Controversies Canadian Museum for Human Rights

1 controversies

1.1 forks: aboriginal sacred site
1.2 germaine greer , accusations of transphobia
1.3 proposed museum content

1.3.1 inclusion of holodomor , other atrocities
1.3.2 exclusion of israel/palestinian conflict
1.3.3 response of cmhr complaints of favouritism

controversies
the forks: aboriginal sacred site

from 2008 2012, quaternary consultants senior archaeologist sid kroker , stantec consulting s senior archaeologist david mcleod conducted archaeological excavations in 2 stages on future building site of cmhr museum, recovering more 400,000 artifacts dating far 1100 a.d. museum has come under criticism, including site selected 1 of richest sites in manitoba aboriginal artifacts. retired manitoba archaeologist leigh syms stated excavation done prior construction did not go far enough. spokesperson museum pointed out museum had consulted native leaders prior excavation. in addition, museum continued evaluate site during construction. area museum built has been area of increased development on past few years, including skate park, hotel, , parkade. these south of believed part of aboriginal graveyard.

the cmhr has responded criticisms put forward leigh syms, arguing have followed necessary guidelines prior , during archaeological digs , excavations , have consulted , continue consult aboriginal elders , others within aboriginal community project moves forward.

there have been suggestions canadian museum human rights, , of forks in general, located on aboriginal burial ground. impact assessment , management plan prepared forks renewal corporation prior beginning of construction of forks market in 1988 outlines concerns burial grounds expressed archaeologists. several archaeological digs in area done between 1989 , 1991, archaeological digs completed canadian museum human rights in 2008 , 2009, did not find human remains. these digs show while site used variety of land uses, has never been burial ground. however, 3% of land museum on has been examined archaeologically, cannot lies beneath 97% of museum. in area, prior 1923 several aboriginal graves had been uncovered accident while digging foundations.

the forks located in flood plain of red , assiniboine rivers. before floodway built in 1968, location of forks prone flooding when accumulated winter snow rapidly melted in spring. 1 of largest of these floods, in 1826, destroyed original fort garry. red river rose 3 metres (over 9 feet) in 1 day. created lake remained months , washed away every building in settlement. due recurring flooding, forks site used transitional camp.

over 50 separate projects involving excavation have been undertaken @ forks since 1950, enabling researchers provide accurate reflection of various uses of forks on past 6000 years. despite concerns stated above, none of these projects indicate forks site ever used burial ground.

germaine greer , accusations of transphobia

in may 2014, cmhr accused of tolerating transphobia inviting germaine greer (who had long history of transphobic statements) speak on feminism @ lecture series hosted museum. group of transgender activists picketed greer s talk.

proposed museum content

starting in december 2010, controversy erupted on plans 2 permanent gallery spaces: jewish suffering during holocaust , injustices experienced aboriginal peoples in canada. organizations ukrainian canadian congress (ucc), canadians genocide education, german-canadian congress, ukrainian canadian civil liberties association (uccla) , thousands of other canadians have been protesting perceived elevation of suffering of 1 or 2 communities above others. experiences , issues of these other groups addressed thematically in remaining galleries. regard atrocities, other advocacy groups have chimed in protest perceived over-emphasis on holocaust.

angela cassie, museum s director of communications, responded recent criticism pointing out there misconception there being 2 permanent zones. there in fact 12 permanent zones, , holodomor have permanent display in mass atrocity zone, adjacent holocaust zone, cassie said. zone feature detailed information on holodomor , many other mass atrocities have taken place worldwide , provide educational opportunities visitors learn more these events.

according canadian jewish congress ceo bernie farber, events of holocaust require special focus, because redefined limits of human depravity , challenged foundation of our civilization. “the holocaust foundation our modern human rights legislation, , makes perfect sense holocaust should have permanent place in museum. makes sense plight of canada’s first nations should have prominent place in museum. makes no sense pitting 1 group of canadians against another,” said farber. holocaust zone, cassie has stated gallery anticipated include sufferings of “the roma, persons physical , mental disabilities, gay men, lesbians … among other communities.

in reply editor of national post, stuart murray, president , ceo of museum, gave statement on inclusivity of museum s planned galleries, following various protests appeared in media after december 2010. month later, murray s travel expenses @ cost of taxpayers, purportedly meetings related museum business, came under scrutiny. in 2013, clint curle, former curator of holocaust gallery , current head of stakeholder relations @ cmhr, interviewed catherine chatterley holocaust gallery, how cmhr defining holocaust, , general content of museum.

