Qaumajuq — Local services in Winnipeg

Yesterday was National Indigenous Day and I attended an event where I met the new WAG director earlier that day. She informed me that all the galleries and museums in our city are free to Indigenous people. Wearing my Indigenous regalia, I entered the Qaumajuq, where a short haired blonde Caucasian woman sitting at the admission counter asked for the admission fee. I informed her that I was Indigenous and eligible for free admission, but she blankly grimaced, and told me to try the second floor. I had never been in the building before and wandered around lost for ten minutes, missing the first half of the tour. Anyone who saw me that day could clearly see my regalia and that I was Indigenous. They should really hire Indigenous people instead of just ignorant folks that clearly have no idea what...

I was disappointed by my visit. There were numerous technical issues with the displays on the first and third floor. The video played choppy and the audio played over itself which was irritating and difficult to concentrate on. But the biggest regret is that much of the artwork was amateur and basic, and more befitting of a participation trophy, not a permanent exhibition of the best that Qaumajuq should be offering. The best pieces are in the vault, but unlike the weak offerings in the gallery, they are positioned mostly too high or awkward for the visitor to get close and enjoy. The digital system to view the vault collection is slow and unresponsive to touch and does not make up for the act of viewing with your own eyes....

Qaumajuq is an innovative new museum, home of the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art in the world. This first-of-its-kind centre connects to the WAG on all levels, creating a 185,000-square-foot cultural campus in the heart of downtown Winnipeg. Qaumajuq bridges Canada’s North and South through exhibitions, research, education, and art making. A community of artists, Indigenous advisors, partners, and stakeholders have collaborated to envision and build a vibrant gathering place where all are welcome and where everyone’s stories are told and heard in a true spirit of...