Bow Valley - 2015 to present

Dawn’s role at The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies supports projects, event and staff to continue to strengthen Indigenous relationships through action-inspired dialogue. We partner with organizations and identify with Indigenous community members activities, programs and events they would like to lead and participate in. We actively invite Indigenous community members connected to the museum collections and the Bow Valley to share stories about the living object and archival collections. These consultations celebrate the stories about how items were made, who made them, as well as continuing to identify relatives in photographs, films, and sound recordings. Events that she has developed and coordinated with staff and community include:

National Indigenous Peoples Day in Banff at the Whyte Museum on June 21 and September 30 Truth and Reconciliation day events. Dawn invites and encourages numerous Indigenous community members and artists to present. Talks include event with artist Angus Cockney about his residential school experience, his art practice and hopes for the future, Goota Desmarais about Inuit language and culture and Sara Agaton Howes with Ben Gessner who spoke about the Minnesota Historical Society’s Indigenous Artist in Residence program.

While working in the Town of Canmore Arts and Events department, Dawn started the  National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations with a parade, dancing and singing.  She would co-ordinate Indigenous dancing and drumming during Winter Carnival festivities. Part of the role was to also program the Three Sisters Gallery at Elevation Place and co-ordinate the popular Peecha Kucha nights. 

Honoring the Treaty 7 flag for National Indigenous Peoples Day