Royal B.C. Museum to Close Its History Galleries for Decolonization

×

Expand

Part of the “Becoming BC Gallery” at the Royal B.C. Museum, Victoria (courtesy the museum)

The Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria says it is closing galleries about the province's history to begin a process of decolonization.  

The move, which follows controversy over racism that led to the departure of the museum's top administrator, Jack Lohman earlier this year, will see the museum's third floor shut in stages starting in November and December, with to a full closure on Jan. 2. 

“Decolonization of the museum’s galleries is important and long overdue,” says Daniel Muzyka, the museum's acting CEO.

“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.”

Indigenous leaders have called on the museum to create a more welcoming space.

The third floor currently includes the First Peoples gallery, the Becoming B.C. gallery and the exhibition, Our Living Languages: First Peoples’ Voices in B.C. 

The Becoming B.C. gallery, in particular, tells a largely colonial narrative of settlement. 

Source: Royal B.C. Museum