Royal BC Museum announces changes to core galleries as it starts the process of decolonization
Phased closure of the third floor begins with areas in the Becoming BC gallery, which have focused on European settlement
Parts of the Royal BC Museum’s third floor will soon be closed to augment cultural safety, according to a release.
THE ROYAL BC MUSEUM is making changes to its core galleries to start the process of decolonization, the Victoria-based institution has announced.
The move comes in response to the call to action from Indigenous leaders to increase cultural safety and ensure the museum is a welcome place for everyone.
Minor closures on the third floor will begin this month, with the entire floor to be shuttered as of January 2, 2022.
The third floor currently consists of the First Peoples gallery, Our Living Languages: First Peoples’ Voices in BC exhibition, and Becoming BC gallery. The phased closure will begin with the mezzanines in the Becoming BC gallery, which largely focus on promoting the story of the European settlement of the province.
“Decolonization of the museum’s galleries is important and long overdue,” acting CEO Daniel Muzyka said in a release. “As part of our work to implement modernized museum practices, in particular our efforts around decolonization, we will be closing the third-floor so we can decant our galleries. This is necessary to begin the long-term work of creating new narratives that include under-represented voices and reflect the lived experiences and contemporary stories of the people in BC.”
Earlier this year, Sdahl K’awaas was awarded Simon Fraser University’s 2021 Nora and Ted Sterling Prize in Support of Controversy in recognition of her courage in calling out racism in the heritage field. In 2020, Sdahl K’awaas (whose English name is Lucy Bell) resigned from her position as the first head of Indigenous Collections and Repatriation Department at the museum.
During the closures, the museum will be offering webinars, online learning, and virtual tours while expanding its provincial travelling exhibitions and pop-up exhibit programs.
“Our government’s commitment to truth and reconciliation demands that we diversify and decolonize the way we share the history of B.C.,” Hli Haykwhl Ẃii Xsgaak, Hon. Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, said in the release. “For too long, museums have been colonial institutions that exclude others from telling their own stories. We have an opportunity to turn the museum inside out, and it starts here, now, on the museum’s third floor.”
For more information, see https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/.
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