The Museum of North Vancouver has announced a gift from BMO in support of its Indigenous programs.
Together with the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, MONOVA says it will create meaningful relationships between the community museum and archives and these Nations. The goal of this work will be to implement the museum-related recommendations in the final report of the national Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
“An important part of strengthening our cultures and Nations requires that the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Səl̓ílwətaɬ Peoples tell the story of our past, how it’s understood, described, documented, managed and communicated. This support from BMO represents another positive step towards reconciliation between the Sḵwxw̱ ú7mesh, Səl̓ílwətaɬ, and North Shore communities,” said Chief Janice George and Carleen Thomas, Co-Chairs of the Indigenous Voices Advisory Committee,MONOVA.
BMO Financial Group’s lead gift has already supported the recruitment of Cultural Programmers and a Practices Advisor from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation, and a Young Canada Works Indigenous Curatorial Assistant from the Səl̓ílwətaɬ Nation.
MONOVA is using this gift to develop:
• School programs, to provide students and teachers with unique knowledge about the Peoples of the North Shore.
• Public programs, developed in partnership with Səl̓ílwətaɬ and Sḵwxw̱ ú7mesh (introducing knowledge, skills and language sharing, and other traditional cultural expressions).
• Storytelling and workshops by cultural interpreters, community advisors and elders.
• Learning experiences, created by artists that will provide opportunities for students and museum drop-in programs for families and children, adults, specialized audiences and local communities.
“BMO is honoured to support MONOVA and the critical work being done to educate and inspire visitors with programs that share Indigenous perspectives through knowledge, stories, art and traditions of the Peoples of the North Shore,” said Paul Seipp, Head of Business Banking, Western Canada.
BMO is committed to progress for Indigenous communities across three pillars that reflect their response to the Truth & Reconciliation Commission calls to action for corporate Canada: employment, education and economic empowerment. An Indigenous Advisory Council comprised of First Nations, Métis and Inuit leaders nationwide guides and advises BMO in relation to these three areas of focus.
“Sharing stories is at the heart of what we do at MONOVA,” added Wesley A. Wenhardt, Museum Director.
“Support from organizations like BMO is crucial to allow MONOVA to deliver important public and educational programs in collaboration with our Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Səl̓ílwətaɬ partners, whose ancestors have lived here for countless generations.”
This is great new. Good for BMO and even better for the people and programmes their fund will support.