Last updated : February 15, 2022

As part of the Dawson City Museum Project, I am creating timelines of the Museum’s development in relation to government policy and community action (1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s).

• Museum Operations
• Government Policy
  • First Nation
  • Federal
  • Canada – Yukon
  • Territorial
  • Local
• Community Action
• Questions
• References

Museum Operations

After a decade of increased funding and activity related to territorially significant centennials (e.g., the Klondike Gold Rush), the 2000s saw significant changes for the Dawson City Museum (DCM). Signaling the shift, in 2000-2001, the Director / Curator was laid off for 20 weeks and the Administrative Assistant was placed on part time hours. The Museum was also forced to borrow money on two occasions (DCM AGM June 6, 2002).

• 2000:

  Building

  The Museum nominated the Old Territorial Administration Building to the National Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada as a National Historic Site.

  

  The Museum completed the Lind Storage Facility (See documents available in City of Dawson funding 2000, Box 27a, Dawson City Museum Archives).

  Exhibitions

  The Museum worked to develop a new gallery, but began experiencing delays in obtaining approval from the Yukon Territorial government to conduct renovations on the Old Territorial Administration Building (Thistle 2001, October).

  Governance

  The Museum began a strategic planning exercise (DCM Newsletter vol. 15 no. 4).

  Programming (Other)

  The Lecture Series was re-established (DCM Newsletter vol. 16 no. 1; See documents available in City of Dawson funding 2000, Box 27a, Dawson City Museum Archives).

  Staffing

  The Museum continued to use short term grants for staffing, including (DCM Newsletter vol. 16 no. 1):

  • Funding from Human Resources Development Canada’s Summer Career Placement Programme for five summer interpreters. Importantly, this program was becoming less effective due to reductions to individual applications (see government policy – federal – 2000 – employment policy below).
  • Young Canada Works students through the Canadian Heritage Foundation, the Canadian Library Association, the Canadian Museums Association, and the Canadian Council of Archives.

  In total, the Museum hired 12 contract workers in addition to the staff complement of 2.5 (See documents available in City of Dawson funding 2000, Box 27a, Dawson City Museum Archives).

• 2001:

  The Museum began to experience significant financial difficulties, requiring the use of a personal line of credit to operate the museum (See documents available in O&M correspondence, 29b, Dawson City Museum Archives)

  Building

  The Old Territorial Administration Building was designated as a historic site.

  Collections

  The Museum experienced an insect infestation, requiring 245 hours of work to dismantle exhibitions then examine, bag, freeze, thaw, clean and reinstall infected artifacts (Thistle 2001, September).

  Exhibitions

  Heritage Canada’s declared that 2001 was a year to celebrate transportation history. So, the Museum mounted a photography exhibit on the history of the Klondike Mines Railway (YHMA 2001, Fall)

  

  Fundraising / Earned Revenue

  The Museum established an endowment (DCM Newsletter June 2001).

  Governance

  The Museum adopted a five year plan (DCM Newsletter vol. 16 no. 4).

  Programming (Other)

  The Museum continued the lecture series.

  The Museum published A Walking Tour of Dawson City Cemeteries with funding from Yukon Tourism’s “On Yukon Time” program (YHMA 2001, Fall).

  Staffing

  The Museum hired 16 contract workers (See documents in City of Dawson Funding, box 28c, Dawson City Museum Archive).

  Due to financial difficulties, the Director was temporarily laid off (see Too Much for one Person).

• 2002:

  Advocacy

  The Museum engaged in an advocacy campaign for increased operational funding (See documents available in O&M Correspondence, Box 29b, Dawson City Museum Archives).

  Exhibitions

  The Museum opened the Lind Gallery, which focused on pre-Gold Rush history (DCM Newsletter vol. 18 no. 2).

