Canada Day at the Cape, Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre, 2014. Photo credit: BCMA.
BCMA'S INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Establishment, Initiatives, and Looking to the Future Established in 2017, the BCMA’s Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC) exists to acknowledge injustices between museums and Indigenous communities, to actively work together to build stronger relationships/ partnerships, and to decolonize museological practices. The IAC is comprised of leaders from B.C.’s First Nations and from museums that have shown excellence and innovation in working with Indigenous communities. The IAC is a stand-alone committee that champions the Rod Naknakim Declaration to ensure the importance of repatriation is acknowledged and adhered to based on protocols, policies, and procedures identified by host nations and communities.
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The Committee also provides guidance and insight to BCMA Council and staff. Of particular importance, the Committee identifies and builds relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous stakeholders to facilitate reconciliation opportunities.
of ‘other’ voices. Presented as workshops, webinars, and toolkits, these resources will serve as templates for communities to initiate their own protocols and for institutions to create a level of awareness, respect, and understanding.
The IAC acknowledges that much work remains to truly decolonize museum practices and to take another meaningful step forward in the reconciliation process. Additional resources for both institutions and host communities will be developed to help facilitate the process of repatriating items back to the communities to which they rightfully belong while facilitating healthy discussions on the respectful representation
The IAC will raise the level of expectations and accountability of museums to adhere to the Rod Naknakim Declaration, ensuring that host communities are given the opportunity to not only reclaim their belongings, but also to develop a more comprehensive understanding of their own identity. We fully acknowledge that the brunt of this difficult work will fall upon the First Nation host communities. It is of utmost importance that it be guided
