The project held two in-person multi-day workshop events and a series of online workshops.
- Kumugwe Big House, K'omox, BC, Canada. 14-16th Sept 2022
- Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Líḻwat7ul Cultural Centre, Whistler, BC Canada. 28-31st May 2023
- Online workshops - Connecting Belongings. 7th June, 29th June 2023, 15 Nov 2023
Workshop at Kumugwe Big House Sept 2022
The first workshop brought together Indigenous heritage experts from across British Columbia to discuss how to uphold Indigenous rights in practice in heritage. Above is a picture of many of the participants on the second day of the 3 day workshop.
"I think if I were to sum it all up, I would say that we agreed that these kinds of conversations are so valuable. And that there needs to be more sharing between communities, and more sharing of relevant information to build up, to assist communities in finding ways that they can do the work that they need to do"
(Workshop Participant Sept 2022)
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"Providing space and allowing for dialogue between knowledgeable people about those objects, and what it means to them and what would it mean, if let's say we collected a list of everything that was held, and you shared it... what would we learn" (Workshop Participant Sept 2022).
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"When we're talking about museums, what would getting together, carvers, cultural people, weavers, Government people, like talking about it culturally? What it would mean to bring those objects home? How would it enhance what we know? How would it would it enhance arts? How would it enhance our ceremony?" |
"I think this is a really beautiful thing that you've done here. It's really, a really incredible conversation that we've all had. And I think that hearing everybody's stories, it's like, it's just this iterative, iterative process, which we're very accustomed to. And it just brings up more thoughts and brings up more ideas and more creativity and more, more everything. Just really beautiful. You don't feel so like 'I don't know what to do'. Like, I do know what to do now. That feels really good." (Workshop Participant Sept 2022)
Workshop at Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Líḻwat7ul Cultural Centre in May 2023
The second workshop was originally planned to be held at the Museum of Anthropology University fo British Columbia. However they were closed for seismic upgrades, so at the first workshop the participants decided that the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Líl̓wat7úl Cultural Centre in Whistler BC would be an ideal location. The building combines the Squamish longhouse design and the Istken (traditional earthen pit house) of the Lil’wat people. Located on shared traditional territory the centre 'embodies the spirit of partnership between two unique Nations who wish to preserve, grow and share our traditional cultures' (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Líl̓wat7úl Cultural Centre webpage 2023).
Online Workshops 7th and 29th JUNE and 15th November 2023
In the first workshop the discussions highlighted that many Northwest Coast communities do not know where their belongings are held in overseas museum collections, and the importance of access to museums and collections was emphasised. In response I worked with my partners MEG - the Museum Ethnographers Group in Spring 2023 to invite UK curators to participate in the online workshops. Below is the talk I gave at the MEG conference.
I collected and collated as many UK museum collection catalogues as I could and shared them with the representatives of the First Nations who participated in the project and workshops. I then invited communities and curators to gather online for open discussion about how to renew relations with collections, communities and curators, and to help build connections and relationships across the Atlantic to support Indigenous community priorities.
We had three online meetings that we recorded, featured below. In each meeting I tried a different format to explore different ways to help people engage and exchange ideas.
I collected and collated as many UK museum collection catalogues as I could and shared them with the representatives of the First Nations who participated in the project and workshops. I then invited communities and curators to gather online for open discussion about how to renew relations with collections, communities and curators, and to help build connections and relationships across the Atlantic to support Indigenous community priorities.
We had three online meetings that we recorded, featured below. In each meeting I tried a different format to explore different ways to help people engage and exchange ideas.
I collected and collated as many UK museum collection catalogues as I could and shared them with the representatives of the First Nations who participated in the project and workshops. I then invited communities and curators to gather online for open discussion about how to renew relations with collections, communities and curators, and to help build connections and relationships across the Atlantic to support Indigenous community priorities.
We had three online meetings that we recorded, featured below. In each meeting I tried a different format to explore different ways to help people engage and exchange ideas.
