Musqueam and The Reciprocal Research Network

1. Musqueam and The Reciprocal Research Network

2. What is the Reciprocal Research Network? • A Computer Network bringing together information from selected museums around the world to a computer at Musqueam. • We will be able to send information from Musqueam back to the Museums.

3. Why Musqueam is Involved • Co-develop the network to gain the most from the development of this new technology. • Engage Musqueam community members in learning about our objects, songs, and other material that are found in museum around the world. • To share information with the museums around the world to ensure a Musqueam voice is being heard.

4. Potential Contributing institutions Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria BC Archaeology Branch, Victoria UBC Museum of Anthropology and Laboratory of Archaeology, Vancouver U'místa Cultural Centre, Alert Bay Glenbow Museum, Calgary Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau McCord Museum, Montreal Burke Museum, Seattle American Museum of Natural History, New York National Museum of the American Indian and National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian, Washington DC Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford University, England University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge University, England

5. Co-developing First Nations Researcher with elder, U’mista Cultural Centre UBC/Sto:lo collaborative excavation, Spirit Camp Site, lower Fraser River Valley, BC UBC/Musqueam Language research, Musqueam Elders Centre, Vancouver

6. Research in New York and Washington DC • Picture of how research is done today. • Items from Musqueam and Musqueam historic sites are located in museums around the world-New York, Washington, England. etc… traveling to any of these museums would be costly and time consuming. LeonaSparrow Courtenay Gibson, and Terry Point at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City Courtenay, Terry, Leona and Larry in Washington DC

7. Research In the Future • The RRN will enable you to see objects like this weaving in Washington DC that is over 150 years old, plus allow you to see the information the museum has about this blanket, and see it from different angles.

8. Reconnecting collections Bowl Canadian Museum of Civilization Hull, Quebec Musqueam Marpole site (Vancouver) in collections in Washington DC, Hull, Quebec and Victoria, BC that will be accessible through the network. Bowl National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Washington DC Paint mortar Royal British Columbia Museum

9. Musqueam Language • həńqəmińəm language will be added to the Museum of Anthropology collection of Musqueam objects. • Through the RRN we will be able to add həńqəmińəm language to objects from other museums.

10. The RRN Will Support Musqueam Heritage: • Improve identification • Correct misleading information • Establish a positive perception from a Musqueam voice of our heritage kept in museums around the world.

11. Cowichan aka Quw’utsun’ Musquiam aka Musqueam

12. Support Artist Research • Allow artists to research old Musqueam weavings and carvings from museums across Canada, USA and some in England from computer outlets at Musqueam, and the UBC Museum of Anthropology.

13. Original source: BCPM pn#6463 -- Harlan I. Smith photo, ca 1898. Owl House Post at the American Museum of Natural History, New York Copy of a 19th cent. Spindle whorlMOA 1603/4 Richard Campbell 1994 Print Based on the Owl House Post, Susan Point, 1996MOA Nbz887

14. Musqueam RRN Internship • A one year internship position in partnership with the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) and the Musqueam Indian Band (MIB). Four days at MOA and one day at Musqueam each week.

15. Internship Goals • Engage Musqueam community members in the development of the RRN • Find out what the community thinks about traditional stories and museum objects • Interview community members about traditional stories and museum objects • Develop a pilot project

16. Reasons for the Pilot Project • Develop a model with information from the community on relevant Musqueam objects, and traditional stories • Insure that Musqueam heritage information is protected and presented in a way that are useful to the community

17. Summary • Objects are evidence of community identity • “Virtual Repatriation” • Recover information for revitalization of languages and traditions • Access to cultural imagery contributes to Artists research. • Bring control of cultural resources into the community

18. Questions • For the purpose of this presentation I will answer any questions pertaining to me specifically and my internship. • Any question I can’t answer today I will refer you to the RRN steering committee.

19. Contact Information Sue Rowley RRN Lead Museum of Anthropology Email: srowley@interchange.ubc.ca Phone: (604) 822-0258 Leona Sparrow MIB Treaty Director Email: lsparrow@musqueam.bc.ca Phone: (604) 263-3261 Dave Schaepe Sto:lo Nation, Research Manager Email: Dave.Schaepe@stolonation.bc.ca Andrea Sanborn U’mista Cultural Centre Executive Director Email: asanborn@umista.ca Phone: (250) 974-5403

20. Thank-you