A Place of Our Own: Re-examining the colonial paradigm of the museum structure

Under the leadership of the Aboriginal Art Centre for Northern Manitoba (AACNM) organization, Thompson, MB is in the process of envisioning a new art museum to host Indigenous artists and their works. But the design has been a challenge. Modern museums are a part of the world’s colonial legacy – they have removed sacred objects from many cultures, separated the stories and values of artists and craftspeople from their work, and displayed artifacts and works outside of the context in which they were used and created. To ensure the creation of a culturally respectful space, the FemNorthNet project supported a study where northern artists, Elders, and locals were asked to share their visions for the new museum.