The Archives of Manitoba yesterday announced plans for the exhibit, Your Archives: The Histories We Share.
While the announcement wasn’t about a release of digitized birth, marriage and death records, which would have had genealogists jumping for joy, the initiative will probably appeal to a broad audience.
Manitobans are invited to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Manitoba becoming a province by helping shape a history exhibit.
The archives wants people to choose an archival record and tell them why it matters.
This year also marks the 150th anniversary of the Red River Resistance and the 350th anniversary of the Hudson’s Bay Company, so the exhibit is not limited to the last 150 years. The archives, however, encourages people to go even beyond the years of the anniversaries with their stories.
Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Cathy Cox said, “I encourage everyone to participate in Your Archives: The Histories We Share so a wide range of voices and views are represented, reflecting the diverse cultures, communities and perspectives of our many histories.
Scott Goodine, Archivist of Manitoba, wrote on the archives’ blog, “We are inviting you to choose an archival record from the Archives of Manitoba’s holdings and tell us why it matters. Maybe you know of a record that has deep significance to your family. Maybe you have found a record that describes a critical moment in history. Maybe you know of a noteworthy photo in our holdings. We want to display all of them! We hope that as the series grows, we will be able to present a diverse set of perspectives that honour the many histories that we share.”
The exhibit will grow throughout 2020 and will be available online and on site at the archives.
The Archives of Manitoba is built on Treaty 1 territory and the land on which the archives presently stands is the traditional territory of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene Peoples, and the homeland of the Métis Nation. The archives holds many records relevant to Indigenous peoples populating the traditional territories, primarily in Manitoba and Canada, but also reaching into other parts of North America and beyond.
The public can learn more and participate by visiting the Archives of Manitoba online at www.manitoba.ca/yourarchives or in person at the archives. They can also follow the archives on Twitter @MBGovArchives.
