THE CITY BEFORE THE CITY

The c̓əsnaʔəm exhibition is a feature of the Musqueam Cultural Education Centre, located within the reserve on the banks of the Fraser River. c̓əsnaʔəm is the name of an ancient village and burial site of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people, dating back at least 4,000 years.

The bright, airy space opens onto views of the land and focuses on stories of respect, technological innovation, tradition, and resilience. The exhibition design weaves together cedar, the blue colour tones of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm palette, and references to blueprint technology. Through video and displays of belongings, it describes traditional practices for fishing, architecture, and canoe building, Clear acrylic cases, framed in modern cedar structures juxtapose ancient belongings with contemporary tools.

Client: Musqueam Cultural Educational Resource Centre
Location: Musqueam, BC
Scope: Interpretive planning and exhibition design

Recognition:

  • Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Museums

  • Western Museums Association, Charles Redd Center for Western Studies Award for Exhibition Excellence

  • Canadian Museum Association Michael M. Ames Prize for Innovative Museum Anthropology

  • Canadian Historical Association Public History Prize

    Awarded to the entire project team, which included Musqueam Indian Band, Museum of Vancouver (MOV), Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at UBC, and Dr. Susan Roy, University of Waterloo.

1401MIB20150105_0102.jpg
1401MIB20150105_0101.jpg
1401MIB20150220_0096.jpg
1401MIB20150220_0097.jpg
1401MIB20220929_0103.jpg
1401MIB20150220_0098.jpg
1401MIB20150220_0094.jpg
1401MIB20150220_0095.jpg
1401MIB20150105_0100.jpg
1401MIB20150105_0099.jpg

The exhibit received multiple awards for innovation for it’s close collaboration between Musqueam and the curatorial and design team, both in terms of content and design. A key feature of this installation is the focus on the protests that the community engaged in to save traditional lands, including burial spots of their ancestors. This action marked a galvanizing moment for Musqueam, this story is told through photos, videos, and the display of banners carried in marches against encroachments by developers.

Similar Projects