The Dialogic Museum and Ethnocultural Diversity‪.‬

This paper evolved from a presentation I made on ethnocultural diversity and museology under the auspices of the Association of Manitoba Museums. It offers reflections of a largely theoretical and philosophical nature on the relevance and importance of interpreting museum exhibit development as a collaborative enterprise--as a dialogue between the museum and the community--and to tie this specifically to the issue of how museums must ensure broad ethnocultural representation in the framing and implementation of initiatives. The foundation of this construct is the belief that the creation and dissemination of knowledge, especially that which sheds light on a dimension or dimensions of the human condition, cannot be carried out in isolation but should be designed to raise social and historical consciousness. Dialogue is thus an integral aspect of a humanist approach to cultural and educational development that serves as an instrument of empowerment and liberation. My use of the word dialogue draws from Brazilian educator and social and political activist Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1999). For him, dialogue consists of reflection and action. It is the ability of individuals to come together and arrive at an understanding of society--at the varieties of human experiences (class, ethnocultural, gender, etc.) that define said society and how these are products of history. Reflection is inseparable from action. On their own, they constitute hollow exercises devoid of any significant meaning and influence. It is the unity of reflection and action which causes social change as addressing and opposing inequalities based on class, gender, or race. It is the unity of reflection and action that is central to the articulation and promotion of the importance of ethnocultural diversity as a determining factor in defining Canadian civil and political society. The principles implied within the context of reflection and action include learning as a co-operative venture, sharing information on life experiences, and developing common strategies to create cultural initiatives and social programs that reflect multivocal and multicultural expressions of Canadian society.