BCMF Community Researchers’ Empowering Visit to the Royal BC Museum

A powerful journey of discovery and relationship building unfolded as the BCMF community researchers accessed Pacific Northwest Catholic Oblate records on their visit to the Museum. Royal BC Museum archivist Elizabeth Bassett worked with the BC Métis Federation team, supported by a detailed research plan to access Catholic Oblate records and research evidence of Métis in the Pacific Northwest.

The team experienced the archive together, and after the first day, they invited Catholic archivist Carey Pallister and Royal BC archivist Elizabeth Bassett to dinner to strengthen their relationships. Researchers directly engaged with historical documents, uncovering connections to Métis’ lived experiences in the Pacific Northwest. The visit proved transformative. The team described it as “a dream come true coming to these archives!” and that “the connections coming from this are amazing!”

Director of Research Joe Desjarlais concluded, “Many thanks to the Royal BC Museum for ensuring a successful visit and to the Archdiocese of Vancouver for their support. Our focus is grounded in local communities. The basic idea is that research is really about relationships and kinship networks! We are empowering and equipping local Métis people in communities to do their own research, on their own behalf.”

Click here for more information on BCMF’s community researchers and their work.

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