South Peace Regional Archives

By Liam Verster

Community

Grande Prairie Museum launches new exhibition “Archives At Work”

Oct 3, 2019 | 5:05 PM

The Grande Prairie Museum is celebrating the launch of a new exhibit called “Archives at Work.”

A celebration will be held on Friday, October 4, at the museum in coordination with the launch of the exhibit, and the beginning of Alberta Archives Week. The exhibition will remain on display at the museum until the end of the year.

Alyssa Currie, executive director of the South Peace Regional Archives, says they are showcasing how archival material has been put to work in the community. She says they are highlighting two partnerships in particular.

“One is a partnership with the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie. Just this year, they launched a really fantastic exhibition from their permanent collection, called “Pioneering Portraits.” That included material from Bert Tieman, a local businessman,and philanthropist and they actually used material from the archives both in researching the exhibition that they put together, and we actually put together a loan of material for them to use.

“We also showcase the partnership this year with the Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association. Every week on their social media they celebrate Throwback Thursday with a photo from the archive and looking at tourism and the community through the context of our community’s past.”

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The Peace Region Archives has also been used provincially, nationally and internationally. The website has been used by researchers from around the world, who have accessed photos, documents, and maps.

Currie says the “Archives at Work” exhibition is also focused on working towards reconciliation, with artifacts and the Indigenous History Committee’s work on display.

“The Truth and Reconciliation Commission had called upon local archives to research and make accessible material related to residential schools, and here at the archive, we’re taking that one step further. We’re doing a survey to identify all of our records related to Indigenous People, and make that accessible in a manner that’s culturally and socially respectful.”

She adds they are also running a blog called “Renaming the Past, Reclaiming their Stories.”

“The blog series that we have coming out is looking at often settler-produced archival records about Indigenous People, and giving Indigenous People in the community their opportunity to rename the past, identify photographs and material that’s more culturally appropriate for them, and working with the Indigenous History Committee to make sure all stories are represented.”

Along with the pieces in the exhibition, the museum will continue to show their other material, including work done by the transcription volunteers, and a photo from their magazine that just won a provincial award.

The museum launches the “Archives at Work” exhibition on Friday, October 4 with a reception event that’s free to attend. The reception runs from 3:30 to 5:30 pm and will offer complimentary refreshments to the attendees.