We’ve been booked to give this session next month for a historical house museum, and we’re pretty excited. We have delivered this training to several museums over the past few years to very positive results.
This is an advanced module, but very accessible. It includes slides, activities, videos, and worksheets, and ends with recommendations for next steps. Over an hour and a half, we’ll cover:
- Language and terminology – not just which ones to use, but how to think about phrases you read and write and say to be clear, empowering, and humble.
- Indigenous Ways of Knowing – there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to the diversity of Indigenous nations and ways of thinking and knowing, but we can provide some good tips for asking the right questions of your sources, paper or people.
- Partnerships & Relationships – Euro-Canadian approaches tend to privilege transactions rather than relationships. We can provide some tips on how to think about responsibly using Indigenous content and creating lasting relationships with the ultimate goal of fulfilling partnerships.
The outcomes for this session are:
- Attendees will feel more confident in navigating Indigenous historical subjects
- Attendees will feel prepared to approach Indigenous content interpretation with humility.
Tom is a Métis citizen, with family names including Desmarais and Favel, as well as a Certified Interpretive Trainer through NAI. Tom and Barbara have both had the privilege to work with Métis, First Nations, and Maori individuals and groups. We’ve made mistakes, we’ve listened, and we have gained permission to share what we’ve learned.
Consider booking us to deliver this session to your site! Whether its the start of your journey, or you just feel you could use some tips and talk over some ideas, this session is only $400 or $150 for non-profits.
HUMILITY & AUTHORITY: An Intro to Indigenous Content Interpretation for non-Indigenous Interpreters
Length: 1.5 hours. Audience: 3-15 persons. Deliver via: Zoom, Google Meets
Barbara and Tom (who is Métis) have been lucky enough to work extensively with First Nations, Métis, and Maori communities, including with Elders. A modern museum must by necessity engage with Indigenous communities, but while your relationship-building starts or continues, you and your interpreters can benefit from understanding how to start interacting with Indigenous source material and content in a respectful, humble way. We have worksheets, videos, and practical experience to share in getting your site ready to share stories respectfully and avoid appropriation.
North Wind Heritage Consulting 