Saskatchewan Ecomuseum 

Description:

Sometimes called “museums without walls”, ecomuseums are locally managed community museums that promote sustainable forms of social and economic development based on the in situ conservation and interpretation of natural and cultural heritage. The ecomuseum model was developed in France in the early 70s to promote holistic interpretations of cultural heritage. The aim was to combine tangible objects, sites and built structures with the traditions, practices and customs associated with the intangible cultural heritage (ICH), also known as 'living heritage'. As the idea gained traction, the model was expanded to include natural assets, including local flora and fauna, important wildlife habitats and geomorphological sites.

The Saskatchewan museum community first spoke of ecomuseums shortly after the model began to flourish in Europe, but while some have been developed in other parts of Canada, none have taken root here. In 2011, to assess the current potential for their development, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM) sent out a large call for expressions of interest and received positive responses from more than 15 locations across the province. At the same time, Heritage Saskatchewan initiated research into the broader scope of heritage, resulting in a publication titled Living Heritage & Quality of Life – Reframing Heritage Activity in Saskatchewan .  Following this publication, the Museums Association of Saskatchewan (MAS) published a series of papers entitled Museums and Sustainability – Social Sustainability, which examine the links between the museum community (including three case studies of ecomuseum sites) and the social context, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainability.

• Ecomuseum Concept – A Saskatchewan Perspective on “Museums Without Walls”
  This document provides the reader with information on what it means to be an ecomuseum; How is it related to municipal cultural planning; How an ecomuseum compares to other concepts, such as a heritage district, Main Street project, park, or community museum.
• Newly formed ecomuseums - Development framework
  This document is a tool designed to provide those interested in creating an ecomuseum with the information they need to start the process. Recognizing that every ecomuseum is different, the material provided is intended to serve as a guide.
• PodCast: SaskScapes – The Ecomuseums of Saskatchewan – Kevin Power is joined by guest Glenn Sutter, the Curator of Human Ecology at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum

Saskatchewan Ecomuseums Initiative
In 2012, the Saskatchewan Ecomuseums Initiative (SEI) was established and soon expanded to include other partners. Participation in the SEI is a major focus of the Museums Association of SK's Museums & Sustainability Initiative which encompasses both how museums can themselves be more sustainable and how museums can contribute to the sustainability of their communities. On 21 February 2013, a workshop was held in Regina which involved over a dozen potential stakeholders and community leaders from all over the province interested in the ecomuseum model. From the comments of the workshop a  planning framework of the ecomuseum  .

The Saskatchewan-United Nations Regional Competence Center (RCE) on Education for Sustainable Development, affiliated with both the Universities of Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Polytech, also recognizes SEI as a core project. The current SEI Steering Committee is chaired by the RSM and includes Heritage Saskatchewan (HS), Museums Association of Saskatchewan (MAS), SaskCulture, Heritage Canada the National Trust (HCNT), and Raven Consortium Inc., (an association of First Nations).

Through the SEI and the work of these partners, there is a growing enthusiasm for the  Ecomuseum concept  provincially and a number of interested communities (Val Marie, Nipawin, North Central Regina, Wolseley and Katepwa) are exploring its potential as demonstration sites. These sites range from rural grasslands and boreal fringe communities, to an inner-city neighborhood, and all include a focus on First Nations heritage.

The SEI and Heritage Saskatchewan
SEI, of which Heritage Saskatchewan is a part, has continued to support a number of ecomuseums and communities interested in establishing ecomuseums. Heritage Saskatchewan's commitment continues to be an advisory body providing that advice to ecomuseum advisors and communities throughout Saskatchewan.

As participants in the ecomuseum network, Heritage Saskatchewan is able to disseminate information regarding Living Heritage and holistic approaches to community development; and also to learn firsthand what is happening at the community level and offer help when needed. Last year, the SEI underwent changes to reflect the growth of ecomuseums in the province and the need for members of the original steering group to reexamine our roles moving forward. The newly formed ecomuseum network will now fall under the remit of the Association of Saskatchewan Museums (MAS) and will be managed not unlike a special interest group, where members can seek assistance through MAS advisory services but also inform MAS of their needs. The original steering committee members (mostly all provincial organizations) will continue to serve as an advisory body and provide advice and assistance with topics such as conferences and counseling specific to our areas of expertise. The change will see our 'group' become the Ecomuseum Partnership to better reflect our involvement in the future.

Text source: https://heritagesask.ca/projects/ecomuseums

Year of establishment:

Guided tours:

Educational services:

Other services: 

Useful Information (updated info on the structure's website)

Website: https://heritagesask.ca/projects/ecomuseums

Text source: ecomuseum website

Photo: site of the structure

CEIPEM PROJECT: Heritage Interpretation Experience Centres, Ecomuseums and Museums

For detailed information on the procedures for entering, modifying, deleting and classifying structures, see the reference page:

CEIPEM Project: Heritage Interpretation Experience Centers, Ecomuseums and Museums