1. Purpose

This policy outlines the Museum’s intention to make the display of archaeological, ethnographical, and historical artifacts, works of art, documents, reports and photographs consistent with the Huronia Museum’s Mission Statement, Objectives and other guiding documents accessible by providing and maintaining suitable space.

2. Responsibility

(a) The Board of Directors for Huronia Museum and Huron Ouendat Village is responsible for implementation and regular review of this policy.

(b) The Director/Curator will monitor the application of the policies and guidelines of this document and ensure that the intent and objectives are monitored. This includes regular evaluation of exhibits and displays for adherence to this policy.

(c) The Director/Curator will ensure that Huronia Museum maintains long and short-term exhibits consistent with the four main areas of interest in collections, exhibits, education and preservations: Aboriginal history of the Huron/Ouendat and Ojibway people, Georgian Bay Marine History, Georgian Bay Arts and Artists, and regional pioneer and Euro-Canadian development.

(d) The Director/Curator may delegate the exhibit, development, implementation, research and/or evaluation phase(s) to a staff member and/or outside consultant as deemed appropriate.

(e) The Director/Curator will outline exhibit objectives in every exhibit/display plan, which will be evaluated on a regular basis.

(f) The Director/Curator will ensure that all staff, volunteers and/or outside consultants are accordingly qualified and/or trained for exhibit development, implementation and evaluation.

(g) The Director/Curator ensure all staff, volunteers and/or external consultants carry out sufficient research in accordance with the Research Standard of Huronia Museum throughout the exhibit development, implementation and evaluation phases.

(h) It is the responsibility of the Director/Curator to ensure that all exhibits are composed in a manner free of bias and criticism while dedicated to serving community needs with accurate and objective information.

(i) Every effort will be made to ensure that all museum staff adheres to ethical practices when planning, implementing and presenting exhibits at Huronia Museum.

(j) The planning, implementing and presenting of exhibits will refer to the Huronia Museum Conservation Standard.

(k) All exhibition processes will adhere to Provincial and Federal legislation where applicable.

3. General

In addition it also operates a living history site whose purpose is to communicate to the public the conditions and life ways of the indigenous peoples of Huronia, known as the Huron.
The method by which the Museum presents its displays is varied, yet interrelated. Through the design of long-term exhibits utilizing both the collections and exhaustive research, the Museum will prepare educational exhibits relation to the human and cultural history of historic Huronia in an objective and educational manner.
Furthermore, through the medium of “living history” the Museum will exhibit an entire community and tell the story of the Huron people in as complete and objective a manner as is possible.
Short term exhibits and events will be held periodically as both donor institutions and the design and implementation of “in house” exhibits takes place in order to complement the statements of purpose and primary messages of the museum and reconstructed village.
Exhibits will receive it’s own allocation in the yearly budget put forth by the Board of Directors for Huronia Museum and Huron Ouendat Village and this will be thoroughly discussed with programming staff to determine appropriate outcomes.

4. Objectives

The primary messages to be conveyed by the Museum are the cultural development of the Huron and other indigenous peoples, the French and English settlement of the area, the maritime history of the Upper Great Lakes Region, the industrialization and products of local industries up to the present, and the display of art from the area. All exhibitions are oriented towards the education and enjoyment of the public visiting the Museum.

(g) To provide and maintain a building for the suitable display of historical artifacts.

(h) To collect and preserve artifacts which will visually portray the history of the area through both the pioneer and the pre-historical eras.

(i) To prepare and maintain displays of artifacts for the purpose of providing a visual history of the areas and insofar as possible to show how the people worked and lived.

(j) To display in art form and historical record of the area.

(k) To provide audio-visual presentations featuring the area’s history

(l) To offer community programs as an aid to historical education.

(m) To graphically display the living conditions of the Huron who originally populated the area.

(n) To present to the public the most authentic possible recreation of a Huron Village as it would have existed in this area three and one-half centuries ago, and to tell the story of the Huron and their technology and culture as it changed up to their dispersal in 1650.

5. Safety

The safety and security of visitors, staff, volunteers and artifacts is to be set as priority within the development, implementation, evaluation and research phases.
All hazardous materials and/or artifacts will be placed in appropriate display cases.
All exhibits will carry appropriate signage with regards to visitor, staff, volunteer and artifact safety.
When deemed necessary, staff, volunteers and/or consultants will receive appropriate training with regards to safe operation of exhibits.
Huronia Museum will comply will all legislated requirements for the safe display and handling of firearms.

6. Accessibility

All exhibits will apply established theories of non-personal interpretation to ensure that visitor needs are met to best of Huronia Museum’s ability.
The collections of Huronia Museum will be made accessible to the community, which it serves by continually refreshing exhibits.
Huronia Museum will function as a heritage link for the community which it serves.