[BCMA] Grand Opening for Our Bones are Made of Salmon

Wed Jun 27 13:43:09 PDT 2012

Media Release 

For Immediate Release

June 27, 2012

A Grand Opening for the Fraser River Discovery Centre

New Westminster, BC - After two years of work in the creation of Our Bones are Made of Salmon, the Fraser River Discovery Centre unveiled its newest exhibit with a traditional Coast Salish Ceremony on Saturday.  Enjoying the festivities which included drumming, songs, dancing, and samples of wind-dried salmon and bannock, the gathered crowd experienced aboriginal traditions and the protocols of a honouring ceremony.

Designed around the memories and experiences of Musqueam Elder Larry Grant and Stó:lō Cultural Advisor Dr. Sonny McHalsie, Our Bones are Made of Salmon celebrates the enduring traditions of Aboriginal salmon fishing and wind-drying in the Fraser Canyon.  Through a storytelling video that shares their stories and replicas of Aboriginal salmon fishing tools, visitors learn about the different fishing and preservation techniques and why salmon fishing is vital to Aboriginal communities today. 

Earlier this month, The Discovery Centre unveiled the accompanying education program by offering 16 pilot programs to local grade 4 classes. The education program includes a salmon stories film and two hands-on stations where students explore Aboriginal fishing technology and learn how to wind-dry salmon. Teachers’ evaluations were all positive with one teacher writing, “It’s a great way to impart information about BC Coastal First Nations culture and technology…The program makes Aboriginal fishing come to life”.

Our Bones are Made of Salmon was developed in partnership with Musqueam Elder Larry Grant, Stó:lō Cultural Advisor Dr. Sonny McHalsie, and New Westminster school district Aboriginal Education Coordinator, Bertha Lansdowne. The development of this exhibit and accompanying educational program was made possible with funding from the Museums Assistance Program Department of Canadian Heritage, the City of New Westminster Heritage Grant Program, the Province of BC, and the Hamber Foundation.

The Fraser River Discovery Centre is an interpretive centre connecting communities in the discovery and celebration of the living, working Fraser River. Located along the Westminster boardwalk at 788 Quayside Drive, New Westminster, the Discovery Centre is open 10:00am to 6:00pm, 7-days a week throughout the summer. Admission to the galleries is by donation.  For further information visit our website at www.fraserriverdiscovery.org or call 604-521-8401.

-30-

Photographs:

#1 – Advisory Committee being honoured for their help throughout the project.

#2 – Dr. Sonny McHalsie and family in front of the drying rack that they built for the exhibit.

#4 - Ts’i:eytesh Josette Jim from the Whonnock Tribe performing the “first salmon” dance.

#5 – Francis James, Stó:lō performing the welcoming song.

For more information please contact:

Fraser River Discovery Centre

Cindy Sale, Communications & Events Coordinator

E:  <mailto:csale at fraserriverdiscovery.org> csale at fraserriverdiscovery.org ; T: 604-521-8401 x 103

Fraser River Discovery Centre

788 Quayside Drive | New Westminster BC | V3M 6Z6

P: 604.521.8401 x 103 | F: 604.521.9401

W: fraserriverdiscovery.org

Visit...Like...Share at  <http://www.facebook.com/FraserRiverDiscoveryCentre> http://www.facebook.com/FraserRiverDiscoveryCentre

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