  The Museum held a temporary exhibition of posters designed by the local grade three students. The photo below is of the student poster chosen for promotional materials (DCM Newsletter vol. 18 no. 2):

  

  Grants

  The Museum received the following grants (DCM AGM Director’s Report 2003):

  Granter	Purpose	Amount
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Operations & Maintenance	$23,500
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Gift Shop Development	$11,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Exhibit planning	$30,00
  YTG – Heritage Branch	right sizing	$12,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Negative scanning	$12,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	KRMy	$14,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Walking tour booklet	$6,000
  Federal	HRDC	$21,520
  Canadian Museum Association	Young Canada Works	$5,518.80
  Canadian Library Association	Young Canada Works	$2,488.50
  Federal	YCW in Both Official Languages	$3,197.70
  Koerner Foundation	production of Dawson at 40 Below	$1,500
  KVA Community Events Casino		$8,095.92
  Tr’ondek Hwech’in		$5,000
  City of Dawson	Operating	$10,000

  Library

  Using funding from lotteries, the Museum updated the Klondike History Library Equipment (DCM AGM Director’s Report 203).

  Staffing

  The Museum once again hired 16 contract workers (See documents available in City of Dawson funding, Box 29a, Dawson City Museum Archive), employing 19 people in total (DCM AGM Director’s Report 2003)

• 2003:

  Building

  The Museum began to experience difficulties with the sprinkler system in the storage facilities (DCM Report to Sept 17 to October 20).

  Collections

  Significant acquisitions included (DCM Newsletter vol. 19 no. 2):

  • an original slide projector from the Orpheum Theatre
  • an album of photographs
  • Royal Canadian Legion Dawson Branch minute book and associated papers
  • a number of Rebekah Lodge ledgers and membership rolls

  

  The Museum began to experience significant backlogs in registration of the departure of the collection’s manager (DCM Report to Board for June 19 to July 22). The Museum then hired a full time registrar and re-established the collection committee (DCM AGM Director Report 2004).

  Exhibits

  The Museum developed a Banking Exhibition and worked to redesigned visible storage (DCM AGM Director’s Report 2003).

  The Museum redid a temporary exhibition called “Too Thick to Drink, Too thin to Plow exhibit” in the Court Room (DCM Report to Board for May 15 to June 18)

  Grants

  The Museum received the following grants (DCM AGM Director Report 2004):

  Granter	Purpose	Amount
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Operations & Maintenance	$80,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Emergency security	$12,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Security upgrades	$50,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Exhibit planning	$25,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Cemetery brochure	$3,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Medallions	$6,622
  Federal	HRDC	$12,628
  Canadian Museum Association	Young Canada Works	$11,073.75
  Canadian Library Association	Young Canada Works	$2,612.93
  Federal	YCW in Both Official Languages	$3,952.32
  CCA (?)		$3,952.32
  Lotteries		$6,445
  City of Dawson	Operating	$10,000

  Staffing

  There were significant cuts to the funded summer student employees (DCM Newsletter vol. 19 no. 1). However, the Museum still employed a total of 16 people in 2003 (DCM AGM Director Report 2004).

  The Museum experimented with a co-directorship, hiring a Director / Administration and a Director / Curator (DCM Newsletter vol. 19 no. 1).

• 2004:

  Collections

  The Museum worked with the Tr’ondek Hwech’in to create a First Nations photo finding aid of all the collections held at the Museum (DCM DA Report October 14).

  The Museum received 36 new deposits, meeting with 15 donors to conduct oral research on the donations. They catalogued or significantly modified the records for 2,790 artifacts. They still had a backlog of about 600 items, representing 2% of the collection (DCM AGM Director Report 2005).

  Grants

  The Museum received the following grants (DCM AGM Director Report 2005):

  Granter	Purpose	Amount
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Operations & Maintenance	$80,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Exhibit plan	$15,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Lind Extension	$10,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Train Conservation	$10,500
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Library Biography files	$2,000
  YTG	Community Development Fund	$17,70
  Federal	HRDC	$12,964
  Canadian Museum Association	Young Canada Works	$2,445.14
  Federal	YCW in Both Official Languages	$3,102.80
  CCA (?)		$3,192
  Lotteries	Oral historic recorder	$481.48

  Programming (other)

  The Museum partnered with Tr’ondek Hwech’in and Parks Canada on a school program titled “Secret Life of Artifacts,” which aimed to help students develop a better understanding of the role of heritage organizations (DCM Newsletter vol. 20 no. 1)

  The summer interpreters performed a musical skit – “Songs in the Key of Gold” (DCM AGM Director Report 2005)

  Staffing

  The Museum employed 14 people (DCM Presentation AGM 2005).
• 2005:

  Collections

  The Museum hired a collections manager for Fall and Winter, holding regular collections committee meetings where donations were reviewed and participants reminisced about people they recognized in images (DCM Executive Director Report AGM).

