In this episode, hosts Itai Kuwodza and Graham Nickerson welcome Gabriel Jones, a seasoned museum professional with over 30 years of experience in curating Indigenous arts and visual culture across Canada and beyond. Together, they explore the intersection of cultural preservation and digital innovation—discussing the complexities of digitizing cultural resources, the importance of building community capacity, and the critical role of trust and representation in heritage work.

Episode Highlights:

• The evolving role of curators in making heritage accessible to the public
• The importance of digital platforms in accessing cultural resources
• Capacity building in communities: providing skills, tools, and confidence for digital projects
• The role of digital spaces as safe environments for sharing marginalized stories
• Building trust and meaningful relationships between heritage professionals and communities
• The complexities of identity, representation, and the African Nova Scotian experience

Credits:

• Hosted by Itai Produced by Itai Kuwodza and Graham Nickerson
• Produced by Loyalist Connections Creative Society (LCCS) as part of the LCCS Forum
• Special thanks to the Black Cultural Center, Black Loyalist Heritage Center, and St. Mary’s University for their support

Notable Quotes:

• "Digital becomes a really useful way to create content without the ridiculous expenses attached to traditional exhibitions."
• "The payoff is building capacity so that communities can sustain heritage projects and see their assets represented."
• "Digital technology is a tool—its value depends on how communities choose to use it to tell their stories."

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