What is Repatriation?
And How You Can Help
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Repatriation—returning items to their place of origin—has been a hot topic in the museum sector since the 1970 UNESCO Treaty on fighting illicit trafficking. Since then, many museums have had to contend with how items in their collections were collected—and we’re no different.
Although the Museum of Vancouver has been around since 1894, a repatriation policy wasn’t in place until 2006. Nevertheless, a few repatriations did take place before the establishment of the policy.
Since the MOV policy was put in place, there have been several repatriations to Indigenous communities—including internationally to the Māori and the Saginaw Chippewa in the Eastern United States. The work we do each year is described in our annual reports. Our collections records indicate that we’ve repatriated a total of 384 belongings and 59 ancestors.
Repatriation ceremonies vary from community to community. Some are public, others are private. We follow the lead of how they want to proceed. Sometimes, the MOV is offered gifts as part of the process, some of which are shown in this video, and they will be on display in The Work of Repair: Redress and Repatriation at MOV.
Set to open in the spring, The Work of Repair will highlight several ways that MOV engages in redress and repatriation work, but we need your help. Your donation will support this exhibition, ensure proper care for belongings that are still in our collection, support relationship building with communities, and create programming to educate the public about reconciliation.
We hope you will become a donor. Whether you make a one-time gift, or become a monthly contributor, we are grateful for your support. Make your donation via our CanadaHelps page here.
PS – Make a minimum donation of $100, or become a monthly donor by December 31, 2024 and you will be entered to win a behind-the-scenes tour of the collection.
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Events at the MOV
Make a Notebook & the Bag to Keep It In
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Upcycled Leather Notebook Workshop with Creations by Night
Sunday, January 19, 2025
In this beginner friendly workshop, we will make a leather notebook with reclaimed leather, an assortment of paper, and some funky hardware. Participants will work with a variety of coloured leather, handpicked hardware, and an array of colourful thread and can customize their book with rivets, eyelets and other fun materials. During the workshop, we’ll learn about the history of leather work within Indigenous communities including the ways hides have played a significant part in keeping Indigenous communities alive. Sign up here.
Weave a Bag: A Salish Weaving Workshop with Chief Janice George & Buddy Joseph
January 25-26, 2025
This is a rare opportunity to learn traditional Salish weaving directly from Chepximiya Siyam Chief Janice George and Skwetsimeltxw Willard (Buddy) Joseph. They were recently featured at the opening of Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week and are artists in residency at the Blue Cabin. No prior weaving experience is needed. This intensive workshop is 12 hours of instruction over two days. With all supplies provided, participants will be guided through each step of the process to create a woven bag using Salish weaving techniques. Secure your spot now.
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Stuff Their Stocking with Culture
Gift Admissions & MOV Memberships Make Great Gifts
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Not sure what to get for the art, culture and history lovers in your life? We all need a little more culture in our lives, so buy them a visit to the Museum of Vancouver!
Pre-paid admission to the MOV is a great gift for your friends, family, colleagues, teachers, hairstylists, neighbours, favourite baristas and more! Swing by the MOV and purchase advance tickets. We’ll provide you with the admission cards—which are an excellent stocking stuffer!
Buying a MOV Membership is a gift that gives all year long! There are different membership types, including those for individuals, couples, seniors and families. Members can visit the MOV as many times as they want throughout the year—plus they can access discounts at the gift shop, discounted rates on workshops, and discounts when you visit the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, Vancouver Maritime Museum, the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art and at the Royal BC Museum! To purchase a membership as a gift, chat with the staff at the MOV’s front desk or call Visitor Services at 604-736-4431. They’ll walk you through the process and answer any questions you have.
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SAGE Toolkit Launches
Decarbonizing Arts & Culture
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On Thursday, December 5th, the SAGE Toolkit was officially launched at the Museum of Vancouver amongst collaborators from museums, galleries, and theatres, as well as designers and sustainability specialists. SAGE: Sustainable Arts and Green Ecosystems is a project led by the MOV focused on climate action and circularity in the arts sector. The SAGE Toolkit offers guidance to organizations willing to make a pledge towards sustainable practices.
