The stage is set for the grand opening of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, but it’s not a happy occasion for one group who feel their rights have been violated.
Members of the Shoal Lake 40 First Nation have set up tents, built a teepee and made a fire in a demonstration to bring awareness they say the museum has overlooked about their sub-standard living conditions.
Chief Erwin Redsky says his community lost their rights when Canada expropriated their reserve land so that Winnipeg could have fresh, clean drinking water. He says Shoal Lake has been under a boil-water advisory for the last 17 years.
Shoal Lake isn’t the only community that says the museum isn’t properly portraying their issues. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress say the museum is over-emphasizing certain atrocities while not giving enough attention to others.
In response, the museum says they welcome the demonstrations, that they want the museum to act as a place that can bring awareness and that the inaugural exhibits are just the beginning and will expand over time.
