Stop by and chat with conservation staff and students, explore hands-on models, and learn how MOA’s experts care for and preserve the remarkable belongings in the Museum’s collections. This is your chance to learn more about the work that happens behind-the-scenes at the Museum.

The pop-up table will be located in the Museum between the Elspeth McConnell Gallery of Northwest Coast Masterworks and the Audain Gallery.

Follow MOA Conservation + Collections on Instagram.

Bios

Telka Pesklevits is an undergraduate student in their final year of study in the Anthropology honours program at UBC. As a disabled student, health equity and disability resistance are prominent themes in all of the work they do. Telka is currently undertaking research at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, exploring the topics of museum conservation, public conservation as programming, and access in museum spaces.

Mauray Katherine Toutloff is a conservator at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. She holds an M.A.C. from Queen’s University (Ontario) and a B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Regina (Saskatchewan), and she has also studied art at the First Nations University of Canada. At MOA, Mauray’s work focuses on collaborative research in preventive and treatment-oriented conservation strategies. She co-teaches the conservation course in the Department of Anthropology and is actively engaged in sustainable museum practices and research. An advocate for sharing conservation knowledge, she contributes to public and educational programming. Since 2019, her research has centred on the investigation of pollutants in museum environments.

These special tours enrich your exhibition experience through a unique community lens that focuses on Indigenous culture, activism and identity. Nuxalk Strong: Dancing Down the Eyelashes of the Sun is a powerful exhibition of healing and sovereignty. Through this exhibition the Nuxalk Nation demonstrates their resurgence and return to Stl’mstaliwa—the full human experience. Nuxalk Strong illustrates how the Nation is bringing back ancestral governance, laws and protocols, revitalizing language, stewarding lands and waters, and awakening spirituality and ceremony by re-opening Nuslhiixwta, family treasure boxes that contain names, crests, songs, dances and regalia.

These 45-minute exhibition tours will give visitors the opportunity to engage with the themes and ideas of the exhibition, including complex identities, language revitalization, activism and Nuxalk sovereignity.

Capacity of 25 people per tour; first come, first served.

Schedule
Select Thursdays | 7 pm

August 28: Nuskmata–Jacinda Mack, Nuxalk and Secwepemc land defender, community organizer and researcher

September 25: Gerry Lawson, MOA’s Oral History + Language Lab Manager

October 30: Nunanta–Iris Siwallace, Nuxalk ancestral governance researcher

Bios

Nuskmata–Jacinda Mack is a Nuxalk and Secwepemc land defender, community organizer and researcher dedicated to supporting Indigenous lifeways, governance, and sovereignty, and musician. Photo by Georgie Lawson.

Ma̓la̓gius–Gerry Lawson is from the Haíɫzaqv Nation and currently manages the Oral History and Language Lab at the UBC Museum of Anthropology. With over 20 years in the field of Information Management and Heritage Digitization, he works to develop practical, scalable resources for Indigenous cultural heritage preservation, and to decolonize information practices. Gerry also acts as the Technology Lead for the UBC Indigitization Program, is the Board Chair for the First Peoples Cultural Foundation, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Indigenous Heritage Circle.

Nunanta–Iris Siwallace is a Nuxalk ancestral governance researcher and an elected councillor for the Nuxalk Nation. She is a lifelong environmental advocate who has dedicated her life to protecting the lands and waters of her ancestral territory. Nunanta is also an alkw (potlatch speaker) and an accomplished cedar bark weaver who creates ceremonial regalia.

To celebrate the Festival of Lights, participants will explore the question “what lights your path?”, contributing to a collective pathway of lights displayed in the museum. Learn how to make your own diya using airdry clay, and bring your lights home with you.

Limited supplies; first come, first served.

About Culture Club at MOA

Join MOA on the last Sunday of each month for Culture Club! Drop in and enjoy engaging art-making activities designed for families. This series offers young visitors artful learning opportunities, allowing families to get creative and connect with MOA’s diverse collections and exhibitions. See the full schedule.

Culture Club at MOA is made possible by the generous support of UBC Campus + Community Planning

How have Indigenous narratives helped Indigenous peoples cope with and confront climate change? What does it mean to see and story climate change not so much as a problem, but as a symptom?

Drawing on a century-plus of collective storytelling experience across multiple realms and locations, this seasoned panel will discuss how Indigenous narratives reframe and resist mainstream media’s preoccupation with extreme weather events to instead forefront what legacy newsrooms all but ignore: the colonial conditions, institutions and infrastructures surrounding these events.

Part of Beyond Fires & Floods (BFF), a larger weekend gathering of invited international Indigenous journalists, experts and storytellers, BFF will explore the ways Indigenous narratives work to engage what climate change means on Indigenous terms, and their capacity to both ready us for what’s coming, and help us navigate it once it’s here.

