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CANADIAN MUSEUM FOR HUMAN RIGHTS STIRS ANGER AND PROTEST
Care2.com
Sept 22 2014
by Lizabeth Paulat
The September 20 opening of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights was
mired by controversy and protests. The museum, located in Winnipeg,
Manitoba, will be dedicated to exploring vast issues such as what
constitutes human rights, genocide and apartheid. Yet a number of
indigenous tribes in Canada feel it leaves out some very important
aspects of their history.
The subject of what to call the deaths of indigenous tribes has been
especially difficult. Canada does not consider the past destruction
of indigenous people as a genocide. Yet many feel as though the word
genocide is a very apt description of what has happened to different
groups within the country. The museum's refusal to acknowledge this
disconnect has created a chasm.
During the opening ceremony, the Red tribe pulled out for reasons that
were vaguely described as 'concerns about indigenous issues.' Others
boycotted due to what they felt was a lack of representation. Outside
of the museum, on opening day, there were protests by various groups
condemning the building.
However, the debate involves more than just how issues will
be portrayed within the museum. There has also been controversy
surrounding the land it was built on, which was discovered to be an
important archeological site during initial construction. Kimlee
Wong, an activist for indigenous rights in Canada, announced her
decision to boycott the museum, calling the entire building an "act
of cultural violence."
"[The building is] A headstone to many nations of Indigenous peoples
whose rich and varied cultural heritages are now buried under megatons
of concrete and steel," she wrote. "The CMHR, run by wealthy children
of settlers, decided local Indigenous people's history and heritage
does not deserve the same respect they demand for their own ancestors
and history...It's a decision rooted in cultural superiority, arrogance
and privilege. So I'm not surprised that the CMHR has continued on
their entitled myopic path in making subsequent decisions."
Others have criticized the exhibits inside the museum as being an
"Olympics of genocide." The exhibit on the Holocaust, for example,
also explores other genocides and crimes against humanity around
the world. However, some have said the space given to The Holocaust
versus, say, Rwanda or Armenia is upsetting and portrays one crime
as more important than the other.
The building, which has taken nearly a decade to complete, was the
brainchild of philanthropist Izzy Asper, who funded large amounts
of the museum. Yet in 2003, after an unexpected death, the funding
turned to the taxpayers. In total, the building cost $351 million to
complete and was hampered by constant delays on the construction site.
Supporters of the museum contend that some people seem to be getting
upset before even visiting the exhibits. The museum's goals, they have
pointed out, are worthwhile in exploring the topics of how we evolve
(or devolve) in societies. With the exhibitions just commencing this
month, there is a chance these differences can be worked out in time.
Asper's relatives also point out that this was supposed to be a place
where people could come, learn about these subjects and relate to
them going forward. In other words, it was meant to be an 'active'
experience. Asper's vision was summarized by him, before he died
in 2003:
"In the first place, there's no human rights museum, get this, anywhere
in the world. The most important aspect of life, your right to life,
liberty, freedom of choice and so on? Is tied up in human rights
and there's no place in the world where that idea is taught. If you
want to humanize this planet, you have to start with the question:
What is the social contract? What are the rights with which I'm born?"
Whether the museum will live up to his aspirations, provoking
thoughtful discussion and exploring atrocities around the globe,
will take collaboration from all sides of the debate, something the
museum says it is committed to going forward.
http://www.care2.com/causes/canadian-museum-for-human-rights-stirs-anger-and-protest.html
Care2.com
Sept 22 2014
by Lizabeth Paulat
The September 20 opening of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights was
mired by controversy and protests. The museum, located in Winnipeg,
Manitoba, will be dedicated to exploring vast issues such as what
constitutes human rights, genocide and apartheid. Yet a number of
indigenous tribes in Canada feel it leaves out some very important
aspects of their history.
The subject of what to call the deaths of indigenous tribes has been
especially difficult. Canada does not consider the past destruction
of indigenous people as a genocide. Yet many feel as though the word
genocide is a very apt description of what has happened to different
groups within the country. The museum's refusal to acknowledge this
disconnect has created a chasm.
During the opening ceremony, the Red tribe pulled out for reasons that
were vaguely described as 'concerns about indigenous issues.' Others
boycotted due to what they felt was a lack of representation. Outside
of the museum, on opening day, there were protests by various groups
condemning the building.
However, the debate involves more than just how issues will
be portrayed within the museum. There has also been controversy
surrounding the land it was built on, which was discovered to be an
important archeological site during initial construction. Kimlee
Wong, an activist for indigenous rights in Canada, announced her
decision to boycott the museum, calling the entire building an "act
of cultural violence."
"[The building is] A headstone to many nations of Indigenous peoples
whose rich and varied cultural heritages are now buried under megatons
of concrete and steel," she wrote. "The CMHR, run by wealthy children
of settlers, decided local Indigenous people's history and heritage
does not deserve the same respect they demand for their own ancestors
and history...It's a decision rooted in cultural superiority, arrogance
and privilege. So I'm not surprised that the CMHR has continued on
their entitled myopic path in making subsequent decisions."
Others have criticized the exhibits inside the museum as being an
"Olympics of genocide." The exhibit on the Holocaust, for example,
also explores other genocides and crimes against humanity around
the world. However, some have said the space given to The Holocaust
versus, say, Rwanda or Armenia is upsetting and portrays one crime
as more important than the other.
The building, which has taken nearly a decade to complete, was the
brainchild of philanthropist Izzy Asper, who funded large amounts
of the museum. Yet in 2003, after an unexpected death, the funding
turned to the taxpayers. In total, the building cost $351 million to
complete and was hampered by constant delays on the construction site.
Supporters of the museum contend that some people seem to be getting
upset before even visiting the exhibits. The museum's goals, they have
pointed out, are worthwhile in exploring the topics of how we evolve
(or devolve) in societies. With the exhibitions just commencing this
month, there is a chance these differences can be worked out in time.
Asper's relatives also point out that this was supposed to be a place
where people could come, learn about these subjects and relate to
them going forward. In other words, it was meant to be an 'active'
experience. Asper's vision was summarized by him, before he died
in 2003:
"In the first place, there's no human rights museum, get this, anywhere
in the world. The most important aspect of life, your right to life,
liberty, freedom of choice and so on? Is tied up in human rights
and there's no place in the world where that idea is taught. If you
want to humanize this planet, you have to start with the question:
What is the social contract? What are the rights with which I'm born?"
Whether the museum will live up to his aspirations, provoking
thoughtful discussion and exploring atrocities around the globe,
will take collaboration from all sides of the debate, something the
museum says it is committed to going forward.
http://www.care2.com/causes/canadian-museum-for-human-rights-stirs-anger-and-protest.html