Okanagan Heritage Museum
Hours
| Monday | 10:00am – 5:00pm |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 10:00am – 5:00pm |
| Friday | 10:00am – 5:00pm |
| Saturday | 10:00am – 5:00pm |
| Sunday | 11:00am – 4:00pm |
Special Hours
| Monday, October 14 | 11:00am – 4:00pm |
ADMISSION
Admission is by donation.
Suggested donation $10 per person/$25 per family
Our Living Languages
First People’s Voices in British Columbia
September 19, 2020 to January 31, 2021
“Our language is a gift to us from those who have gone before”
— Sharon Shadow, Champagne and Aishihik First Nations
Our Living Languages is a travelling exhibition from the Royal BC Museum in Victoria. Visitors will learn about the loss and revitalization of First Languages, and success stories of the language champions that are working to learn, teach and preserve our province’s Indigenous languages to share with future generations.
Visitors will witness the resilience of the languages and culture of BC’s First People and explore the deeper connections that language provides its users to their culture and way of seeing the world. Explore a language map of BC and learn how linguists develop orthographies (writing) for languages that were traditionally never written down. Hear stories told by speakers in a multitude of languages and learn something new! In partnership with the Sncəwips Heritage Museum and The Syilx Language House, the Kelowna Museums Society has added additional content to the exhibition to highlight nsyilxcən ̶ the syilx/Okanagan language. Stop by for a visit and practice a traditional nsyilxcən greeting!
Did you know that British Columbia has 34 distinct Indigenous languages? That’s more than 60% of all of Canada’s First Nations languages! Unfortunately, as a result of over 150 years of government policies designed to eradicate them, every one of BC’s First Nations Languages are severely endangered or nearly extinct. Visit our newest exhibit to discover the incredible diversity of First Nations languages in BC and the groundbreaking work underway to keep them alive.
Our Living Languages
Produced by the Royal BC Museum
In partnership with the First Peoples’ Cultural Council
Supported by the Government of Canada
Kelowna Museums Society would like to thank our community and institutional partners and supporters:
For more information
Contact Amanda Snyder, Curatorial Manager at [email protected] / 250.763.2417 ext 29
Additional Programs & Services
Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame
The Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame celebrates the athletes, coaches, and builders whose accomplishments have made them a part of history in the Central Okanagan.
Kelowna Public Archives
The Kelowna Public Archives, located at the Okanagan Heritage Museum, is a historical resource centre where public records and historical documents are kept and preserved for informational and research use.
Ursula Surtees Regional Conservation Laboratory
A state-of-the-art Conservation Laboratory offering a variety of conservation services to the public, such as repairs, cleaning and polishing, mounting and protective enclosures.
Upcoming Events & Workshops
nakulamen (What We Do): Indigenous Plants and Herbal Balms
Participants will learn about plants and medicine, sample herbal balms, and make their own to take home. Plant samples have been respectfully collected on the land by syilx Knowledge Carriers.
Learning a Language: nsyilxcen for Everyone Level 1
Would you like to greet students or visitors in nsyilxcən? Would you like to master some basic vocabulary, and gain a deeper understanding of syilx culture and connection to place? This workshop will give participants a start on pronunciation, greetings and language meaning. This class is for everyone, regardless of heritage.
Let’s Get Batty!
Join us on October 27 from 1:30 to 3:00 PM for a spooktacular family-friendly event! Come dressed in your favorite costume (or bat costume!) and enjoy a fun-filled afternoon with activities, a photo booth, and plenty of ways to learn about our local bat friends as we...