  The Museum catalogued/accessioned 674 artifacts and significantly modified over 3000 artifact records during the visible storage project (DCM Executive Director Report AGM).

  Exhibitions

  The Museum opened two new photographic exhibitions – Oldest Profession and Dogs. The Dogs exhibition featured a section for people to pin pictures with their dogs.

  

  The Museum displayed Chris Caldwell’s “Quoth of the Raven” from the Yukon Government’s permanent art collection in their Gift Shop for the Summer (DCM Report for April 22 to May 19 2005).

  Grants

  The Museum received the following grants (Executive Director Report AGM 2006):

  Granter	Purpose	Amount
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Operations & Maintenance	$80,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Exhibit planning	$15,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	French	$7,500
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Train Conservation	$13,000
  YTG	Community Development Fund	$56,187
  Federal	HRSDC	$7,640
  Federal – Canadian Heritage	Virtual Museums of Canada	$102,720
  Canadian Museum Association	Young Canada Works	$4,536
  Canadian Library Association	Young Canada Works	$3,033
  Federal	YCW in Both Official Languages	$4,629
  Canadian Council of Archives		$8,096
  Lotteries	Oral historic recorder	$750
  STEP		3,240

  Partnerships

  The Museum continued to emphasize partnership in their work. Joint projects included (DCM Executive Director Report AGM):

  • the Parks Canada / Tr’ondëk Hwech’in joint partner pass
  • Science Institute lecture series
  • work with McBride and the Yukon Arts Centre
  • assistance to the Old Log Church for their travelling exhibit
  • work with the Yukon Queen on a prop display

  Staffing

  The Museum continued to use student employment programs, but had a number of performance issues and had to let a student go (DCM Report for July 2005). They provided employment for 15 people and 5 contractors (Executive Director Report AGM 2006).

• 2006:

  Exhibitions

  The Museum launched its first virtual exhibition and opened the redesigned visible storage, which involved treating the silver collection (DCM Newsletter vol. 22 no. 1 and 2).

  Partnerships and collaborations

  The Museum engaged in several partnerships / collaborations with other nonprofits, including (DCM Newsletter vol. 22 no. 2):

  • The Klondike Institute of Arts and Culture (KIAC) to present the movie series Miracle Planet during the summer.
  • KIAC and Musicfest on an application from the federal Cultural Investment Fund to redesign their websites.
• 2007:

  Earned Revenues

  The Museum decided to close the cafe and focus on things like consignments in the gift shop (DCM Final Report Summer 2007).

  Collections

  The majority of acquisitions were archival, such as a postcard featuring the Yukon Machine Gun Detachment (DCM Annual Report 2008).

  

  Governance

  The Museum held a series of meetings to develop a strategic plan (DCM Dawson City Museum Strategic Planning Final Report).

  The Board began to review policies (DCM Annual Report 2008).

  Programming

  

  The Canada Day attendance figure in the chart above reflects work to offer new and more exciting programming in front of the Museum (DCM Executive Director June 19 2008).

  Since the Museum received late notice for student employees, students did not give guided tours and a self guided booklet was developed. The students conceived and wrote the Miner’s Meeting where an audience member was accused of something and the audience voted on their guilt (DCM Final Report Summer 2007).

  The Museum created a Program Co-ordinator position, leading to Classic Movie Night and Oscar Night (DCM Annual Report 2008).

• 2008:

  Collections

  The Museum began a project to address the backlog of artifacts for cataloguing. As such, over 3,000 new records were entered into the database (DCM Annual Report 2009).

  Significant acquisitions included:

  • The Yukon Hotel Directory

  

  • Klondike Sun Photographs

  

  • Gold samples and pokes

  Governance

  The Museum adopted a new constitution and mission statement:

  To be a gathering place where people are inspired to explore the connection between the Klondike and their world.

  DCM Mission Statement Resolution February 21, 2008

  Programming

  The Museum began to offer “A Night at the Museum” for school children with funding from Yukon Energy (DCM Annual Report 2008).

  The Museum piloted a new program – Camp Cheechako – which taught people about what they needed to survive in Yukon at the turn of the century (DCM Annual Report 2009).

• 2009:

  Building

  The sprinkler system in the Locomotive Shelter failed. In response, volunteers formed an Emergency Response Team and began training for future problems (DCM Annual Report 2010).

