Photo Courtesy of MBC Media
The doors opened for the first time at the new Northumberland County Archives and Museum (NCAM) on Friday, September 18, at its brand-new building at 590 Courthouse Rd. The museum previously occupied a small space inside the Cobourg Public Library before moving to its new location.
Among the latest additions to the museum is an immersive exhibit which invites visitors to walk through a virtual forest, where they encounter various forms of digitally generated wildlife, each representing a specific facet of Indigenous beliefs and ways of life.
Katie Kennedy is the curator at the new facility, and she says the first step in the conceptual process was listening.
Every aspect of the project was discussed with the Indigenous Advisory Circle in order to create and maintain a truly authentic approach to the exhibit, which Kennedy says is critical.
When walking through the exhibit, visitors will notice there are no panels with written descriptions of what they are seeing. This is due to the fact that the language was traditionally spoken and was never written down.
As you stand for a moment in the midst of the beautiful forest scene, a digital avatar will magically appear and speak to you in their language, describing the significance of what you are seeing. It is a truly unique approach to storytelling.
Kennedy says the concept was first developed as far back as 2019, with the first design and planning meeting held in early 2020.
A large part of the reasoning behind the expansion from the library to the new space was the fact that all seven municipalities are now represented. The new facility was also designed to the highest museum standards, which Kennedy says is an important consideration.
The open house continues Saturday from 10AM until 4PM then the museum is open free of charge Wednesdays through Fridays from 10AM to 4PM. Tuesdays are closed to the public to accommodate school tours.
(Written By: Richard Evans)
