Several textiles (2014.11.1 and 2014.1.5) featured in this exhibition were collected by Marie Dunn between 1971 and 1977 when she was a lecturer at the Department of Home Science, University of Ghana (Logon, Ghana). She taught courses in extension education and housing, organized field work experiences for students, and served as a counsellor in the women's residence as part of the Ghana-Guelph Project funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) (1,2).

Some of the textiles that Dunn brought back with her to Canada were purchased abroad, and some were gifts from Ghanaian acquaintances and colleagues in the 1990s. Dunn mentioned that she “returned to Ghana several times over the next 20 years” after her teaching appointment with the University of Ghana ended. (1)

Marie Dunn holds a Master's of Continuing Education degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Saskatchewan, and a Bachelor of Home Economics degree from the University of British Columbia. Over the course of her career, Dunn worked as an instructor, researcher, regional nutritionist, educational counsellor, and university librarian. Most of her work related to women’s issues, adult education, Indigenous issues, and international development. (2)

After her retirement from the University of Saskatchewan in 1991, Dunn continues to be active as a community and church member, supporting newcomers to Canada and helping them to thrive in Canadian society.