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Welcome - Canadian Museum for Human Rights

“In order to grow, we need to make room for the stories that happened in the past.”

Kapanaise Thiebault, Anishinaabe and Inuk Two-Spirit artist and witness for the Witness Blanket

A dark-haired Indigenous person wears long beaded earrings and an orange shirt that reads "Every Child Matters." They are speaking into a microphone and standing in front of a wooden artpiece that has many different coloured segments. Partially obscured.

Photo: CMHR, Annie Kierans

The Witness Blanket

Open September 20, 2024 — This exhibition highlights the truth about residential schools through the Stories and experiences of Survivors.

Discover Exhibition
A large, curved freestanding wooden wall on which is mounted numerous small objects arranged in diamond and rectangular patterns. There is an open door in the centre of the wall. Partially obscured.

Photo: CMHR, Aaron Cohen

Resource Guide - MMIWG

Learn more about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People epidemic in Canada and the U.S.

View Resource Guide
5 red dresses of different sizes and designs are displayed on mannequins.

CMHR, Aaron Cohen

Indigenous history and human rights

Discover the stories of Indigenous people and communities. Learn about Canada's history of colonialism and genocide. Reflect on how we can collectively work towards reconciliation.

View Stories
Close-up on a group of people wearing beaded jackets and vests performing on stage. In the centreer, a man wearing glasses, a hat, and a large, beaded medallion sings into a microphone.

Photo: The Canadian Press, Timothy Matwey

Plan your visit

Location

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Hours

Open Today:

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Admission

Adult General Admission:

$18

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Events

Chasing wrongs, defending rights

October 30, 2024

Cost: Free, registration required

Get Free Ticket Event details
In the Sri Lankan city Vavuniya in 2017, Elaine Pearson meets with Tamil mothers protesting the enforced disappearance of their children during Sri Lanka's civil war. Partially obscured.

One Land Two Hearts

November 17, 2024

Cost: Free, registration required

Register Event details
Tall spruce trees lean together against a night sky that is alive with greenish northern lights and stars. Partially obscured.

Annual Public Meeting 2024

November 19, 2024

Cost: Free; registration required in advance

Register Event details
Four individuals follow the path toward the Canadian Museum for Human Rights on a fall day. Three are on foot and one is in a wheelchair. Partially obscured.

Community Corridor: Gone too soon

June 4, 2024 to December 2024

Cost: This space is free to access.

Program details
Purple poppies made of paper with names and messages from community members and family of those who have died as a result of a poisoned drug supply. Partially obscured.
Upcoming Events

Stories

What Is Two‐Spirit? Part One: Origins

By Scott de Groot

Explore Story
A poster featuring large artwork depicting two faces in dramatic colours and patterns, with background imagery including hands, standing figures and geometric shapes. A large title at the top reads “The 10th Annual International Two Spirit Gathering” and text at the bottom reads “August 27-31, 1997. Onamia, Minnesota.” Partially obscured.

Black Lives Matter and the struggle for racial justice in Canada

By Debra Thompson

Explore Story
A large group of people holding signs with slogans such as “Black Lives Matter,” “Enough is Enough” and “Your Silence is Betrayal.” Partially obscured.

The intergenerational effects of displacement

By Damhat Zagros

Explore Story
Watercolour painting of a group of adults and children, their faces obscured, standing in a field. All the women’s heads are covered and most people are carrying backpacks and have things in their hands. Partially obscured.

Conserving the Witness Blanket

By Skylar Wall, Cindy Colford, Carolyn Sirett, Stephanie Chipilski and Carey Newman

Explore Story
Many pieces of wood and other materials arranged in interlocking and repeating geometric patterns. Partially obscured.
See All Stories

Exhibitions

Ododo Wa: Stories of Girls in War

October 2019 to March 2025

Exhibition details
A group of young women and girls in their teens stand together on the front porch of a building. Most are dressed in white blouses and blue skirts, with two girls also wearing blue sweaters. To the right, a doorway reveals a roomful of students sitting at wooden desks and writing on notepads. Partially obscured.

Climate Justice

June 2022 to December 2024

Exhibition details
A crowd of youth hold protest signs and stand behind a large banner that reads “La Terre Mère,” or “mother earth” in English. Partially obscured.
Discover All Exhibitions

Explore the Museum from home

Join Museum guides for virtual tours of our exhibits and architecture. Download our mobile app to check out the entire Museum, gallery by gallery. Discover our many special online experiences.

Start Exploring
A smiling woman with light skin is filmed on a cell phone. She is wearing a lanyard with the words “Be inspired” and standing in front of an exhibit element made of horizontal strips of wood, some decorated with Indigenous art. Partially obscured.

Photo: CMHR, Scott Gillam

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