  Collections

  The Museum worked to update its collection records (DCM Annual Report 2009-2010).

  Exhibitions

  The DCM had mannequins of local residents made in order to use in the exhibition (Source).

  

  Governance

  The Human Resources Policy was updated (DCM Annual Report 2009-2010).

  Programming (other)

  The Museum held A Night in the Museum for students in grades 5 and 6 (source).

  A new brochure was produced with funding from the Klondike Visitors Association (DCM Annual Report 2009-2010).

  The Museum held Invention Camp, which provided children from the Dawson Day Care and Tr’inke Zho Daycare to make devices based on the artifacts in the Museum’s collection (DCM Annual Report 2010).

  The Museum restarted gold pouring demonstration, which had stopped prior to 2007 because the machine broke (DCM Review of Dawson City Museum 2007-2012).

Government Policy

First Nation

• 2002:

  The Tr’ondek Hwech’in contributed $5,000 to support the work done for the Lind Gallery (DCM Newsletter vol. 18 no. 2).

• 2003:

  The Dawson City Museum (+ the ROM) lent the Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre artifacts for “Myth and Medium: Explore Athapaskan Artifacts in Their Homeland” (Source).

• 2004:

  A Tr’ondek Hwech’in Heritage Office invited the Dawson City Museum to participate in the event Myth and Medium 2004 (See documents in Julia Correspondence, Box 39a, Dawson City Museum Archives).

Federal

• 2000:

  Employment Policy

  There were some reductions in program amounts. Previously, the Dawson City Museum received funding for five students for eleven weeks. However, in 2000, the Museum received funding for five students for only ten weeks (Thistle 2000).

  Explicit Cultural Policy

  Tomorrow Starts Today was announced and led to investment in the arts and cultural sector, such as the cultural spaces fund (source) as well as the Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program (source).

  Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC)

  The VMC was established.

• 2002:

  Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI)

  The CCI conducted a report on the Dawson City Museum’s performance, finding “lt is imperative that key staff be hired on full time status … without key, full time staff, the museum’s operational profile will fall to levels which will question its ability to continue to operate as a museum” (p. 22 qtd in DCM Director Curator Report June 19 2002)

• 2004:

  Parks Canada

  Parks Canada submitted the Tr’ondëk-Klondike for consideration as a UNESCO world heritage site (source).

• 2006:

  Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) and Virtual Museums Canada

  CHIN launched an online museum learning space (DCM Newsletter vol. 22 no. 1).

  Explicit Museum Policy

  There was an unprecedented 3 hour debate in the house about museum funding and Members of parliament voted to both rescinding cuts to the Museums Assistance Program and establish a museums policy. A CMA communique on the topic sent to Yukon museums is available here and the relevant debate minutes are available here.

• 2007:

  Explicit Cultural Policy

  The Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program was created to support local festivals and capital projects with an emphasis on local engagement (Source).

• 2009:

  Explicit Cultural Policy

  The Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Programs was renewed, becoming the Cultural Investment Fund (Source).

Canada – Yukon

• 2000:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  The Yukon government began developing two virtual museums with 100% funding from the federal government (Source)

• 2006:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  The territorial government sponsored a Canadian Conservation Institute workshop on mannequin making (DCM Newsletter vol. 22 no. 2).

• 2008:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  The territorial Museums Unit help a Canadian Conservation Institute workshop on the care of industrial artifacts in Dawson City (Meeting 2008).

Territorial

There were significant changes to the territorial funding practices in the 2000s. Most notably, some of the project funding shifted to operational funding in 2003-2004, leading to a notable increase in that grant amount.

• 2000:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  The Minister for Tourism articulated an intent to develop a Museum Strategy based on consultation (Source).

  Implicit Cultural Policy

  The Community Development Find, which had previously funded the Dawson City Museum’s new storage facility, was threatened as it underwent review (See for example documents in 2000 CDF application, Box 27b, Dawson City Museum Archives).

• 2001:

  Explicit Cultural Policy

  The Art and Heritage branches merged (Slobodin 2001).

  Explicit Museum Policy

  The territory began consultations on a new museum policy, but did not consult the museum community on the terms of reference for the study (DCM Newsletter June 2001). The Territory hired consultants who released a discussion paper (DCM Newsletter vol. 17 no. 3).

