Royal BC Museum to start process of decolonization with changes to galleries
Global News
The changes come in the wake of an investigation that found acts of racism against Indigenous staff members and which called some of the museum's exhibits outdated and offensive.
The Royal British Columbia Museum is beginning the process of decolonization by closing down its entire third floor.
Closures of some galleries on the third floor will begin this month with a full closure starting in Jan. 2, 2022.
The museum’s third floor is known as the First Peoples Gallery and it includes the exhibits “Our Living Languages: First Peoples’ Voices in B.C.” and “Becoming B.C.”
The third-floor galleries will be recreated to include a more diverse range of perspectives on the province’s history.
Acting CEO Daniel Muzyka said a new approach was long overdue.
“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,” he said.
“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 B.C..”
Muzyka said that the creation of new exhibits will be done through consultations with First Nations and Indigenous groups.