Another day, another museum opening. This one, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is in Winnipeg, and it is a public/private collaboration. thttp://museumforhumanrights.ca/
It is the brainchild and passion of the late media mogul Izzy Asper. As with so many projects, the cost ballooned and funding was a challenge. Some critics say that it is a tribute to Asper from his family, funded by taxpayers. The purpose and focus of the museum has been under constant scrutiny. Its defenders claim that it is a museum of human rights, not human wrongs.
It has also been pointed out that this shiny new monument to human rights stands less than a kilometre from the place where the body of First Nations teen, Tina Fontaine was found. The Assiniboine River is being searched and dragged for the bodies of other women. Protesters have picketed the entrance to the museum as a reminder that this country can do a much better job of protecting the rights of aboriginal women and to express their anger at being left out of the opening ceremonies.
/for all this, I would certainly like to visit this museum, although from all accounts a few hours or a day there will be challenging. As a white male born in Canada after WW2 I am aware that I have led a life of security and privilege. I don't want to go to ramp up my guilt --God knows there are plenty of folk who would like to help do that for me. But as with the holocaust museums I have visited in a number of cities, including Jerusalem, I need the reminders of what happens when groups in society are marginalized and stigmatized.
Does it make sense for Canada to have a human rights museum? Are you concerned about the controversy? Would you visit?
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