Community Corridor

A space for community installations at the Museum

Tags for Community Corridor

Multi-coloured origami cranes strung together vertically and hung on a wall.

Photo: CMHR, Jamie Morneau

Event series details

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights invites community groups and individuals to apply to have their human rights‐inspired visual pieces displayed in the Community Corridor. This space provides a platform where community members can share their work and lead meaningful dialogue on human rights. Please note this location is a community display space, not gallery space.

How to Apply

In order to apply please complete the submission form.

Submission Guidelines

Submissions must meet certain criteria in order to be considered for display in the Community Corridor.

A visual piece may consist of several separate elements so long as the full piece does not exceed the following limitations:

  • Maximum height: 80 inches (203 cm)
  • Maximum length: 200 inches (508 cm)
  • Maximum individual weight for a single element: 50 pounds (22.7 kg)
  • Maximum combined weight: 250 pounds (113.4 kg)

Durability: The successful applicant’s visual piece will be placed in an open environment where the public will be in contact with the piece. All elements of the piece must be securely attached.

Applications Open

February 22, 2023

Applications Close

April 30, 2023

The work of the successful applicant will be displayed starting in August 2023.

Check out the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.

Current Installation

Awasisuk

A section of an orange jingle dress is shown. Jingles, or small silver cone-shaped pendants, are visible at the top of the image. Under them, seven human figures are shown, all in various colours and sizes. One of the figures is wearing an orange shirt. These human figures are holding hands inside a multicoloured tipi.

Awasisuk will be open to the public starting February 28, 2023, in the Community Corridor at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Project statement from Amanda Grieves,
Creator of Awasisuk

Awasisuk is about intergenerational healing and the process of moving forward to create not only a better future for ourselves but for our children as well.

Part of the inspiration for this piece is the “Every Child Matters” movement. When the news of discovering unmarked graves began to circulate, I saw a good deal of unhealed hurt and intergenerational trauma surface in many people in my community. This movement brought the truth to people across the world and with it an acknowledgement of the intergenerational trauma that residential schools and colonization have caused and continues to cause.

Through residential schools, children, including my parents, learned to suppress their emotions in order to keep themselves safe. This lesson was then passed on to me and my siblings. Whenever something difficult happened, we were told to keep our feelings to ourselves and stay strong for those around us, ultimately continuing this cycle of emotional suppression. Suppressing one’s feelings and lived experiences ultimately stops one from healing because if you can’t acknowledge what has happened to you, you can’t truly heal.

It was our Creator’s grace that carried me through my healing process, the same grace that carried my ancestors through. As part of my healing process, I continued to connect with my culture through dressmaking. This creative process helped me acknowledge the many beautiful parts of my culture. I hope to pass this beauty along to my children.

Awasisuk represents the healing journey and its importance, not only for ourselves but for the future generations as well. We can’t continue to hold onto the hurt of the past and our mistakes; we have to forgive ourselves and reach out for help when we need it. It is important to continue on this journey by being kind to yourself and releasing in a healthy way rather than becoming stuck dwelling on the grief and sorrow. By healing ourselves, we can move forward with good intentions for our children.

Awasisuk is sharing not only the difficult history of Indigenous people, but the resilience of our people and beauty of our culture as well.

Past Installations

Métis Memories of Residential Schools: A Testament to the Strength of the Métis

A graphic image of 24 mosaic tiles depicting Métis experiences in colonial schooling systems. Together the images show a red infinity symbol on a blue background.
Courtesy of Rupertsland Institute

From July 2022‐ January 2023 Métis Memories of Residential Schools A Testament to the Strength of the Métis was displayed in the Community Corridor. This project shares 24 impactful stories about this neglected chapter in Canadian history. It honours the unique experiences and impacts of Métis survivors and families in colonial schooling systems and showcases how to share authentic Métis community voices in an ethical and collaborative way. Métis Memories invites the viewer to engage in a deeper understanding of the injustices brought to all First Peoples in Canada.

New Beginnings

"New Beginnings" – Photos from immigrant and refugee youth on display at CMHR
Photo: CMHR, Jamie Morneau

From December 2021 to July 2022, New Beginnings was displayed in the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Organized by U SHINE Movement, the exhibit shared the experiences and dreams of immigrant and refugee youth through photographs. It was the result of a photography project called “Youth Lens” that took place from September 2020 to June 2021 with 72 young refugees and immigrants in Ottawa.

A Thousand Paper Cranes

Three men stand beside a colourful artwork made of one thousand folded paper cranes. Two of the men are wearing traditional Japanese clothing. The other man is wearing a jean shirt and bolo tie.
Photo: CMHR, Jamie Morneau

In 2021, the Japanese Cultural Association of Manitoba encouraged their members to fold paper cranes to show support for the children who died while attending Indian residential schools across Canada. By September 2021, they had received more than 6,500 colourful origami birds which they used to create five senbazuru (mobiles of 1,000 cranes) one of which was put on display at the Museum.

National Story Blanket

In 2018, the National Story Blanket was displayed in the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. This blanket represents the visions of Indigenous and non‐Indigenous youth for reconciliation and decolonization in their communities. In order to create this blanket, youth across Canada took part in the Youth Reconciliation Initiative leadership program with Canadian Roots Exchange, an organization that aims to build relationships of respect and cultural exchange between Indigenous and non‐Indigenous youth. Together, participants organized dialogue events aiming to meaningfully connect youth across Canada.


See more Programs

At the Museum, we celebrate inclusiveness, diversity and respect for others. We offer programs for people of all ages and abilities.

Still image from an animation showing human figures writing “welcome” in multiple languages in white and yellow on a purple wall.