Ten reasons to visit the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR): 1) A journey of inspiration 2) Amazing architecture – the most beautiful building in Canada! 3) A unique museum experience using the latest technology and the oldest forms of storytelling 4) A global hub of human rights education 5) A national historic site at The Forks of two rivers: a meeting place for thousands of years. 6) Dynamic tour guides and hosts 7) Part of the remarkable “renaissance” of new tourism development in Winnipeg 8) A uniquely Canadian perspective on human rights 9) Inclusive design that makes the building and exhibits fully accessible for visitors of all abilities 10) Fully bilingual in English and French – located directly beside the city’s French quarter (St. Boniface) Ten fascinating objects in the CMHR: 1) A 750-­‐year-­‐old intact footprint unearthed during a 2008 onsite archaeological dig 2) Two pages of the original draft of the 1947 Universal Declaration of Human Rights handwritten by Canadian John Peters Humphrey. 3) Suitcases of Japanese Canadians interred in camps during the Second World War 4) Barbed wire from a Nazi concentration camp 5) The Bentwood Box: Carved from a single piece of red cedar that was steamed and bent, this box accompanied the Truth and Reconciliation Commission at hearings about the tragic legacy of Canada’s Indian Residential School system 6) A red prom dress worn to the first integrated prom for students in Wilcox, Georgia in 2013 7) The Academy Award Oscar won by Buffy Sainte-­‐Marie for her song “Up Where We Belong” 8) A flak jacket worn during the Rwandan Genocide by Canadian general Romeo Delaire 9) Iron manacles worn by enslaved people in the United States 10) The original and precious Proclamation of the Constitution Act of 1982, signed by Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to enshrine Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms Ten unforgettable moments in the CMHR: 1) Resting in the gorgeous Stuart Clark Garden of Contemplation amid basalt rock and pools of water 2) Drinking in the panoramic city view from the Israel Asper Tower of Hope 3) Merging with a 360-­‐degree film experience told from the perspective of Indigenous Peoples 4) Playing the “Lights of Inclusion” floor game with colourful overhead spotlights 5) Walking along glowing alabaster ramps that criss-­‐cross from ground to sky 6) Entering the “broken glass” theatre in Examining the Holocaust gallery 7) Looking up to an awesome view of unusual geometry from inside the main entrance 8) Standing on the Level 5 terrace beneath the light and shadow of the glass cloud 9) Sharing the room with life-­‐sized images of human rights giants: the honorary Canadians 10) Leaving your message on an “Imagine” card in the final gallery to inspire others Ten awesome architectural features of the CMHR: Antoine Predock, design architect 1) The glass cloud: Covering the southwest aspect of the museum, the cloud is made of 1,300 panes of glass that resemble the wings of a dove embracing the building 2) The roots: Clad in 400-­‐million-­‐year-­‐old limestone, four roots anchor the building to Mother Earth and symbolize humanity’s connection to the land 3) The mountain: The north aspect of the building rises like a limestone mountain, housing its galleries in strength and protection 4) The tower: Rising 100 metres above the ground like an icy mountain cap, the Tower of Hope glows like a beacon to all. A viewing platform provides a breathtaking panorama of the Prairie city 5) The landscaping: The grounds are seeded with 15 species of native Prairie grasses, the largest urban installation of natural vegetation in Western Canada 6) The basalt: The interior Stuart Clark Garden of Contemplation is built entirely of basalt rock, standing in columns around pools of water, inspired by the Giant’s Causeway of Northern Ireland 7) The alabaster ramps: 800 metres of glowing rampways connect criss-­‐cross at unusual angles from ground to upper level. They form a literal path of light through the darkness 8) The terraces: the Museum features seven uniquely shaped terraces (outdoor and indoor) that provide visitors with views through the glass cloud and surrounding spaces 9) The ground floor: The concrete floor at ground level has been tinted red and striated with cracks to simulate walking on the dried clay mud of the Red River banks 10) The spiral staircase: Visitors to the tower can ascend a grand spiral staircase looping high above the open museum space below. Vertigo warning! Ten amazing hi-­‐tech interactions in the CMHR: 1) The circular basket theatre: A 360-­‐degree theatre experience that plays an original film curated by Indigenous Peoples about their perspectives on rights and responsibilities 2) Standing digital books: Visitors point at tall floor-­‐mounted monitors to watch video stories about human rights activism 3) “It’s your choice” interactive table game: A youthful digital exhibit activated by the shadows of visitors hands passing over its surface. How do everyday choices impact human rights? 