries:

Brandi Hayberg
Manager of Marketing & Communications
BHayberg@ManitobaMusuem.ca

Click here for High Resolution Images

Media Contact:

Sangeetha Nair
Email: SNair@CareerTrek.ca
Phone: (204) 588-8310

Winnipeg, MB (June 11, 2024) – Join us for a heartwarming and inspiring event at the Manitoba Museum where women from five countries and across different continents share their stories of courage, resilience, and transformation as they began new lives in Canada.

“Pathways: Stories of How We Got Here” is a storytelling and performance project aimed at empowering newcomer women by improving their communication skills, fostering community, and building capacity as mentors and leaders.

Under the guidance of writing coach Patle Creary and performance coach Rachel Smith, participants spent 12 weeks crafting and refining their stories for a live audience.

“Audiences can expect to feel a sense of upliftment through the power of storytelling and the joy that these women bring despite the challenges they have experienced,” said Creary.

Participant Viktoriia Bulat from Ukraine said this opportunity is a dream come true. “Even as a teenager, I imagined myself as a cool journalist or writer. So when I saw a post on Facebook about the project, I was inspired to apply”.

“This will be the first time in my life that I will be performing in front of a live audience. But the coaching I received makes me feel I am not afraid of anything.”

Jeanette Perez on the other hand is no stranger to live performances. The ukelele player and mother of three hopes to “encourage others to learn a skill and multiply the joy of being able to sing and play simple songs”.

Perez will be performing “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” as part of her story.

Showtimes are at 1:00 pm on Saturday June 22 and Sunday June 23 and will also include an opening and closing performance by Rodrigo Muñoz and Amber Epp of Latin jazz band, Papa Mambo.

Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased from the Manitoba Museum website, here.

Sarah Cayas graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing and theatre arts. She holds certificates in management and ESL teaching and pursues life coaching. Sarah is a newcomer, indigenous youth employment facilitator, and online mentor. She hopes to inspire immigrants through her experiences and expertise.

Story Title: S.C.A.L.E.

Summary: S.C.A.L.E. stands for Smart, Confident, Adventurous, Learning, and Excited. In this short story, Sarah shares how her digital scale helps her weigh her options as she takes on life’s many journeys with grace and faith.

Mariam Yide immigrated to Canada 13 years ago. Before the COVID pandemic, she worked as a healthcare aide with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Mariam is a mother to two sons and looks forward to starting a new career.

Story Title: My Life Memory Tree

Summary: Mariam’s pathway has always been lined with trees. In this story, she celebrates trees as sources of sustenance and symbols of transition and rebirth.

(Emily) Fangyan Zheng has a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Language and Literature Education. Fangyan immigrated to Canada from China in May 2011. For seven and a half years, she ran a motel in Hadashville, Manitoba. Now, she is a Chinese teacher and tutor at a non-profit Chinese school in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Fangyan is married and has a son who works in Toronto.

Story Title: Full Circle

Summary: Fangyan Zheng tells the story of her transition from Chinese immigrant to language teacher. Her story invites us to consider immigration and transition as a full circle that respects the past and the present while being hopeful for the future.

Paula Caracini was born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. She immigrated to Canada in 2021 with her husband and two daughters. Paula studied Psychology and built her career in counselling and as a Career Coach. She loves writing, reading, and learning new things.

Story Title: A Passport to Dreams

Summary: Paula’s passport has opened doors to the life she envisioned for herself and her family. In this story, she shares how a simple green booklet embodies her formal and informal identity.

Jeanette Perez immigrated from the Philippines in 2015 with a master’s in management engineering. She currently works in Marketing for a company in Winnipeg. Jeanette holds key positions in non-profit organizations that promote Filipino culture and heritage through music and arts. She is married and has three children and a granddaughter.

Story Title: Saturdays with U (Ukulele)

Summary: Jeanette has a unique ukulele. In this story, she shares how the musical instrument helped her to honour her mother and brother while growing her community and self-confidence with the gift of music and song. As part of her story, Jeanette will also be performing “Somewhere over the Rainbow”.

Genelyn Navarro is an employment outreach facilitator who merges her social work, public administration, and business administration (HR) expertise to empower youth. Passionate about community development, Genelyn channels her knowledge to mentor and support young individuals, fostering their growth and success in the professional world.

Story Title: Pamana (Inheritance)

Summary: Pamana is a Tagalog word which means inheritance. In this story, Genelyn Navarro celebrates the legacy of her parents’ unwavering belief in higher education and the spirit of community and volunteerism that she brings to every space she calls home.

Viktoria Bulat was born in Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine. She holds a master’s degree in journalism and volunteers at the “U Multicultural” channel and the Health Science Centre’s Children’s Hospital. Viktoria came to Winnipeg in November 2022 after spending three and a half years in Milan, Italy. She is married, and her daughter is now one year old.

Story Title: A Lullaby in Four Parts

Summary: Viktoria tells a story about finding her feet after years of disruption and displacement. Her anchor was motherhood, propelling her and her husband to journey to Canada.

