The Association of Manitoba Archaeologists is asking its members and the general public to join us in ensuring Manitoba’s heritage is given the highest priority at the site of the future Canadian Museum of Human Rights (CMHR) at the Forks. Recently some unfortunate actions have occurred, as we understand these include:

• Archaeological recovery procedures were changed in the spring/summer (more areas impacted, less mitigation), just prior to the current construction of the CMHR.
• The developers at the site will be digging the water and sewer lines through dense occupations rather than laying them underneath the ancient camp deposits as initially planned.
• No current monitoring by a Consultant Archaeologist to record and process the material culture being impacted.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              In response to this we ask that you use this letter, or write your own, but send it to the names provided below.

Dear

This letter has been written to highlight a possible crisis to our nation’s heritage. I am writing out of concern regarding the Canadian Museum of Human Rights. In particular how the archaeology has been given so little importance by the funders and proponents. I understand that this is due in part to the fact that the legislation and policies for archaeological sites is not particularly good in Canada and especially in Manitoba. This is appalling as the majority of archaeological sites in Manitoba the Forks included are sites that pre date the arrival of Europeans and as such they represent the ancestors of the Aboriginal peoples of this country. These sites are in fact aboriginal heritage and they need to be treated with the same degree of respect and care that non-aboriginal heritage sites are given.

As the birthplace of what would become the city at the centre of the continent, the area around the Forks is obviously of major cultural and historical significance to Winnipeg and our province. It is fitting that we should appreciate and enjoy this area as a meeting place where people from many diverse areas can come together to share ideas and resources, as they have indeed done for thousands of years.

The development of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights and of the interpretative centre proposed for the Upper Fort Garry site are positives steps in many ways, but it is important that their construction and any future development of the area proceed in a way that both enhances this unique place for future generations and preserves the rich archaeological and cultural heritage left by those who have gone before.

From all account, the excavations that took place in the summer and fall of 2008 clearly indicated that the Forks area is extremely rich in artifacts and materials and potentially unique in Canada and the world with respect to its archaeological significance. It is thus imperative that those who are in charge of preservation of this site take this responsibility seriously.

In the absence of federal guidelines concerning heritage sites, it becomes especially important that the provincial and municipal governments are fully committed to ensuring that development take place in a way that will adequately preserve the archaeological record and indeed utilize it as an integral component of the Forks area.

These are exciting times for the Forks and for Winnipeg and Manitoba, as a whole. I would encourage your office to consider carefully the challenges and responsibility that come with the changes that are occurring. Artifacts represent a direct link to people of the past. Disrespect of these materials is a lasting disrespect of the cultures both in the past and today that they represent. Make the discussions and process around decisions that are made concerning development as open and transparent as possibility, listen to all voices and ensure that this unique place can remain culturally rich and meaningful for many more generations to come and because the decisions being made today will affect future generations.

Sincerely,

Send to:

Arni Thorsteinson
Chair, Board of Trustees
Canadian Museum of Human Rights
c/o 1560-201 Portage Ave.
Winnipeg, MB
R3B 3K6

Eric Robinson
Minister of Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport
118 Legislative Building
450 Broadway
Winnipeg, MB R3C 0V8
mincht@leg.gov.mb.ca

James Moore
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6
moorej@parl.gc.ca

Gail Asper
Chair of the Friends of The Canadian Museum of Human Rights
1560 CanWest Global Place
201 Portage Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R3B 3K6