September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, an opportunity to reflect on the lasting impacts of colonialism and the residential school system while honoring the resilience of Indigenous survivors and their communities. This observance also calls on individuals and organizations, including museums, to acknowledge the historical harms they have contributed to and critically assess their roles in advancing reconciliation.
Like many cultural institutions, the Museum & Archives of Vernon (MAV), located on the Traditional, Ancestral, and Unceded Territory of the Syilx People, occupies a complex position in the history of colonization. Its collection includes numerous Indigenous records and objects, many with complicated and difficult histories. As the MAV seeks to honor the cultures these objects represent, it’s crucial to understand the intricate paths that led to their acquisition and the important role repatriation plays in reconciliation today.
Founded in 1950, the MAV began with a modest collection housed in a room at the Vernon Junior High School (now W. L. Seaton Secondary). Initially, it featured around 35 mounted taxidermy specimens and several Indigenous “relics and handiwork,” as noted by the Vernon News at the time. Over the following years, the museum continued to solicit donations of Indigenous objects.
Today, we recognize that many of these past practices, once standard in the museum field, were not conducted ethically. Many objects were acquired without proper provenance—lacking documentation of their origin and journey—resulting in a loss of essential cultural context. Records related to these objects are often sparse, with only a brief description and the donor’s name, and little information about how the object was obtained or from which nation it originated. Archival records present similar challenges, with Indigenous relevance sometimes only revealed upon closer examination.
The absence of provenance complicates efforts to identify the Indigenous nations or communities associated with these objects, hindering meaningful collaboration on their care, stewardship, and repatriation—a critical aspect of museums’ responsibilities in advancing reconciliation. Without proper documentation, the path to ethical stewardship and returning these objects to their rightful communities becomes more challenging.
In response, MAV staff and volunteers have been working to identify and research all Indigenous items in its collection. To date, 1,170 Indigenous objects have been identified, with 1,163 now linked to a confirmed or probable place of origin. 49 objects have been successfully repatriated, primarily to Indigenous communities outside the Vernon area. However, continued collaboration with the Syilx Nation and other Indigenous communities is necessary to further develop ethical stewardship practices, repatriation policies, and improved access.
By acknowledging its past role in the marginalization of Indigenous peoples, the MAV is committed to fostering inclusive and responsible practices, as all museums play a vital role in creating a more equitable, just, and respectful future within the broader Canadian context of truth and reconciliation.
MAV Staff