Panelists:

• Judi Kochon (Sahtú) has over 40 years of experience as a journalist, and is the Sahtú Language announcer and director of radio for CKLB in Yellowknife
• Paul Seesequasis (Willow Cree) is an author, editor, journalist, curator, and founder of the online Indigenous Archival Photo Project
• Tanya Talaga (Anishinaabe) is an award-winning journalist, author, filmmaker, and columnist for The Globe and Mail
• Mark Trahant (Shoshone-Bannock) has worked for more than 50 years as a journalist, columnist, and editor, most recently as editor-at-large for Indian Country Today

Moderator:

• Rick Harp (Cree) is a longtime journalist who has hosted/produced the Indigenous current affairs podcast MEDIA INDIGENA since 2016. He also hosts the APTN News Brief podcast.

The panel discussion is FREE and open to the public.
No RSVP required.

Co-convened by Prof. Candis Callison (SPPGA; CIS) and Rick Harp (MEDIA INDIGENA), BFF is sponsored by the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, Global Journalism Innovation Lab, School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and the Museum of Anthropology.

During her residency at MOA, Wei will be creating ceramic works in the Judy Cranmer Ceramics Laboratory (located in the Multiversity Galleries). Wei brings a wealth of experience to the residency and is passionate about using her time at MOA to explore her practice and engage with the collection.

This year’s residency takes a unique form, as Wei is joined by Jiangang Su, a calligrapher, and Janice Chan, a tea practitioner. The three are participating in a collaborative summer residency that brings together their respective practices to share ideas and explore potential synergies.

Bio

Wei Cheng, a visionary artist born and raised in China, now calls Vancouver her home and the heart of her artistic practice. Her journey into the world of art began at the Langara College and Emily Carr University of Art and Design, where she not only honed her skills but also developed a profound appreciation for the medium of ceramics.​ She has had the privilege of being a resident artist at several renowned centers, including the Yixing Pottery Centre in China, Shadbolt Art Centre, and the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. She has participated in both solo and group exhibitions on national and international stages, as well as in revered local spaces such as the Lipont Centre, Canton-Sardine Gallery, Jig Space and the Chinese Cultural Centre in Vancouver.​

Her work is known for its intricate detailing and thoughtful composition. ​At the core of Wei’s art is her fascination with the intricate, the found, and the ephemeral experiences of life. She skillfully combines found objects with fired clay to create unique constructs that challenge and intrigue. Her artistic repertoire also extends to the realms of performance and installation work, where she continues to explore and push the boundaries of traditional art forms. Visit Wei’s website for more information.

The Third Muse Project | 嘻遊记 is created by Wei Cheng (ceramicist), Su Jiangang (classic Chinese painter and calligrapher), and Janice Chan (ceramicist and tea master). Together, they have spent the last four months working alongside MOA’s ceramic collections and creating new works inspired by their research.

Their final project, “Listening to the whispers,” consists of ceramic works, calligraphy and performances which examine how tea-ware and related rituals have evolved over the centuries. The multidisciplinary team listens to the language of clay, ceremony and story. They respond to these whispers with a great shout of excellence on display in MOA’s Haida House as part of this showcase event.

Tea Sessions

Alongside the showcase, Janice Chan will offer intimate tea sessions for small groups. These gatherings create a quiet space to pause and experience tea with all the senses. Through simple acts of pouring, serving, and tasting, guests are invited to notice the subtle dialogue between vessel, water, and leaf for a moment of connection to nature, to one another, and to the present.

Tea session times: 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm

Bios

Wei Cheng, a visionary artist born and raised in China, now calls Vancouver her home and the heart of her artistic practice. ​At the core of Wei’s art is her fascination with the intricate, the found, and the ephemeral experiences of life. She skillfully combines found objects with fired clay to create unique constructs that challenge and intrigue. Follow Wei on Instagram.

Jan Chanoma is the Global Japanese Tea Association representative for Western Canada and Teakan’s Japanese tea specialist. Her passion for Japanese tea has led her to immerse herself in its rich culture, practicing Chanoyu with the Urasenke School and studying Senchadō under the Oubaku-Baisa Ryū. Follow Jan on Instagram.

Su Jiangang is a Vancouver- based classic Chinese painter & calligrapher known for his Gongbi paintings, various styles of calligraphy and seal cutting. He has been a close disciple of the renowned Master Gongda Yan since the age of thirteen. His works have been the focus of numerous exhibitions and charity events both in China and abroad. Follow Jiangang on Instagram.

Follow The Third Muse Project on Instagram.

In honour of Truth and Reconciliation Day, join us in watching short films and reading storybooks produced by acclaimed Indigenous storytellers. Participate in a foam relief printmaking activity, transferring quotes, ideas, and lessons that move you to action onto a fabric banner as a living, family commitment.