We had three online meetings that we recorded, featured below. In each meeting I tried a different format to explore different ways to help people engage and exchange ideas.
Online workshop 3.1
The first was an open forum with everyone introducing themselves and talking about what matters to them and any questions or priorities they had.
Agenda
Renewing Relations Workshop 3, part 1
1st June 2023
Welcome and Introductions
Online on Zoom
Welcome to our third workshop. This online gathering came from ideas generated at our first workshop in Kumugwe Big House, K’ōmox in September 2022. We discussed how communities do not always know where their belongings are overseas, and the need to renew the relationships with them and the museums and curators who care for them. It was asked: “What would it start? What could it teach us? What gaps would it fill?” (16th Sept 2022). Reconnecting with belongings is also part of the Calls to Action to implement UNDRIP.
Working with my partners MEG (Museum Ethnographers Group), many UK curators and museum teams have shared their collections Collection catalogues and made time to join us online for two sessions, 1st June and 29th June.
In our first meeting today, our aim is to come together to meet each other – with most of the time given to introductions. Our second meeting will build on this and be discussion based, with more time for questions. We ask that everyone shares respectfully and listens thoughtfully to each other’s perspectives with open hearts and minds.
9.00 Welcome to the project by Bryony
9.10 UK Curators introduce themselves
Lisa Graves – Bristol museum
Mark Hall – Perth Museum
Meghan Backhouse – Liverpool Museum
Tony Eccles – RAMM
Anita Herle and Rachel Hand – MAA Cambridge
Bryony Smerdon – Pitt Rivers Museum
Rose Taylor – The British Museum
Chris Martin – Glenesk Folk Museum
Tabitha Cadbury – The Box, Plymouth (tbc)
10.05 Northwest Coast Heritage Experts introduce themselves
Amy Parent – Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Education & Governance
Andy Everson – Andy Everson Cultural Works
Caroline Butler – Research Program Manager Gitxaala Nation
Jennifer Kramer – Museum of Anthropology (MOA) UBC
Sarah Holland – MOA UBC
Charleen Grant – MOA UBC
Aaron Rice – MOA UBC
Catherine Cole – Inuit Heritage Trust
10.45 Q&A
10.55 Next steps – What are the key themes and questions to discuss in the next meeting on 29th June?
Gilakas’la, Stutwiniitscw, Huy Chexw, Kukw`stumc`kalap, Hay ce:p q̓ə, Maarsii, Haawa, Haw’aa, T'ooyaḵsim̓ n̓isim̓, Miigwech ᒦᑴᒡ, Thank you!
Renewing Relations Workshop 3, part 1
1st June 2023
Welcome and Introductions
Online on Zoom
Welcome to our third workshop. This online gathering came from ideas generated at our first workshop in Kumugwe Big House, K’ōmox in September 2022. We discussed how communities do not always know where their belongings are overseas, and the need to renew the relationships with them and the museums and curators who care for them. It was asked: “What would it start? What could it teach us? What gaps would it fill?” (16th Sept 2022). Reconnecting with belongings is also part of the Calls to Action to implement UNDRIP.
Working with my partners MEG (Museum Ethnographers Group), many UK curators and museum teams have shared their collections Collection catalogues and made time to join us online for two sessions, 1st June and 29th June.
In our first meeting today, our aim is to come together to meet each other – with most of the time given to introductions. Our second meeting will build on this and be discussion based, with more time for questions. We ask that everyone shares respectfully and listens thoughtfully to each other’s perspectives with open hearts and minds.
