Gallery Renewal
View the exhibits currently on display at the museum or the list of upcoming exhibits.
View photos and video of the first beluga migration to Yellowknife!
Our galleries are changing!
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| Gallery exhibit platforms and cases. |
“The land gives meaning to our stories. It connects us to our history and can guide us in the future.”
The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre (PWNHC) has chosen a story-centered approach – termed
“Voices of the Land” - as a central concept for new exhibit development. As the territorial museum and
archives of the Government of the Northwest Territories, our mandate includes a responsibility to develop and
present exhibits (dioramas) that highlight the stories, history, artifacts, art, and Aboriginal languages from the
Northwest Territories. A gallery renewal process is currently underway in the north and south galleries,
including the development of new exhibits that feature connections between NWT people and the land.
Five exhibits (dioramas) will be installed in each gallery. Individual exhibits will be composed of an introductory
panel of text, a glass case for cultural artifacts, a natural history diorama with taxidermy or replica animals, and
an audio-visual case. All seasons will be represented within each gallery along with displays of key animal
species and other elements of biodiversity.
Our galleries will feature exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the arctic tundra regions of the
Northwest Territories. The ten dioramas to be produced include:
- muskrat pair of the Mackenzie Delta in early spring;
- barren-ground caribou of northern calving grounds in late spring;
- beluga whale female and calf of the Beaufort Sea in early summer;
- muskoxen male of the tundra during the fall rut;
- polar bear of the Northern or Southern Beaufort population on winter sea ice;
- Slave River Delta with migrating waterfowl in the spring;
- Taiga shield with rocks, lichen, and various bird species in the summer;
- Mackenzie River and post-fire meadow with a bull moose in the autumn;
- Great Bear Lake with various fish species under ice in the late winter/early spring (break-up); and
- Mackenzie Mountains with Dall’s sheep in the summer.
Exhibit Objectives:
- Convey natural and cultural history in an exciting, meaningful, and educational manner, thereby
creating interest in and enthusiasm for the biological and cultural diversity of the Northwest Territories. - Foster a sense of connection between the audience and ecosystem (animals, plants, land, and people).
- Provide an aesthetic experience representative of northern environments.
North Gallery Floor Plan
South Gallery Floor Plan