Limited supplies; first come, first served.

About Culture Club at MOA

Join MOA on the last Sunday of each month for Culture Club! Drop in and enjoy engaging art-making activities designed for families. This series offers young visitors artful learning opportunities, allowing families to get creative and connect with MOA’s diverse collections and exhibitions. See the full schedule.

Culture Club at MOA is made possible by the generous support of UBC Campus + Community Planning

Gather at MOA for a free talk by Dr. Hilmar Farid on decolonizing museums. Dr. Farid will discuss the repatriation of colonial collections from the Netherlands to Indonesia as a form of transitional justice and an attempt to make amends. Repatriation is not simply a matter of returning confiscated objects, but also a way of confronting the legacies of violence, inequalities, and epistemological injustices inherent in colonial collecting practices. By tracing recent negotiations and repatriations, Dr. Farid will show how restitution opens up a space to rewrite the nation’s history and restore voices that have been silenced.

Repatriation also reshapes collective memory: it challenges official narratives of “civilized” colonialism, restores the dignity of once dispossessed communities, and reintegrates cultural objects into the social life of postcolonial nations. Repatriation thus becomes part of a broader struggle to redefine national identity, not as a continuation of colonial hierarchies, but as a project rooted in historical justice. The Indonesia-Dutch case demonstrates how restitution can function as both an ethical practice and a political tool, providing lessons for global debates on decolonization, memory, and the future of museums.

Doors open at 1:30 pm.

Presented by the Centre for Southeast Asia Research and the Museum of Anthropology at UBC.

Bio

Dr. Hilmar Farid is Professor at the Jakarta Institute of Arts and was the Director-General of Culture of the Indonesian Government (2015-24), supervising the operations of the museums, archeological sites, and historical monuments in the country. He was responsible for the repatriation of stolen artefacts from museums in the Netherlands. He runs a popular podcast on YouTube with the title JalinTalks, interviewing film stars, artists, musicians, and intellectuals. 

This ancient Persian festival for Mithra (Mehr), (Persian: مهرگان) or Jashn-e Mehr (جشن مهر lit. Mithra Festival), leads up to the autumn equinox and fall harvest celebrations. The event will feature a special Persian musical performance by the Kereshmeh Ensemble.

Persian refreshments will be provided.

Schedule
Doors at 7:15 pm
Concert at 7:30 pm

Presented in partnership with UBC Campus and Community Planning’s Harvest Feastival, a family-style feast followed by an evening of specially-curated programming at UBC’s world-class Arts and Culture District.

This event is sponsored by Noosh Gin and Art of Lines MD.

Bio

The Kereshmeh Ensemble is a Vancouver-based Persian classical music group founded in 2006. The original lineup includes Alborz Rahmani on tar, Sohrab Saebnia on santour, Sina Ettehad on kamancheh, and Ramin Bahrami on tonbak. The ensemble is dedicated to bridging Eastern and Western musical traditions, blending traditional Persian instrumentation with contemporary influences.

Active across Canada’s music scene, the Kereshmeh Ensemble has performed in numerous concerts nationwide. Notably, in 2010, they collaborated with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra at the Chan Centre in a concert that fused Persian classical music with Western orchestral elements. Through its performances and collaborations, the Kereshmeh Ensemble continues to foster cultural dialogue and deepen appreciation for Persian classical music within Canada’s diverse artistic landscape.

Vocal: Banafsheh Farahmand
Tar: Alborz Rahmani
Qaychak bass: Hamed Afshari
Santoor: Sohrab Saeb
Kamancheh: Sina Ettehad
Tombak: Bijan Rahmani

This workshop is one of many happening across the country sponsored by the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery’s national project Remembrance Every Day, which commemorates 80 years since the end of WWII.

In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn how to create ceramic poppies using hand-building, carving and colouring methods. All completed poppies will be featured in a special installation at Wei Cheng’s Vancouver studio from mid-October to mid-November.

Beginning November 12, these poppies will be available to the public in exchange for donations, with 100% of proceeds going directly to local Legion Branches in support of veterans. This project offers not only a meaningful way to contribute to a charitable cause, but also a warm, welcoming space for MOA visitors to connect, relax and enjoy making art together.

Come join us for a fun, casual, and creative experience with a lasting impact.

Capacity is limited; first come, first served.

Bio

Wei Cheng, a visionary artist born and raised in China, now calls Vancouver her home and the heart of her artistic practice. ​At the core of Wei’s art is her fascination with the intricate, the found, and the ephemeral experiences of life. She skillfully combines found objects with fired clay to create unique constructs that challenge and intrigue. Follow Wei on Instagram.