9.00 Welcome to the project by Bryony
9.10 UK Curators introduce themselves
Lisa Graves – Bristol museum
Mark Hall – Perth Museum
Meghan Backhouse – Liverpool Museum
Tony Eccles – RAMM
Anita Herle and Rachel Hand – MAA Cambridge
Bryony Smerdon – Pitt Rivers Museum
Rose Taylor – The British Museum
Chris Martin – Glenesk Folk Museum
Tabitha Cadbury – The Box, Plymouth (tbc)
10.05 Northwest Coast Heritage Experts introduce themselves
Amy Parent – Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Education & Governance
Andy Everson – Andy Everson Cultural Works
Caroline Butler – Research Program Manager Gitxaala Nation
Jennifer Kramer – Museum of Anthropology (MOA) UBC
Sarah Holland – MOA UBC
Charleen Grant – MOA UBC
Aaron Rice – MOA UBC
Catherine Cole – Inuit Heritage Trust
10.45 Q&A
10.55 Next steps – What are the key themes and questions to discuss in the next meeting on 29th June?
Gilakas’la, Stutwiniitscw, Huy Chexw, Kukw`stumc`kalap, Hay ce:p q̓ə, Maarsii, Haawa, Haw’aa, T'ooyaḵsim̓ n̓isim̓, Miigwech ᒦᑴᒡ, Thank you!
Online workshop 3.2
Agenda
Renewing Relations
Workshop 3, part 2
29th June 2023
Online on Zoom
Welcome to part two of our third workshop. Many UK curators have shared Collection catalogues and made time to join us online. Our first meeting is available to watch here.
In today’s meeting, our aim is to deepen the conversation we started building on 3 themes we identified for discussion. We ask that everyone shares respectfully and listens thoughtfully to each other’s perspectives with open hearts and minds.
9.00 Welcome by Bryony
9.05 Current barriers: what needs to change?
PRESENTATION: Gitxaala Nation presents barriers to provenance research.
PRESENTATION: Camille Callison from NIKLA will share their work on Respectful Terminology
DISCUSSION: How can capacity and support be built for identifying belongings in collections and updating records (provenance research)? What actions and resources would make this work easier?
9.45 Opportunities: How to change hearts and minds in the UK “Culture wars”?
PRESENTATION: Christian Baars co-Chair of ICOM UK
DISCUSSION: Hearing from community members about the importance of renewing relations with belongings is very influential. What is the best way to share what returning belongings means to communities? E.g. inspiring stories?
10.15 Ways forward: What to expect and how to shift power within and between UK institutions and Indigenous Nations?
PRESENTATION: Terry Nyambe (tbc) on ICOM’s decolonisation initiative
DISCUSSION: What are viable ways to shift power dynamics?
10.40 Open discussion and Q&A
10.55 Next steps and date of the next meeting
Gilakas’la, Stutwiniitscw, Huy Chexw, Kukw`stumc`kalap, Hay ce:p q̓ə, Maarsii, Haawa, Haw’aa, T'ooyaḵsim̓ n̓isim̓, Miigwech ᒦᑴᒡ, Thank you!
Renewing Relations
Workshop 3, part 2
29th June 2023
Online on Zoom
Welcome to part two of our third workshop. Many UK curators have shared Collection catalogues and made time to join us online. Our first meeting is available to watch here.
In today’s meeting, our aim is to deepen the conversation we started building on 3 themes we identified for discussion. We ask that everyone shares respectfully and listens thoughtfully to each other’s perspectives with open hearts and minds.
9.00 Welcome by Bryony
9.05 Current barriers: what needs to change?
PRESENTATION: Gitxaala Nation presents barriers to provenance research.
PRESENTATION: Camille Callison from NIKLA will share their work on Respectful Terminology
DISCUSSION: How can capacity and support be built for identifying belongings in collections and updating records (provenance research)? What actions and resources would make this work easier?
9.45 Opportunities: How to change hearts and minds in the UK “Culture wars”?
PRESENTATION: Christian Baars co-Chair of ICOM UK
DISCUSSION: Hearing from community members about the importance of renewing relations with belongings is very influential. What is the best way to share what returning belongings means to communities? E.g. inspiring stories?
10.15 Ways forward: What to expect and how to shift power within and between UK institutions and Indigenous Nations?
PRESENTATION: Terry Nyambe (tbc) on ICOM’s decolonisation initiative
DISCUSSION: What are viable ways to shift power dynamics?