  The Museum Advisor began actively advising museums to be more entrepreneurial:

  I understand now that one of the museum advisors has been to the community of Teslin, talking to the George Johnston Museum Board, insisting that the museum have a gift shop of sorts or something where they could souvenirs, mementoes, that type of thing on a bigger scale.

  YLA 30.2.69

  Implicit Cultural Policy

  The Finance Administration Act led to a new accountability regime for the Community Museum Operations and Maintenance program, causing delays in receiving funding (See documents available in O&M correspondence, 29b, Dawson City Museum Archives)

• 2002:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  Consultants released a draft Museum Strategy Report – Strategy for Maintaining Yukon’s Museums (see documents available in Strategy for Yukon museums, Box 29a, Dawson City Museum Archives).

  Yukon formed an advisory committee to draft a strategy from the Report (YHMA 2002, Summer).

• 2003:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  Yukon began 3 year funding arrangements with “those institutions which have shown an ability to develop long term strategies” (Taylor 2003). They also added four new organizations to the funding program and shifted project funding into the operating grant program (AGM Director Report 2004).

  The Museum Advisor became increasingly unavailable to museums. In a report to the board, the Director of the Dawson City Museum wrote:

  We are still waiting to hear about the success of the exhibit grant and the security grant. Just before the long weekend, I called [Museum Advisor] about this and he said we would know by early the following week.  As is becoming common, I didn’t hear anything. So, I followed up with another call and he gave me the same promises, but nothing has been received yet.  I will continue to pester him until we know.

  DCM Report to Board forJuly 23 to August 26

  There was a Museum Roundtable with the Minister of Tourism and representatives from Dawson City Museum, MacBride, Old Log Church, the Transportation Museum, Miles Canyon Railway, YTG, Yukon Council of Archives, Heritage Resources Board, Beringia, Na Cho N’yak Dun First Nation, YHMA and George Johnston (Report to Oct 21 to November 27).

• 2004:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  The territorial government implemented a merit based funding arrangement, conducting a technical review of applications (Krahn 2004).

  The Heritage Training Trust Fund was established (YLA 31.1.81). The new program responded to Museum worker concerns. As stated in the Dawson City Museum newsletter:

  I was recently successful in receiving training money from the Yukon Heritage Training Fund. In my case, it was an example of good government at work. I had commented during a recent Yukon Museum Strategy revue that I wished for more accessible funding for training and upgrading and mny wish came true. The administrators of the fund were very helpful and co-operative and the application process was painless

  DCM Newsletter vol.20 no. 1

  There was continued funding for (YLA 31.1.81):

  • Operations
  • Exhibits Assistance
  • Conservation and Security
  • Artifact Inventory and Cataloguing
• 2005:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  Yukon Museum Strategy

  The Territorial Conservative came to Dawson City for a week for Spring cleaning. While there, she discussed the Museum’s projects, agreed to partially fund a locomotive restoration as well as other projects (DCM Report for April 22 to May 19 2005).

• 2006:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  The Museum funding was divided into two categories – capital and operations (YLA 31.1.191).

  The Minister of Tourism and Culture announced $200,000 in new funding to museums (DCM Newsletter vol. 22 no. 2).

• 2007:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  A Museums Advisory Committee was established with representation from the community museums.

  The new Museums Advisory Committee endorsed new funding to the Museums Contribution Program and the creation of new funding levels as follows:

  

  Yukon began distributing funding through Special Projects Assistance (YLA 32.1.47)

• 2008:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  Yukon provided funding to museums for operations and through the Special Projects Capital Assistance Program (YLA 32.1.73).

• 2009:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  A new Museum was added to the support program:

  The museums program, administered through the Department of Tourism and Culture, is pleased to provide support to 18 museums in the Yukon for a total of just over $1.3 million in direct funding support. This year we are very pleased to provide funding support of $38,000 to the newest member in the museum family, the John Tizya Centre in Old Crow.

  YLA 32.1.164

  The Yukon Museums Strategy was reviewed (Cambio 2013).

Local

• 2001:

  The City only provided 2,500 in funding (See documents in City of Dawson Funding, box 28c, Dawson City Museum Archive)

• 2002:

  The City restored funding to the Dawson City Museum to 10,000 (See documents available in City of Dawson funding, Box 29a, Dawson City Museum Archive).

