Located in the City of Red Deer, the Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery (MAG) curates, creates and hosts contemporary art and history exhibitions that encourage visitors to understand the people, history and culture of Central Alberta. In September of 2023 the MAG received the Alberta Museums Association’s (AMA) Robert R. Janes Award for Social Responsibility. This award seeks to create vibrant and sustainable communities by investing in programs that affect real social and environmental change, and have the potential to create public benefits on a larger scale.
In 2010, the MAG made steps to re-ignite community engagement, and look for ways to connect with diverse audiences, create shared voices, and to be of service to our community. At this time development of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) had begun, involving Canada’s Indigenous, Métis and Inuit communities and the federal government in conversations and acknowledgement of the treatment of Canada’s First Peoples. The MAG attended local TRC events and community ceremonies, to witness and listen. In 2013, we opened our permanent exhibition Remarkable Red Deer: Stories from the Heart of the Parkland, purposefully including the story of Red Deer’s Indian Industrial School, made possible by directly working with Remembering the Children Society, an organization created to remember the children that attended this school. In 2015, we hosted Walking with Our Sisters (WWOS), a ceremony honouring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. In 2018, we hosted Carey Newman’s exhibit, The Witness Blanket, which honours the Indian Residential School experience.
Relationships made during these years continued to grow and evolve as our community needs changed. We served as the end point for the Sisters in Spirit march in 2014, as part of our preparation for hosting WWOS. That participation evolved into an on-going relationship with our local Native Friendship Centre that continues to see us hosting and providing an end location for social justice walks. This year will be the tenth year we will co-host the Sisters in Spirit march.
The qualities that impressed the Robert R. Janes Award Committee are the MAG’s willingness to share authority and the willingness to take the risks associated with handing over power to members of our community. During WWOS, our galleries became a sacred ceremonial space. For the duration of the exhibition, a number of Keepers (lead women) had security codes and keys to the museum, allowing them to enter the ceremonial space at any time of day. The relationships built during this time did not cease when WWOS left Red Deer, rather, they grew as we continued to support each other’s activities. This trust has carried on contributing to the success of our work with Powwow! Ohcîwin the Origins and Powwow Times International Gathering.
Fall MAG Exterior
In 2018, Patrick and Marrisa Mitsuing submitted an exhibition proposal to the MAG for what would become Powwow! Ohcîwin the Origins. The Mitsuings proposed an exhibition that focused on celebration, positive spirit, resilience, and strength in the Indigenous community, and centered Indigenous experiences in the present. The exhibition tells the origin story of seven powwow dances with full regalia.
The project began development in 2019 — the cost was the biggest hurdle. It is important for us to support artists in our community, by paying Canadian Artists Representation/ Le Front des artistes canadiens (CARFAC) fees and, when able, purchasing work directly from the artist. We wanted to ensure that we were paying all the artists and knowledge keepers for their work and time. The Mitsuings were hired as curators and creators and, in the first year of the project they travelled the powwow trail, recording origin stories and meeting with artisans to collaborate on the regalia. In the end twenty-seven Indigenous artists and knowledge keepers were involved, from across Ontario to British Columbia and as far south as Oklahoma, and one hundred fifty-two pieces of regalia were made and collected. All artists were paid for their work and knowledge keepers were approached with offerings of tobacco, cloth and an honourarium for their participation.
The exhibition opened in September of 2020 during COVID restrictions, which altered our initial opening celebrations plans. Instead, we held online presentations for entire school districts, university classes, community clubs, and a local theatre company wrote and performed a play online based on the exhibition.
Organizationally, the MAG upholds the principle of “nothing about us without us.” Our commitment to this principle has led us to share authority with our community when it comes to telling their stories and has demonstrated the power of supporting our community from the sidelines. The MAG actively maintains relationships that support our community’s growth in education, diversity, and social activism. With Ohcîwin, there was a vision of holding a small powwow next the museum as part of the exhibition. Through the Mitsuings, that vision grew into Powwow Times International Gathering, which is quickly becoming one of the biggest powwows in Western Canada. Initially the MAG partnered to develop the first annual event and since then, at least two museum staff have sat on the planning committee each year. We saw that our ongoing impact could be through offering up a skill that museums have – volunteer management.
Walking With Our Sisters opening ceremony June 1, 2015
What sets Powwow! Ohcîwin the Origins apart is that it was built upon a decade-long relationship with our Indigenous community. We renumerated and credited all the Indigenous artisans and contributors, approaching knowledge keepers with respectful practices learned over the years. We knew where to step back and support, that community participation and relationship building is more important than the museum seeking notoriety or recognition. When we started the journey of being socially responsible in our approach to community engagement, we quickly realized that this wasn’t the responsibility of one staff member. We discussed the value of involvement and representation throughout the organization, which included all staff and Board members.
Community engagement is the heart of social responsibility. A museum’s work is most meaningful when it is done in service to the community. You have to put in effort and follow through - sometimes progress is slow, sometimes it is hard and sometimes you will make mistakes, but building authentic relationships takes the time it takes. Look for ways to be involved in a truly helpful capacity – this all starts by showing up for your community. Is there a social cause or social event in your community that needs volunteers? Sign your staff up for the least favourable spots. Does your community need a spot to host things? Open your doors and step back, you never know what will happen. In a time of over planning, thinking, and scheduling, letting things run their course, unfolding as they will is a good thing.