Tetiana Lushpaienko is from the Ukrainian city of Odesa. She has a master’s degree in economics and had built a great career in the jewelry industry there. Tetiana came to Canada two years ago with her six-year-old son and only two suitcases. She now lives in Winnipeg with her family, where she continues her passion for working with diamonds and gems.

Story Title: My Onyx Talisman

Summary: Onyx symbolizes strength, confidence, and perseverance. In this story, Tetiana shares how her connection to the jewel helped her remember who she was before the war in Ukraine began and how wearing it helped her return to the lifestyle she worked hard to achieve.

“Pathways: Stories of How We Got Here” is a collaboration of 16 Winnipeg nonprofits working together as a Steering Committee to support these incredible women.

To schedule interviews with any of the participants or coaches, please contact Sangeetha Nair at 204-588-8310 or SNair@CareerTrek.ca.

Connect with Pathways:

Website: www.PathwaysWinnipeg.ca

Facebook: @PathwaysWinnipeg

Instagram: @PathwaysWinnipeg

Members of the media are invited to the Manitoba Museum where the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) are hosting a special reception to celebrate the opening of Manidoo Miiniigooizowin, A Gift from the Creator.

Manidoo Miiniigooizowin is a new curated exhibition that honours the beauty and resilience of the Anishinaabe and Dakota peoples of southern Manitoba while also commemorating SCO’s 25th anniversary.

The exhibit is the first of several events SCO has planned to recognize and celebrate our 25 years of advocacy and service.

SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels along with exhibition co-curators Amanda McLeod (Sagkeeng Anicinabe First Nation) and Dr. Amelia Fay will be available for interviews.

The following exhibition contributors will be in attendance and are able to speak with media: Nicole Bester (Sagkeeng Anicinabe First Nation); Alexis Houle (Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation); Danielle Roulette (Lake Manitoba First Nation); Jenna Valiquette (Poplar River First Nation); and Kim McPherson and Gerri-Lee Pangman (Peguis First Nation). Click on their names to learn more about their contributions to the exhibition.

EVENT DETAILS:

Date: Thursday, May 16, 2024
Time: 5 to 7 pm
Where: Manitoba Museum, 190 Rupert Avenue, Winnipeg

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The Southern Chiefs’ Organization represents 34 First Nations and more than 87,000 citizens in what is now called southern Manitoba. SCO is an independent political organization that protects, preserves, promotes, and enhances First Nations peoples’ inherent rights, languages, customs, and traditions through the application and implementation of the spirit and intent of the Treaty-making process.

For media inquiries:

Email: Media@scoinc.mb.ca

(Winnipeg, Manitoba: April 3, 2024) – On Monday, April 8, the worlds will align as the Moon will pass in front of the Sun as seen from the Earth, creating a solar eclipse viewable from across North America. Manitobans will see a partial solar eclipse that afternoon. Viewers in a narrow path from Mazatlan, Mexico through Montreal and on through the Maritimes will witness a total solar eclipse, one of nature’s rarest and most amazing spectacles.

To help people view the eclipse, the Manitoba Museum’s Planetarium is joining forces with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada – Winnipeg Centre and the Assiniboine Park Conservancy to host a free solar eclipse viewing party from 12:30 pm to 3:15 pm at The Leaf in Assiniboine Park. Special solar telescopes will be accessible to provide safe views of the eclipse for attendees, and live feeds from other sites across North America will show the view from the path of totality.

“We are excited to welcome our friends from the Manitoba Museum’s Planetarium and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada to Assiniboine Park for this special event,” said Jody Watson, Senior Director of Programming & Education, Assiniboine Park Conservancy. “It will be a fascinating experience to share with Park visitors and a wonderful opportunity to inspire curiosity and learning about the amazing world we live in.”

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes in front of the Sun and casts its shadow onto the Earth. For viewers on the center line of the eclipse, the Moon will completely block out the Sun for up to four minutes, revealing the Sun’s outer atmosphere or corona. Viewers on either side of the center line will see a partial eclipse. From southern Manitoba, the Moon will cover about half of the Sun’s diameter at maximum (less for those farther north or west).

The eclipse will begin at 12:54 pm CDT for Winnipeg when the Moon first begins to cover the Sun (moving in from the bottom right). Over the next two-and-a-half hours the Moon will move across the Sun from right to left, while the Sun moves across the sky from left to right as it does every day. Maximum eclipse occurs at 2:01 pm CDT, and the eclipse ends at 3:08 pm CDT.

“This will be the astronomical event of the year,” says Young. “We’ll see the partial eclipse live from Manitoba and watch totality via live stream from several sites across North America, so we’ll get the best views even if it happens to be cloudy in Winnipeg.”

WARNING: DO NOT LOOK AT THE SUN WITH UNPROTECTED EYES! 

The Sun is always too bright to look at with unprotected eyes – special solar filters are required. Regular sunglasses or other homebuilt options are not enough – a specialized filter material is required to look directly at the Sun.

“When watching an eclipse, safety is important,” says Young. “You can’t just use sunglasses or order some cheap filters online from an unknown source – there are a lot of unsafe fakes out there. Purchase new eclipse glasses from a reputable source, don’t try to save pennies and put your eyesight at risk for life.”