4) The “Lights of Inclusion” floor game: Motion-­‐tracking technology activates colourful spotlights that shine on each person. Facilitates discussion about inclusion and connection 5) The Welcome Projection: projected silhouettes of diverse people write “welcome” in 36 languages, including 12 Indigenous languages, across a huge wall 6) Unique mobile app: Includes a self-­‐guided audio tour and information from the largest installation of iBeacons in the world, plus an interactive visitor “mood meter” 7) Digital canvas: Six different silent films play across an enormous 95-­‐foot canvas in the Canadian Journeys gallery 8) Immersive multi-­‐media experience: Video “hologram” people share their views on human rights while objects positioned behind a giant screen appear and disappear 9) “Rights in the Courts” interactive circle. Human rights legal cases are replayed on video screens while participants vote to share their views and deliver their own verdicts 10) Interactive study table about breaking silence on genocide and mass atrocity. A huge light table, with room for 20 people, includes text and images about 16 atrocities from around the world Ten family favourites in the CMHR: 1) An interactive table game in the youth-­‐oriented Actions Count gallery 2) The circular theatre in Indigenous Perspectives 3) The “Lights of Inclusion” floor game played with colourful spotlight 4) An exhibit made from an array of suspended everyday objects 5) Music listening stations 6) A ride up the glass elevators into the Israel Asper Tower of Hope 7) The criss-­‐crossing network of glowing alabaster ramps 8) A mobile app with a self-­‐guided audio tour, images and video 9) A wall projection of figures writing “welcome” in 36 languages 10) Creating personal messages of inspiration on “Imagine” cards in the final gallery Ten inspiring works of art in the CMHR: 1) “Trace” – a 30-­‐foot original work by pre-­‐eminent Canadian artist Rebecca Belmore. It consists of 14,000 clay shards hand pressed by hundreds of children and adults, strung together to resemble a giant hanging blanket. It reflects Indigenous concepts of land and place. 2) The world’s largest Métis beaded artwork by artist Jennine Krauchi, this original work stands 18 feet high and consists of thousands of antique beads sourced from the fur-­‐trade era. 3) “The ReDress Project” is a haunting art installation by Winnipeg artist Jaime Black consisting of empty red dresses on hangers in front of a woodland setting. It seeks to engage the public in discussion about the sexist and racist nature of violent crimes against Indigenous women. 4) The Bentwood Box. Carved from a single piece of red cedar that was steamed and bent, this work of art by Coast Salish artist Luke Marston was used during hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission exploring the tragic legacy of Canada’s Indian Residential School system. 5) Ivory dog sled carving circa 1865, located in an exhibit about the effects of cultural dispossession for the Inuit people of Canada’s North. 6) Graffiti art: a reproduction of mural art by street artist Aya Tarek during the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, which helped transfer city streets into creative spaces for political dialogue. 7) Yarn-­‐bombed tree: yarn squares crocheted by grandmothers in South Africa were affixed to a stylized tree by grandmothers in Canada. It is intended to draw attention to the plight of AIDS orphans. 8) Chinese labourers sculpture: a bronze sculpture of Chinese men working on a railway honours the thousands of labourers who helped build the Canadian Pacific Railway. 9) Spirit Panels: Indigenous artists from every province and territory in Canada created original works of art on a wooden panel after workshops with Aboriginal youth. The panels are affixed to a circular “basket” theatre in the Indigenous Perspectives gallery. 10) Ancestral Place circle artwork: This original piece by Indigenous artist David Gordon Thomas was created using a membrane stretched over a seven-­‐foot drum. Earth and sweet grass were placed on top and drummed into place. Ten stories from 10 galleries of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights 1) Democracy in South Africa: A battered metal ballot box from the historic 1994 presidential election of Nelson Mandela is on loan from the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. 2) Everything is interconnected: The work of Innu poet Joséphine Bacon is part of an exhibit that illustrates the connection between land, Indigenous rights and danger of environmental change. 3) Racial segregation at the movies: In 1946, successful Black Nova Scotia businessperson Viola Desmond was arrested after sitting in the whites-­‐only section of a movie theatre, prompting a legal battle that made her a Canadian civil rights icon. 4) Female firefighter keeps her job: Tawney Meiorin was fired after failing a new fitness test at work. She argued the change in standards was excessive and discriminated against women. She won her case in the Supreme Court of Canada. 5) A child escapes the Holocaust: Sigi Wasserman was one of thousands of Jewish children in Germany who were sent all alone to Great Britain to escape the Nazi brutality. He never saw his parents again. He now lives in Winnipeg. 6) Teaching human rights through drawings: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been produced in a child-­‐friendly way by the Council of Europe, presented in the museum as colourful illustrations on flip cards. 7) A victim of torture takes action: Ali Saeed lived through Ethiopia’s Red Terror of the 1970s, imprisoned and tortured for promoting freedom of speech. He now lives in Canada and leads “The Night of the Disappeared” a fundraising event to raise awareness of political killings and disappearances. 8) A veil of stereotypes: A photo exhibit of different Muslim women wearing the hijab (veil) by Quebec artist Andréanne Pâquet attempts to promote mutual understanding and speaks to freedom of choice to wear the veil. 9) Inspiring youth to action: Craig Kielburger was a 12-­‐year-­‐old activist against child labour who grew up to found an international charity called “Free the Children”, building hundreds of schools around the world. He also runs “We Day”, inspiring youth to learn about social issues and take action. 10) Change can look like a prom dress: In 2013, Maréshia Rucker and her friends held the first integrated prom for students of a Georgia high school. The resulting media attention heightened awareness about ongoing practices of racial segregation in the United States.