Fort Smith museum could come under broader Thebacha ownership

The ownership of Fort Smith’s Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre could soon transfer to the four governments in the area.

Those governments have been trying to work more closely together since a memorandum of agreement was signed last year between the Salt River First Nation, Smith’s Landing First Nation, Fort Smith Métis Council and Town of Fort Smith. 

Former NWT minister Michael Miltenberger, now an advisor with Winnipeg-based nonprofit the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources, said that agreement is enabling leaders to focus on what is important for the community as a whole.

At a town council meeting earlier this month, Miltenberger said each of the four governments has expressed an interest in a 25-percent share of the museum.

He believes moving to that form of ownership will push the Thebacha Leadership Council – as the group of governments is now known – forward in its work to revitalize the economy, while addressing outstanding issues tied to heritage, culture and Indigenous history.

“This museum, I would submit to you, is one of the most important institutions we have, and it can flourish in ways right now we don’t even really fully recognize,” Miltenberger told councillors.

“Once there’s resources, and there’s a home, and there’s political oversight by the governments, then the museum will finally be where it’s supposed to be.”

Miltenberger said the proposed ownership transfer would also create federal funding opportunities. As an example, he pointed to the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation’s receipt of $25 million from the Canadian government to build a heritage centre in Dawson City, Yukon.

Noting financial concerns the museum faces, curator Isaiah Wiltzen said the three people currently managing more than 17,000 artifacts find it difficult to properly care for them all.

Under a tight budget, he said, the museum is “watching artifacts slowly decay and our history being lost.”

“It’s a slippery slope that’s dangerous because we all want to preserve and ensure that we can share our stories, share the Indigenous stories that otherwise would be lost if the museum were to go under,” Wiltzen said.

The museum had religious origins in the 1950s. In 1972, Miltenberger said, an agreement between a local church and the newly founded Northern Anthropological and Cultural Society stated the church would have first refusal on any museum artifacts to be sold.

The society still runs the museum and the non-profit’s board of governors controls its affairs. According to the museum’s website, the board already has one member from each Thebacha Leadership Council organization alongside other groups like the NWT government, South Slave Divisional Education Council, the local schools and the Missionary Oblate.

“All we’re changing is we’re recognizing the ownership [is] going to now be with the four governments, and the Northern Anthropological Society will probably get renamed to reflect the change,” Miltenberger said.

Cabin Radio could not reach the Salt River First Nation, Smith’s Landing First Nation or Fort Smith Métis Council for comment prior to publication.

Town councillors are expected to discuss the proposal at a later date.

After this article was first published, Thebacha Leadership Council coordinator Mike Couvrette said the governments were “hoping at some time in the near future to come to an agreement in principle on next steps.”