Glenbow Museum launches Indigenous engagement process amidst renovations
Amidst a complete redesign meant to renovate and modernize Calgary's 45-year-old Glenbow Museum, project leaders are seeking input and expertise from Indigenous communities.
Coined "Glenbow Reimagined," the renovation team has initiated an Indigenous engagement process meant to aid and inform design ideas, as well as promote guidance from an Indigenous perspective.
"This is a new and exciting phase of the Glenbow moving into their revitalization and recapitalization project," said Tarra Wright Many Chief, lead consultant for Indigenous engagement at the Glenbow Museum. "It's really important to engage with Indigenous communities that are actively using the Glenbow to learn more about their culture, but also to get their feedback about what they are hoping that representation will be moving into the future," said Wright Many Chief.
While the aim of the engagement process is to ensure meaningful incorporation of Indigenous knowledge, perspectives and culture, Wright Many Chief said the forging of new relationships with Indigenous community members will serve as invaluable resources for the museum moving forward.
Glenbow Indigenous exhibit, August 5, 2021
"We'll be doing focus-groups, surveys and interviews," said Wright Many Chief. "It's great to be able to engage with Indigenous community stakeholders one-on-one, start that conversation and get meaningful feedback as we embark on this transformation project."
Citing the museum's successful Blackfoot gallery, which began with Indigenous consultations starting in the 1980's, chief operating officer Melanie Kjorlien said the Glenbow is oriented around transparency and authenticity.
"What we've really tried to focus on is engaging with storytellers, elders, and educators from Indigenous communities are telling their story the way they want to tell it," said Kjorlien.
Glenbow Museum, August 5, 2021
"It's their culture and their history, and it's important for us to ensure those Indigenous communities are represented and telling their own stories."
The Glenbow Museum will close its doors at the end of August for three years and $120 million of renovations.
Indigenous Peoples who wish to get involved in Glenbow Reimagined and share their perspectives and thoughts with the museum can email: indigenousengagement@glenbow.org or call 403-464-0916.
Further information can be found at https://www.glenbow.org/indigenous-engagement/.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Competition bureau finds 'substantial' anti-competitive effects with proposed Bunge-Viterra merger
The proposed merger of agricultural giants Viterra and Bunge is raising competition concerns from the federal government.