[BCMA] Jonathan Hunt House and Our Living Languages reopen to visitors

Tue Apr 2 11:56:34 PDT 2024

VICTORIA, BC — The Royal BC Museum is reopening two exhibits in the First
Peoples Gallery to visitors starting today. Jonathan Hunt House, a museum
installation and real ceremonial house, and a version of *Our Living
Languages, *an exhibit created in partnership with the First Peoples’
Cultural Council, have been updated and refreshed in advance of the
openings.

“The museum is honoured to once again open the doors to Jonathan Hunt House
and *Our Living Languages*,” says Tracey Drake, CEO of the Royal BC Museum.
“These spaces on the museum’s third floor share important Indigenous
stories and this work is a reflection of the museum’s continued commitment to
the *Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act *by delivering
unique experiences for British Columbians.”

The third floor of the museum originally closed to the public in January
2022, when work began to update and expand the cultural narratives of the
museum’s third floor galleries, which were originally created in the 1960s
and 1970s. Old Town reopened with a new approach in July 2023, and the
reopening of *Our Living Languages *and Jonathan Hunt House are the
first thoughtful
and collaborative steps towards fully reopening the First Peoples Gallery.

“The Jonathan Hunt House and *Our Living Languages *are integral to our
shared history, and we know people are excited to experience some of the
Indigenous languages of BC and the important ceremonial house of the late
Jonathan Hunt once again,” says Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts,
Culture and Sport. “It’s exciting to see the Royal BC Museum continue to
reopen exhibits that tell the stories of our province’s history.”

For the remaining areas of the First Peoples Gallery, including Totem Hall,
the museum has brought together representatives from First Nations and
Indigenous communities across the province to partner on the gallery’s
future. The committee currently consists of representatives from six of the
seven major First Nations language families in BC.

The museum is fully committed to ensuring significant thought and attention
is given, working alongside communities to reopen the gallery to the
public.

*About the Jonathan Hunt House*

This ceremonial house and museum installation allows visitors to enter a
recreation of the house of Chief Kwakwabalasami, the late Jonathan Hunt, a
Kwakwaka’wakw chief who was born and lived his life in the community of
Tsaxis, near Fort Rupert, BC.

To refresh the space, the museum brought in master carver and artist
Richard Hunt, Jonathan Hunt’s grandson, who helped his father with the
original installation in 1977.

“I have great memories of working at the Royal BC Museum because all I ever
wanted to do was work with my dad, Henry Hunt, and my wish came true,” says
Richard. “When I was made my dad’s assistant, he decided it was time for
him to leave because he had fulfilled a commitment he had with Mungo Martin
to always have a Kwaguilth carving at Thunderbird Park. It was great to be
back working at the museum and it was an honour to restore these family
treasures.”

With help from Jason Hunt, Richard’s nephew and grandson of the late chief,
this is the first time the space has been repainted since it first opened.
Included in the repainting are the house posts, chief seats, dance screen,
log drum and welcome figure.

*About Our Living Languages *

Developed in partnership with the First Peoples’ Cultural Council, *Our
Living Languages *shares the history of First Nations languages in BC, the
beauty and complexity of these languages, and the people working tirelessly
to document and revitalize them.

“*Our Living Languages *celebrates the incredible diversity of First
Nations languages in British Columbia and acknowledges the language
revitalization work of the First Peoples of this land,” says Tracey
Herbert, Chief Executive Officer with the First Peoples’ Cultural Council.
“BC is a global hotspot for language diversity, with over 50 per cent of
Canada’s Indigenous languages located here. The language data included in
the updated exhibit is a demonstration of the innovative work of the BC
First Nations language champions who are acknowledged in Canada and around
the world as leaders in community-based language revitalization models and
strategies. We invite visitors and people from BC to learn more about this
important work and the First Nations languages of this land.”

The exhibit, which was originally developed in consultation with First
Nations communities, first opened to the public in 2014 and was followed by
the creation of a number of smaller travelling exhibitions that began
touring the province in 2017.

The *Our Living Languages* exhibit has been redesigned in a new space and
features updated information about the resurgence of First Nations
languages in BC, including the addition of two languages that have recently
been recognized. These include pentl'atch, which has moved from a sleeping
to a living language, and Klallam, to bring the list of BC First Nations
languages to 36. Data has also been updated for all languages to reflect
the findings of the First Peoples’ Cultural Council’s 2022 *Report on the
Status of BC First Nations Languages*.

The First Peoples’ Cultural Council is a First Nations-led Crown
Corporation with the mandate to support the revitalization of First Nations
languages, arts, cultures and heritage in BC.

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*About the Royal BC Museum*: The Royal BC Museum explores the province’s
human history and natural history, advances new knowledge and understanding
of BC, and provides a dynamic forum for discussion and a place for
reflection. The museum and archives celebrate culture and history, telling
the stories of BC in ways that enlighten, stimulate and inspire. Located in
Victoria on the territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) peoples, known today
as the Songhees and Esquimalt nations, we are a hub of community
connections in BC—on-site, off-site and online—taking pride in our
collective histories.

For tickets to IMAX® Victoria and the Royal BC Museum, including combo
tickets for both attractions, visit: Tickets
<https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/plan-your-visit/buy-tickets>

Memberships are back! Pick yours up today: Membership
<https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/royal-bc-museum-membership>

For information about visiting the Royal BC Museum, visit: Plan Your Visit
<https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/plan-your-visit/visiting-us>

*Media contact*:

Amanda Richardson
Communications Specialist
250-208-8846
news at royalbcmuseum.bc.ca
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