Attending the Opening of the Museum of Vancouver’s New Exhibition: Work of Repair
On June 21, 2025, National Indigenous Peoples Day, the Museum of Vancouver (MOV) held a special VIP reopening event celebrating the premiere of three new exhibitions.
Dr. Denise Fong, Curator of Urban Culture at the Museum of Vancouver (MOV) and partner of PCHC-MoM, invited members of PCHC to attend. Dr. Fong is an accomplished researcher, scholar, and community advocate, and has provided PCHC-MoM with valuable guidance on a multitude of occasions.
The evening featured a well-attended and well-celebrated series of opening remarks, followed by a walkthrough of the new exhibitions, and some refreshments.
Dr. Micheal Yellow Bird & Dr. Denise Fong
In attendance at this memorable event was Stan de Mello, Co-President of PCHC; Dr. Micheal Yellow Bird, Distinguished Professor and former Dean of Social Work at the University of Manitoba; and myself, Kayo Devcic, MoM Young Ambassadors Life Coach and Counsellor.
Biography: Dr. Michael Yellow Bird
Michael Yellow Bird, MSW, PhD, is a Professor at the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Manitoba and an enrolled member of the MHA Nation (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara) in North Dakota, USA. He has held faculty and administrative positions at several universities, including the University of British Columbia, University of Kansas, Arizona State University, Humboldt State University, and North Dakota State University.
His research focuses on the effects of colonization, decolonization, ancestral health, Indigenous mindfulness, neurodecolonization, and more. Dr. Yellow Bird is the founder and principal investigator of The Centre for Mindful Decolonization and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba and works with several BIPOC groups aiming to indigenize and decolonize western mindfulness practices.
He is the author and co-editor of numerous books, including:
For Indigenous Eyes Only: The Decolonization Handbook (2005)
For Indigenous Minds Only: A Decolonization Handbook (2012)
Indigenous Social Work around the World: towards Culturally Relevant Education and Practice (2008)
Decolonizing Social Work (2013), selected by Choice Magazine as 2014 Outstanding Academic Title
His most recent co-authored works include:
A Sahnish (Arikara) Ethnobotany (2020)
Decolonizing Holistic Pathways Towards Integrative Healing in Social Work (2021).
The article Defunding Mindfulness: While We Sit on Our Cushions, Systemic Racism Runs Rampant (2020). Link to Article: Read More
Touring the Work of Repair Exhibit
In line with MOVs mission to foster connection, learning, and new experiences of Vancouver and BC’s diverse communities and histories, we toured the exhibit The Work of Repair: Redress and Reparation at the Museum of Vancouver.
During the tour, we met Chief Francis Laceese, who is featured within the exhibit. The Tsilhqot’in Nation collaborated on the exhibit by assembling artifacts, histories, and photos, many of which have been repatriated and are now on display. These items allow visitors to witness and reflect on their profound meaning to the the Tsilhqot’in people.
Chief Francis Laceese and the Power of Repatriation
Chief Francis Lacesse & Dr. Micheal Yellow Bird.
Nits’ilʔin Francis Laceese has dedicated most of his life to serving his community through leadership. He served as Nits’ilʔin (Chief) of Tl’esqox (Toosey First Nation) since 1998, following earlier roles as Counsillor and Band Manager. In 2025, he became Vice Chief of the Tŝilhqot’in National Government.
With a strong focus on international relations, Nits’il?in Laceese has voiced concerns of the Tŝilhqot’in at the United Nations and other Indigenous forums. He also advocates for child and family well-being as President of Denisiqi Services Society, where he has served on the Board of Directors for over a decade.
Nexwenen Nataghel?ilh: “We Bring Them Home”
Kayo Devcic, PCHC-MoM Young Ambassador Life Coach & Counsellor.
On June 20, 2025, the Tŝilhqot’in National Government and MOV launched Nexwenen Nataghelʔilh, a collaborative exhibition marking the Tŝilhqot’in Nation’s first major museum repatriation.
Dr. Viviane Gosselin & Dr. Micheal Yellow Bird
Part of the broader The Work of Repair exhibit, Nexwenen Nataghelʔilh (“we bring (our ancestors) home to our land”) follows the February 2024 return of over sixty ancestral belongings from MOV. These included qatŝ’ay (coiled spruce root baskets), tŝi-bis (obsidian tools), and other sacred cultural items once held in private or institutional collections for over a century.
The exhibition includes a looping documentary on the repatriation process, historical and contemporary photographs, artifacts still in repatriation, and examples of modern Tŝilhqot’in craftsmanship. The understanding guiding this exhibition is that these items are not mere artifacts, but living embodiments of the ancestors themselves.
Stan de Mello, Kayo Devcic, & Dr. Micheal Yellow Bird
The Tŝilhqot’in National Government expressed deep gratitude to MOV- especially Dr. Sharon Fortney, Senior Curator of Indigenous Collections—for their respectful and proactive approach. The exhibit will remain on view for approximately one year before traveling to other locations across B.C. and beyond.
(Written in part by Nikki Berreth, Tsilthqot’in Nation.)