Wampum: Beads of Diplomacy – Outstanding Achievement Award In the Social Impact Category
From the McCord Stewart Museum
The exhibition Wampum: Beads of Diplomacy brought together 40 wampum belts under the same roof—a first since museums began collecting them—and illuminated for the public the key role that wampum played in diplomacy in northeastern North America for over 200 years. Most importantly, it provided an opportunity for exceptional encounters between these wampum belts and representatives of their source nations.
“Beyond disseminating historical and scientific knowledge surrounding wampum, it was vital that the presentation of an unprecedented number of these objects be meaningful and relevant to members of today’s Indigenous communities. Thanks to the efforts, dedication and creativity of the Museum’s entire team, First Nations people have been able to reconnect with their cultural and political heritage, which can otherwise be difficult to access since it is scattered among several museums. New links have been forged between First Nations people and museum institutions in Canada, the United States, France and Italy. Once again, wampum has brought people and nations together,” says Jonathan Lainey, Senior Curator of the Montreal exhibition and Curator of Indigenous Cultures at the McCord Stewart Museum.
“This first major exhibition devoted to wampum belts would never have been possible without the close collaboration between the Museum and the Musée du quai Branly–Jacques Chirac, or without the remarkable support of individuals, communities and institutions from Quebec, Canada and abroad, who agreed to share their knowledge and the fruits of their research, or to part with these exceptional cultural assets for a few months. We are grateful to them for their trust, which reflects the Museum’s efforts over many years to position itself as a site for dialogue with Indigenous nations,” says Anne Eschapasse, President and CEO of the Museum.
“This award pays tribute to the wonderful collaborative spirit under which the exhibition was created and continues to exist, as part of the CRoyAN project. The close ties created between the source communities, the McCord Stewart Museum, the Musée du quai Branly–Jacques Chirac and all the stakeholders made it possible to revive the traditional purpose of wampum: to facilitate dialogue, exchange, relationships. The Musée du quai Branly–Jacques Chirac is very please to have been able to work alongside the McCord Stewart Museum to present this esthetically, historically and scientifically significant exhibition,” says Emmanuel Kasarhérou, President of the Musée du quai Branly–Jacques Chirac in Paris.
To Honour and Respect” – Outstanding Achievement Award In the Exhibition Category
From the City of Peterborough
The Peterborough Museum & Archives has been recognized with the Canadian Museums Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Exhibitions category for “To Honour and Respect: Gifts from the Michi Saagiig Women to the Prince of Wales, 1860” (April to November 2023).
The award was presented at a ceremony held on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
The exhibition “To Honour and Respect” featured 13 quilled wiigwassii makakoon (birch bark baskets) lent by his Majesty The King from the Royal Collection, in the United Kingdom. The makakoon were created by highly skilled women of what is now Hiawatha First Nation. The stunning makakoon were gifts to the Prince of Wales on September 7, 1860, when he visited Hiawatha as part of a cross Canada royal tour.
The many visitors admired the beautiful quillwork and explored the cultural knowledge, love, respect, and diplomacy that went into the makakoon, reflecting on Michi Saagiig and settler histories in the region. Indigenous-led programming included gallery tours, workshops on quillwork provided by Hiawatha First Nation artist Sandra Moore, and sessions on Michi Saagiig language provided by Curve Lake First Nation member Jonathan Taylor.
“Congratulations to the entire team at the Peterborough Museum & Archives, to the To Honour and Respect Planning Circle, the guest curators Dr. Lori Beavis and Dr. Laura Peers, and to the Royal Collection Trust for this well-deserved recognition. The exhibition truly symbolizes the massive contributions of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous voices, perspectives, and institutions,” said Gayle McIntyre, past Chair of the Peterborough Museum & Archives Advisory Committee.