inclusion of holodomor , other atrocities

lubomyr luciuk, speaking uccla, suggested museum s 12 thematic galleries cover larger issues such canadian internment operations, including unwarranted detention of following: ukrainians , others during world war i; germans, italians , japanese during world war ii; , québécois in 1970 october crisis. topic, genocides, treated whole, whether atrocities occurred in europe, africa or asia, , include politically motivated crimes of communism fascism.

in december 2010, uccla started postcard campaign try persuade heritage minister james moore convene new advisory committee, objective of reevaluating proposed content of cmhr. following postcard campaign, luciuk stated publicly funded institution, canadian museum human rights should not elevate suffering of community above others. 1 of earlier postcards distributed uccla borrowed image of pig, representing joseph stalin in george orwell s allegorical novel animal farm , portray in favor of separate gallery devoted holocaust.

this imagery ill-received members of canadian jewish community, given implication elevating suffering during holocaust above other genocides equivalent stalinist operatives trying dominate farms of ukraine. university of manitoba s director of canadian institute study of antisemitism, catherine chatterley, criticized postcard campaign, stating demonstrated clear need museum, permanent holocaust gallery, , canadian institute study of antisemitism.

responding public concerns, member of parliament james bezan released statement imploring cmhr board of trustees apportion holodomor unique, autonomous , prominent place in cmhr , requested cmhr board [of trustees] contain respected members of ukrainian community knowledge of holodomor , other human rights violations. petition outlining grievances of ucc has been prepared submission parliament, entitled petition equity , fairness @ canadian museum human rights.

the ucc revealed tendering process undertaken canadian museum human rights has no intention of including permanent or prominent displays of holodomor or of canada’s first national internment operations, providing further evidence museum proceed on basis of discredited content advisory committee report. in july 2012, stuart murray signed memorandum of understanding victor didenko, ceo of national museum memorial holodomor victims , future collaboration regarding education holodomor.

after visiting cmhr, luciuk provided critical commentary, in stated building more mausoleum museum. endowment council of canadian first world war internment recognition fund released public statement; criticism said negative impact of canada s first national internment operations of 1914-1920 being downplayed @ cmhr. first , second world war internment operations not kept historically separate entities, while large-scale map projected in 1 of galleries neglected show locations of receiving stations internees held, in montreal, toronto (stanley barracks), niagara falls, sault ste marie , winnipeg.

exclusion of israel/palestinian conflict

some palestinian-canadians upset plans new museum, did not include exhibit story. opening comes closer, become more , more concerned lessons of palestinian experience, nobody’s going hear it, said rana abdulla. our story excellent story educate canadians human rights. how take museum if don’t hear palestinian story?

according united nations, arab-israeli war of 1948 displaced 750,000 palestinians. today, united nations relief , works agency (unrwa) reports descendants total 5 million around world. mohamed el rashidy, vice-president of canadian arab federation, said new museum have address , reflect palestinians have gone through , give them voice. can courageous when have kind of diversity [in canada] because have strength. shouldn’t fear stating inconvenient truths , facts history.

response of cmhr complaints of favouritism

several people have expressed dismay @ quarrel on square footage allotted given atrocity or human rights violation. while many ukrainians believe aggrandizing of holocaust has marginalized holodomor , dishonoured victims, has been argued there should less haggling on wronged group gets space in museum, , more concern on prevention of human rights abuses in future.

also, museum s own cassie has explained, purpose of museum not memorial suffering of different groups, learning experience visitors of ages. museum of ideas, not museum of past events. example, zone dedicated indigenous experience in canada part of broader context of introduction human rights, cassie said, , form basis zone exploring wider canadian experience of human rights, including internment of canadians of ukrainian , other origins during world wars. zone earmarked holocaust sets stage key zone exploring revolutionary 1948 universal declaration of human rights, drafted in direct response nazi atrocities.

to address concerns of canadian citizens how various human rights issues covered in museum, cassie provided more detailed explanation of actual process public consultation , corrected misconceptions may have been perpetrated media, particularly in relation gallery content. statement, clear holocaust in own gallery, holodomor given permanent place in mass atrocity zone, canadian internment operations featured, , human rights abuses towards aboriginals have place in indigenous rights gallery. cassie explained content advisory committee s mandate had expired in march 2010, , submitted recommendations constituted part of consultation process. first round of public consultations had begun in may 2009, completed in february 2010.

concerns on how holodomor, other ukrainian , ukrainian canadian issues, treated @ cmhr proved valid, described president of ukrainian canadian congress, paul grod, in 2013 speech in winnipeg. among other points, grod lamented how cmhr intends place minor exhibit holodomor in secondary gallery, located adjacent public toilets. toilets relocated adjacent corridor. nevertheless, depiction of holodomor limited , contains historical errors (e.g., map shows of ukraine whereas soviet ukrainians experienced genocide).