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Uncover history at the Okanagan Heritage Museum

Changes are coming to the museum as the permanent public gallery is given a major overhaul.

The Okanagan Heritage Museum is undergoing dynamic and ongoing renovations.

The transformation began last summer, and continues through 2016. Museums staff are overhauling the entire permanent gallery, creating a rare opportunity to watch exhibition creation in action.

This exciting transition period creates a sense of adventure for the intrepid museum visitor: every time you visit you will find impressive displays and compelling exhibits rearranged and repositioned as an entirely new floor plan unfolds. The mess and the mayhem provide the perfect environment to be immersed in adventure and exploration!

One of the major projects within this overhaul is the rebuilding of a traditional Okanagan Winter Home (pithouse) or Q’atchi, typical of the Syilx people.

Kelowna Museums felt fortunate to have an elder of the Okanagan Indian Band, Eric Mitchell, leading the project. Mitchell  is a skilled tradesman and was the builder of the large  Q’atchi at Komasket Park. He also teaches in the Indigenous Studies Program at UBCO.

Highly knowledgeable and proud of the wisdom of his culture, Mitchell brings a strong sense of authenticity, precision and good humour to this project.

The Okanagan Heritage Museum is located at 470 Queensway Ave. in downtown Kelowna, open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday.