Researcher for the Musqueam Indian Band Terry Point looks at a Te Ara exhibit photo of a Maori leader looking to the future for leadership. | Photo by Florence Hwang
The Musqueam First Nations have a home to showcase and preserve their cultural history in the Musqueam Educational and Resources Centre Gallery Space, now when gallery officially opened this summer.
The current exhibits are “Baskets for Barter,” which features the evolution of basket making and contemporary weaving artists’ works, and “TeAra,” a photo exhibit of the New Zealand’s Maori peoples. Artifacts collected for exhibits were used as every day utensils, including cedar baskets, wool blankets and fishing nets made of stinging nettle.
Some community members expressed that they wanted a wool weaving exhibit in their band.
Terry Point, researcher with the Musqueam Indian Band, says that many pieces of wool weaving can be found around the world and that they wanted to see them brought back home.
“There’s a revitalization of weaving at Musqueam,” says Point.
He says that there’s a sense of pride in their culture and they’ve been able to share it with the public in a positive way.
The Musqueam Indian Band didn’t have the capacity to open the exhibit – until they got the political will to get the facility, which openedin June 2011. The Gallery at the Musqueam Cultural Educational and Resource Centre is 1,300 square feet.
The Musqueam Indian Band is hoping the public’s appetite for First Nations culture from the Olympics will continue to grow now that the band has their own space to feature their own culture. The response from the Musqueam band has been positive.
“People are excited and happy. We don’t have to go to the Museum of Anthropology anymore. It’s in our own community,” says band councilor Wade Grant.
Funding
The Musqueam Indian band finances the cultural centre through its legacy funds coming out of the Olympics. It cost nearly $3 million for the project, including moving and adding additional rooms to the building and technology, such as smart boards.
The cultural centre is self-sustaining and does not rely on any government funding. Some sources of revenue include tours and renting out its facilities.
Exhibits
Musqueam Cultural Education Resource Centre gallery space. | Photo by Florence Hwang
In 2012, “Baskets for Barter” exhibit opened in the Surrey Museum. This travelling exhibit features the evolution of basket weaving from 3,000 years ago to the early 1900s. The exhibit also showcases local contemporary weavers’ art. This exhibit will remain at Musqueam until February 28, 2014. Afterwards, the exhibit will go to New Westminster Museum.
The second exhibit is titled “TeAra.” It features Maori photographs from New Zealand. The Maori came from New Zealand to deliver the photo exhibit. After the exhibit is completed, the Musqueam youth will travel to New Zealand to return the exhibit for it to be shown for the first time in its native country.
A cultural exchange for young members of the Musqueam band, ranging from age 14 to 20, to travel to Rotorua and Auckland in New Zealand, is planned for next March. The 10-day trip will allow the youth to learn about the Maori culture first-hand.
The “TeAra” exhibit was featured in Europe prior to coming to Musqueam and is currently being shown in Germany. This is the first time the “TeAra” exhibit has been shown in Canada. This exhibit represents five Maori communities.
“There are a lot of similarities between Musqueam and the Maori,” says Point.
He says many of the same issues exist, such as high unemployment, high percentage in prisons, and suicide rates, but this cultural exchange focuses on building relationships, building pride in the two groups’ culture.
“We are in the same situation as they are. The Maori are ahead of us in a lot of senses in terms of preserving their language, whereas we are ahead in terms of our governance,” says Point.
Youth, who are seen to be potential future leaders, will be chosen as ambassadors for Musqueam on this trip to New Zealand. The youth will present the “TeAra” exhibit to New Zealand.
Future projects
In terms of marketing, the gallery is partnering its exhibits with larger, more established museums, such as the Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver Museum and Burnaby Museum, to follow on their marketing and social media outreach.
“We’re working with Vancouver Heritage Tours to do a bus tour sometime next year,” says Point.
He says their trying to link with YVR to get the “TeAra” books in gift shops.
“It’s difficult to get the word out,” says point.
The next exhibit in March 2014 to January 2015 will be the Musqueam “Youth Claiming Space” which will also be featured at the Museum of Anthropology. “It makes sense to follow bigger institutions to pare exhibitions for marketing purposes. In the future, the exhibitions will probably be community-driven.”