The Manitoba Museum Shop is now sold out of eclipse glasses. If you were not able to get certified eclipse glasses, there are ways to observe the eclipse safely listed on the Manitoba Museum eclipse page.

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Media Inquiries:

Scott Young
Planetarium Astronomer
204-988-0627
ScYoung@ManitobaMuseum.ca

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

MEDIA ADVISORY – The Manitoba Museum’s Planetarium Astronomer, Scott Young, will be hosting a press conference on Thursday, April 4 to answer media questions regarding the upcoming solar eclipse and the Manitoba Museum’s Solar Eclipse Viewing Party.

Date: Thursday, April 4, 2024
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Location: Manitoba Museum Auditorium at 190 Rupert Ave. Please enter through the lower concourse stairwell.

A partial solar eclipse will be visible in Manitoba on Monday April 8 between 12:30 pm and 3:15 pm. A Solar Eclipse Viewing Party and live stream event, hosted by the Manitoba Museum in partnership with Assiniboine Park Conservancy and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, will be held at The Leaf in Assiniboine Park on Monday, April 8 between 12:30 pm and 3:15 pm.

For more information regarding the 2024 solar eclipse please visit our website.

For Additional Information:

Brandi Hayberg, Manager of Marketing & Communications
Email: BHayberg@ManitobaMuseum.ca
Phone: 204 988 0614

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“This special exhibition honours strength and resilience, and celebrates 25 years of advocacy and service for SCO.” – Grand Chief Jerry Daniels

ANISHINAABE AND DAKOTA TERRITORY, MB — The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is pleased to announce “Manidoo Miiniigooizowin, A Gift from the Creator,” SCO’s special 25^th Anniversary Exhibit on display now at the Manitoba Museum.

“The Southern Chiefs’ Organization is very pleased to launch “Manidoo Miiniigooizowin, A Gift from the Creator,” a powerful exhibit that showcases incredible objects that represent our 34 Anishinaabe and Dakota member Nations,” shared Grand Chief Jerry Daniels. “The exhibition is a celebration of the past, present, and future. The objects on display exemplify the beauty and resilience of the Anishinaabe and Dakota peoples and celebrate the 25^th anniversary of SCO.”

Following the guidance of Elders and Knowledge Keepers, SCO and the Manitoba Museum created the exhibition in ceremony. It opens in advance of spring break, which is the museum’s busiest time of the year.

“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 citizens of the SCO member Nations,” shared Chief E.J. Fontaine of the Sagkeeng Anicinabe First Nation. “I am pleased to share that Amanda McLeod, a Sagkeeng citizen, is the co-curator and I commend SCO for ensuring a talented southern First Nation person had a prominent role in developing the exhibit.”

This 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, A Gift from the Creator showcases a walk through many Anishinaabe and Dakota generations.

SCO thanks the Manitoba Museum and expresses gratitude for providing the space for the exhibit.

“Co-creating and co-curating Manidoo Miiniigooizowin: A Gift from the Creator with the Southern Chiefs’ Organization was a great honour for our team and a meaningful opportunity to celebrate SCO’s incredible history and contemporary work. Community exhibitions offer the Museum a unique way to discover and share stories that help us know and appreciate one another; Manidoo Miiniigooizowin honours the diverse identities, knowledge, resistance, strengths, and talents of Anishinaabe and Dakota peoples. This beautiful collaboration will bring many communities together, for which we are truly grateful,” shared Dorota Blumczyńska, Chief Executive Officer of the Manitoba Museum.

“In curating this exhibit, we wanted to showcase the vibrancy, talents, and skills of Anishinaabe and Dakota peoples and it also broaden the perception of what First Nations art is. As such, we chose to include artists and makers at various stages of their careers and across a multitude of media, from historical to contemporary,” stated Amanda McLeod, Co-Curator and member of the Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation.

McLeod earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Conservation Studies at Birmingham City University and the City and Guilds of London Art School in London, England, before returning home to earn a Master of Arts in Cultural Studies and Curatorial Practices at the University of Winnipeg.

“This exhibit started by examining the collections at the museum and we found 19 SCO member Nations were represented. From there, Amanda reached out to community members to ensure all 34 Nations were showcased. Co-curating this exhibit with Amanda has not only been really enjoyable but also incredibly beneficial for relationship-building and working together in the spirit of respect and reciprocity,” shared Dr. Amelia Fay, Curator of Anthropology and the HBC Museum Collection.

The Manidoo Miiniigooizowin, A Gift from the Creator exhibit runs for one year. Admission to the Manitoba Museum is free of charge for First Nation, Inuit, and Métis peoples. The exhibit is the first of several events SCO has planned to recognize and celebrate their 25 years of advocacy and service.

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The Southern Chiefs’ Organization represents 34 First Nations and more than 87,000 citizens in what is now called southern Manitoba. SCO is celebrating 25 years of service as an independent political organization that protects, preserves, promotes, and enhances First Nations peoples’ inherent rights, languages, customs, and traditions through the application and implementation of the spirit and intent of the Treaty-making process.

For media inquiries:

Email: Media@scoinc.mb.ca