As we travelled BC for the Provincial Roundtables on Heritage meetings, we met with over 400 people who told us heritage has the great ability to bring people together, to share stories, to break down barriers, and to build community. We also heard that heritage must acknowledge the past, recognize truth, and seek reconciliation with First Nations and distinct cultures.
From inspiring collaborations with First Nations peoples to reimagined exhibitions telling new stories, our sector has made many strides toward achieving this vision. But many of the organizations that steward BC’s heritage are not representative of the diverse stories and the peoples who contribute to BC’s history and heritage.
Lasting comprehensive change will not be realized until we examine our sector and organizations. Heritage BC is helping with new initiatives, funding, and resources.