Purpose: Redefining pioneer representations as they are presented in the museum
Materials Needed:
● flip-chart paper
● pens, pencils, or fine-tip markers
● tables
● chairs
Set-up: Provide each small group with a piece of flip-chart paper and a marker.
*Before doing this activity, complete the Explore the Museum Activity
Found Poem created during an arts-based workshop at the Wadey Centre, Blackfalds.
Directions:
Have participants consider their definition of pioneer and their cue cards. Allow them to have a small group discussion (~5 minutes) about some of the areas they see for potential to unsettle the narrative.
Ask participants to use ideas from their first definition and their cue cards to rewrite their definition of pioneer from the perspective of their museum.
They will write their definition in the form of a poem.
Encourage them to use words from their definition and their cue cards as building blocks in their poem
Ask them to begin the poem with the following line: At the [name of the museum] pioneer means…
Have each group share their poem out loud
These poems can be a foundation to lead into the Critical Conversations Activity.
Concluding Questions:
What can pioneer mean at our museum?
What are some of the barriers that we experience to expanding our representation of pioneer?
Are there any actionable areas that are already in motion to develop counter-narratives alongside our existing narratives?
Where do we feel comfortable starting this work?