In the spirit of continued collaboration, and to foster resource sharing across the province, SAGE is also launching the British Columbia Exchange Hub. Inspired by a successful initiative in New York, this online trading exchange leverages the Barder.art tool to enable BC arts organizations to source, donate, sell, and lend materials and props.
SAGE Toolkit and Exchange Hub Highlights:
- Toolkit is the first online resource of its kind in Canada.
- Features local and global case studies and practical examples illustrating the principles of circular design.
- Showcases the potential of collaboration among curators, project managers, designers, fabricators, and material suppliers in addressing circularity (low waste) challenges.
- Access to the Exchange Hub is free to all arts organizations across British Columbia.
The SAGE Toolkit, including the resources, pledges, Exchange Hub and more information can be found online at sage-toolkit.com.
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Holiday Shopping Event in the MOV Gift Shop
Hosted by the Mónica Reyes Gallery on December 12th
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Need a gift idea? Thinking about giving some art? Love meeting the artists behind the art? On December 12th, meet some of the makers behind the very giftable art in the MOV Gift Shop!
Over the past few months, the MOV Gift Shop has been growing thanks to a partnership with the Mónica Reyes Gallery. On Thursday, December 12th, Mónica has invited the artists whose work is available for sale in the shop to hang out with you as you browse and check folks off your nice-list.
Stop in and meet textile artisan Corrina Hammond; Katherine Evans, founder of the apothecary brand Tallu; Sarah Bancroft from Ponderosa Pine; jeweler, Talia Curtis-Rogers; ceramics artist Kate Metten; and more.
The shopping event will take place from 5:00 to 8:00pm on Thursday, December 12th.
The Museum’s Gift Shop is open everyday from 10:30am to 4:30pm, except on December 24th and 31st, when it will close at 3:30pm, and the Shop will be closed on December 25th.
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Holiday Hours at the MOV
Christmas Eve (December 24th): 10:00am-3:00pm
Christmas Day (December 25th): Closed
New Year’s Eve (December 31st): 10:00am-3:00pm
All other days, including Boxing Day (December 26th) and New Year’s Day (January 1st), we will be open from 10:00am-5:00pm.
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Know before you go:
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Museum of Vancouver is open 10:00am-5:00pm, seven days a week. We anticipate resuming evening hours on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays in the spring.
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Holiday hours at the MOV are Christmas Eve (December 24th): 10:00am-3:00pm; Christmas Day (December 25th): Closed; New Year’s Eve (December 31st): 10:00am-3:00pm. All other days, including Boxing Day (December 26th) and New Year’s Day (January 1st), we will be open from 10:00am-5:00pm.
- Ticket sales end 30 minutes before closing.
- Visit on the first Sunday of the month and pay what you can for admission.
- Admission is free for people who self-identify as Indigenous.
- Visit on the last Sunday of the month for Low Sensory Sundays.
- The Museum is wheelchair, stroller and scooter accessible, including washrooms, ramps and elevators, and has wide entrances and exits.
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Find additional accessibility information on our FAQ page.
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When booked in advance, groups of 10 or more are eligible for a discounted rate. Learn more.
- The MOV is located at 1100 Chestnut Street in Vanier Park in Kitsilano.
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The Museum is accessible by Mobi Bike Share, TransLink (#2 bus), Evo Car Share and False Creek Ferries.
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Car parking is available in the parking lot run by EasyPark. Please pay for parking before entering the building. We do not manage this lot and EasyPark tickets vehicles that have not paid.
- Street parking is also available.
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Find more directions here.
- Note that Museum Admissions are currently discounted due to HVAC repairs.
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We acknowledge that MOV is located within the unceded, ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. | |
604-736-4431
1100 Chestnut Street
Vancouver, BC
V6J 3J9
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