10.40 Open discussion and Q&A
10.55 Next steps and date of the next meeting
Gilakas’la, Stutwiniitscw, Huy Chexw, Kukw`stumc`kalap, Hay ce:p q̓ə, Maarsii, Haawa, Haw’aa, T'ooyaḵsim̓ n̓isim̓, Miigwech ᒦᑴᒡ, Thank you!
ONLIne workshop 3.3
Agenda
Renewing Relations: Workshop 3, Part 3
15th November 2023 9am (5pm) – 11am (7pm)
Online on Zoom
Welcome to the third part of our online workshops. In today’s meeting our aim is to deepen our understanding of the relationship between collections and Hereditary Leadership on the Northwest Coast, and consider our next steps as a group. We ask that everyone shares respectfully and listens thoughtfully to each other’s perspectives with open hearts and minds.
9.00 Welcome (15 mins)
Welcome by Bryony and a brief overview of the project to-date.
9.15 Hereditary Leadership (30 minutes)
Hereditary Chief Wedlidi Speck will discuss the role of Hereditary Leadership and how it relates to belongings in collections.
9.45 Q&A Discussion (30 minutes)
We will open the floor to discuss what was shared, and think about: What are the questions we need to ask to move forward? Note: Please start by introducing yourself by name and connection to community and/or museum.
10.15 Ways forward (30 minutes)
Open discussion of questions sent ahead of the meeting, and any others that arise.
10.45 Reflections and next steps – Focus of Spring meeting? (15 mins)
11.00 Close
Gilakas’la, Stutwiniitscw, Huy Chexw, Kukw`stumc`kalap, Hay ce:p q̓ə, Maarsii, Haawa, Haw’aa, T'ooyaḵsim̓ n̓isim̓, Miigwech ᒦᑴᒡ, Thank you!
Renewing Relations: Workshop 3, Part 3
15th November 2023 9am (5pm) – 11am (7pm)
Online on Zoom
Welcome to the third part of our online workshops. In today’s meeting our aim is to deepen our understanding of the relationship between collections and Hereditary Leadership on the Northwest Coast, and consider our next steps as a group. We ask that everyone shares respectfully and listens thoughtfully to each other’s perspectives with open hearts and minds.
9.00 Welcome (15 mins)
Welcome by Bryony and a brief overview of the project to-date.
9.15 Hereditary Leadership (30 minutes)
Hereditary Chief Wedlidi Speck will discuss the role of Hereditary Leadership and how it relates to belongings in collections.
9.45 Q&A Discussion (30 minutes)
We will open the floor to discuss what was shared, and think about: What are the questions we need to ask to move forward? Note: Please start by introducing yourself by name and connection to community and/or museum.
10.15 Ways forward (30 minutes)
Open discussion of questions sent ahead of the meeting, and any others that arise.
- Meghan Backhouse, National Museums Liverpool, UK: How can we respectfully keep momentum going without overburdening individuals or communities?
- Val Masters, Gitxaała Nation, NW Coast: Have any UK museums participated in data-sharing projects like the Reciprocal Research Network (RRN)?
- Damara Jacobs-Petersen, MOA, UBC, Vancouver: How can we connect with the Canadian Museums Association and/or the BC Museums Association to share what we're doing and utilize some of their resources and networks?
- Desi Gradinarova, Senior Policy Adviser, Historic England, UK: How can Historic England and others in the UK policy field contribute and support further work?
- Tabitha Cadbury, The Box, Plymouth, UK: We are developing a new exhibition (Autumn 2024) emphasising links between colonisation and climate change. Given that repatriation and collaborative ethical practices are long-term processes, what do we do with the possessions/artefacts meanwhile? Should we display and explain the current situation, if so - how? Or should it be kept in store for now?
10.45 Reflections and next steps – Focus of Spring meeting? (15 mins)
11.00 Close
Gilakas’la, Stutwiniitscw, Huy Chexw, Kukw`stumc`kalap, Hay ce:p q̓ə, Maarsii, Haawa, Haw’aa, T'ooyaḵsim̓ n̓isim̓, Miigwech ᒦᑴᒡ, Thank you!