Both Hervé Gagnon and Deanna Kerrigan have both raised interesting approaches.

There was a most interesting exhibition which the Woodlands Museum near
Brantford Ontario circulated some years ago. "Fuff and Feathers" depicted
virtually every stereotype in the arts, advertising, etc., that anyone could
associate with North American Indians. It was VERY effective in making visitors
realize just how demeaning stereotypes usually are and I think it playes a part
in sensitizing visitors to exhibits elsewhere in the museum in which I saw it.

I really like Hervé's creative solution to his problem. That took guts, as it
could easily have backfired.

I'm looking forward to a small exhibition we are planning with a large
veterans' hospital in Ottawa. The 400 or so veterans in the hospital are all
there for the duration. I was struck by the fact that, outside the door of each
room (they are mainly single rooms, if not all) there is a lighted floor to
ceiling display case, with shelves, where the room resident is encouraged to
display things that are meaningful to him/her. Some people fill these with
photos and reminders of their grandchildren; others with memorabilia of their
military service. Some craftsmen display carvings, etc.

In cooperation with the residents' committee, we will work with them to develop
a changing exhibition to be located in their dining room area. They will supply
the cases, we the mannequins and we will both work together to design the
exhibitions and contribute artifacts.  It is not quite what Hervé did but I
think it will be interesting process and anything we can do for our veterans is
worth doing, in any case.

Harry Needham
Canadian War Museum