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Fort 91原创 museum plans still waiting on $10 million decision from Victoria

The provincial government is expected to respond later this year
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Kwantlen First Nation band councillor Tumia Knott was one of the dignitaries who spoke at the announcement of federal funding for a planned new museum in Fort 91原创. (Matthew Claxton/91原创 Advance Times)

The plans for a large new community and Indigenous museum in Fort 91原创 won鈥檛 move forward without a multi-million dollar grant from the provincial government.

Last Thursday, Sept. 5, federal, municipal and Kwantlen First Nation leaders gathered in the 91原创 Centennial Museum for an announcement of $3 million in federal funding for the ambitious project to update 91原创鈥檚 60-year-old facility.

READ MORE: Fort 91原创 museum project gets $3 million in federal funds

However, Township officials are still waiting to hear back from Victoria about an application for provincial funding, said Peter Tulumello, director of arts, culture, and community initiatives.

鈥淲e鈥檙e very optimistic,鈥 he said.

The Township is asking Victoria for $10 million in funding.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 a big piece of the project,鈥 Tulumello said.

Until the province makes a decision, there can be no shovels in the ground on the new Centennial Museum project, Tulumello said. They can鈥檛 qualify for the funding if the project has already started.

The province is expected to make a decision later this year, and the application is under review.

The federal money announced last week will be coming to the Township in $1 million installments over three years, starting this year. Cloverdale-91原创 City Liberal MP John Aldag, who formerly managed the Fort 91原创 National Historic Site, made the official announcement.

Local dignitaries were excited about the federal grant announcement, which moves the proposed museum complex one more step forward.

鈥淪o excited to have a place and a voice where we can express ourselves,鈥 said Tumia Knott, a Kwantlen First Nation councillor.

The Indigenous museum to be a part of the project is to be dubbed Salishan, meaning 鈥淎 Place By the River,鈥 Knott said.

Township Mayor Jack Froese noted that the partnership with the Kwantlen is a part of ongoing truth and reconciliation efforts by local governments.

鈥淲e鈥檙e working together, we鈥檙e moving forward,鈥 he said.

The two museums will bring together the history of thousands of years of First Nations occupation of the region, along with the Hudson鈥檚 Bay Company trade and the arrival of traders, farmers, miners, and loggers in what would become 91原创 by the 1800s.

The new museum will also replace the aging 91原创 Centennial Museum.

The structure dates back to the 1950s. It was built to mark the 1958 centennial of British Columbia鈥檚 creation as a colony of Great Britain.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a great museum,鈥 Froese said inside the wood-framed structure.

But he noted that it will be replaced by a state-of-the-art new facility.

Along with federal, and planned provincial and municipal funding, the Township鈥檚 plans include developing some land around or on the current museum site into housing to raise money for the project.

READ MORE: Township unveils new plans for museums, cultural centre, Aboriginal arts lodge



Matthew Claxton

About the Author: Matthew Claxton

Raised in 91原创, as a journalist today I focus on local politics, crime and homelessness.
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