Perhaps the museum should focus on going beyond trying to “add” marginalized voices to our history and instead question how these people became marginalized in the first place! There is a history of exclusion, racialization, misogyny and dislocation in Canada that needs to be told – not in order to disgrace Canadian leaders and/or accomplishments (as some people fear), but to set these characters, achievements and developments in their proper contexts and enrich our understanding of each other.
Marginalized communities includes Aboriginal communities if I only get to choose two groups. Aboriginal people, recent immigrants, women, economically disadvantaged… The museum needs to reach out beyond its four walls, develop exhibitions that help all Canadians to understand one another, and involve different perspectives/expertise in collections and exhibition development. The museum can present more than one perspective on an issue or subject and should sometimes.
The marginalized communities and people of Canada also need substantial recognition in this ‘our museum’ of the history of Canada. Women need to be represented for their role in shaping this country. The multitude of cultures that have, along side the aboriginal people of this country, suffered at the hands of a government who’s agenda was to exploit the resources and people of the land, for example the building of the railway that used many people of Asian ancestry.
The stories of marginalized communities through history are too often ignored in popular representations. Although the story of the people in power is obviously important to be told, the story of how these major events involved, affected, or were perceived by marginalized communities at the time is an integral part of what’s to be understood.
Perhaps the museum should focus on going beyond trying to “add” marginalized voices to our history and instead question how these people became marginalized in the first place! There is a history of exclusion, racialization, misogyny and dislocation in Canada that needs to be told – not in order to disgrace Canadian leaders and/or accomplishments (as some people fear), but to set these characters, achievements and developments in their proper contexts and enrich our understanding of each other.
Marginalized communities includes Aboriginal communities if I only get to choose two groups. Aboriginal people, recent immigrants, women, economically disadvantaged… The museum needs to reach out beyond its four walls, develop exhibitions that help all Canadians to understand one another, and involve different perspectives/expertise in collections and exhibition development. The museum can present more than one perspective on an issue or subject and should sometimes.
The marginalized communities and people of Canada also need substantial recognition in this ‘our museum’ of the history of Canada. Women need to be represented for their role in shaping this country. The multitude of cultures that have, along side the aboriginal people of this country, suffered at the hands of a government who’s agenda was to exploit the resources and people of the land, for example the building of the railway that used many people of Asian ancestry.
The stories of marginalized communities through history are too often ignored in popular representations. Although the story of the people in power is obviously important to be told, the story of how these major events involved, affected, or were perceived by marginalized communities at the time is an integral part of what’s to be understood.
It’s good to get the perspectives of those parts of society that otherwise do not have a voice