Royal BC Museum navigates large reset after building cancellation
The Royal BC Museum in Victoria is a treasure trove of historic objects made by First Nations in British Columbia. From Totem Poles to House Frons and Masks, the museum’s collections are a testament to the rich indigenous culture of the province. However, recent challenges have prompted the museum to undergo a major reset to better showcase these valuable assets.
In 2022, a construction project worth $789 million was cancelled, leading to various missteps in plans to “decolonize” the museum’s collections. Despite these setbacks, the museum remains popular with visitors, welcoming over 600,000 people in 2024-25. As part of the reset, the museum is working on creating new displays of indigenous assets with the permission of First Nations. Additionally, a new research and storage facility is being built in the suburbs to provide better access to the public.
The provincial government has also stepped in to address infrastructure problems at the museum, including seismic issues and asbestos. The museum had previously closed its BC history view and First Peoples gallery in preparation for rebuilding, but has since reopened the Old Town History Gallery with updated signage. However, there is no timeline for reopening the First Nations Gallery as extensive consultation with indigenous communities is required to ensure all displays have their approval.
The museum’s curator of indigenous collections, Kevin Brownlee, emphasized the importance of moving at the pace of the community when it comes to repatriation of indigenous assets. The museum has been involved in several high-profile repatriation cases, including the return of objects to the Gitxaala Nation and the Nuxalk Pole to Bella Coola.
Despite past accusations of racism within the institution, recent increase in visits and repatriation claims suggest growing trust from First Nations. The museum’s intentional and slow work in reconsidering indigenous displays led by the community is seen as beneficial for building stronger relationships.
On the horizon is the new Parc campus, which will offer much-needed storage for the museum’s seven million artifacts, including over 300,000 indigenous archaeological objects. The campus, designed by Michael Green Architecture, will provide public spaces where visitors can observe curators and researchers at work.
As the museum looks towards the future, there is a recognition of the need for a new provincial museum to properly showcase and preserve British Columbia’s rich indigenous heritage.