• 2006:

  The City was unable to commit funding to the Dawson City Museum, noting:

  As you know the municipality is striving to recover from dire financial hardship and still remains deep in debt. Unfortunately, until our financial picture has improved we must focus on ensuring that essential municipal services and infrastructure are maintained and therefore we are unable to commit any dollars outside of these core responsibilities. That said, we would certainly entertain any non-financial requests to support your work.

  city of Dawson funding 2006, Box 33, Dawson City Museum Archives.

• 2008:

  Dawson City Heritage Management Plan

Community Action

• 2000:

  Local Community

  The Klondike Institute of Arts & Culture (KIAC) began the Yukon Riverside Arts Festival.

  Museum Community

  The Dawson City Museum participated in the Museums Alberta pilot project – the Museum Achievement Programme – to assess their programming (DCM Newsletter vol. 16 no. 1).

• 2002:

  Local Community

  The Dawson City business community wrote letters in support for the Museum’s campaign for increased operational support (See Community Mobilized).

• 2003:

  Local Community

  There was a Mammoth Conference in Dawson. The Museum participated by hosting the opening reception (DA Report for June 18, 2003).

  The Klondike Visitor’s Association eliminated the Community Casino grants due to funding constraints (AGM Director Report 2004).

  Museums Community

  The Yukon Historical and Museums Association commissioned Economic Impacts of Yukon Museums and Heritage Institutions

• 2005:

  Museums Community

  The Director of the Dawson City Museum became the President of the Yukon Historical and Museums Association, working with the YHMA’s director on lobbying issues and sitting on the adjudication committee for the Heritage Training Fund. In that role, the Director attended the Canadian Museums Association’s FORUM meeting, which is a meeting of provincial associations. At the meeting, they realized they were all experiencing similar issues with student funding. The Director wrote (DCM Report for June 2005):

   I was thrilled to be at the table and will sit at the table as often as I am able.  We discussed a number of issues at the meeting.  All the PMA’s had experienced similar problems as Yukon with regard to student funding this year.  We decided as a body to send a letter to the Minister outlining our issues.  The letter that I presented to this board at our last meeting which I sent on behalf of Yukon was used as the basis of the Forum letter. 

• 2007:

  Museum Community

  The Yukon Historical and Museums Association’s Artefacts Canada Treasures of the Yukon project led to collections work for Yukon Museums, including the Dawson City Museum:

  Work is currently underway at the Dawson City Museum where Erin is working to enhance the records in the collections database for the museums North Gallery where 892 artifacts are on display. To date 342 records have been enhanced, 94 records have been digitized and an inventory of the north gallery has been completed. Once work is completed at the Dawson City Museum the enhanced records from Keno City Mining Museum and the Dawson City Museum will be uploaded to Artefacts Canada

  Source

• 2009:

  Local Community

  The City declared John Gould Day and the Dawson City Museum served as a gathering place, hosting his birthday (DCM 2009 and 2010 Chair message).

Questions

What do you think? Is anything important missing? What other events should be considered as I ask – How has the Dawson City Museum evolved in relation to government policy and community action?

References

Cambio. 2013, October. Yukon Museums & Cultural Centers: Annual Roundtable Workshop.

Catherine C. Cole & Associates. 2014, June.  Funding Allocation for Yukon Museums and First Nation Cultural / Heritage Centres Options Paper. Cultural Service Branch, Department of Tourism and Culture, Yukon Government. 

DCM – A file name: This documents are internal Dawson City Museum Minutes or reports.

Krahn, Ed. 2004, May. Letter to the Dawson City Museum. YTG O&M 2005, Box 32, Dawson City Museum Archives.

Meuthing, Garnet. 2008, Fall. “CCI Training: Industrial Conservation.” Newsletter: 5. https://www.heritageyukon.ca/sites/default/files/newsletters/Newsletter%20Fall%202008.pdf

Slobodin, Brent. 2001, Fall. “President’s Message.” Yukon Historical & Museums Association Newsletter. 3. 

Taylor, Elaine. 2003, March. Letter to the Dawson City Museum. Directors Correspondence 2003. Box 39. Dawson City Museum Archives.

Thistle, Paul. 2000, July. Letter to the Minister of Human Resources and Development Canada. Correspondence Director. Box 27b. Dawson City Museum Archives.

Thistle, Paul. 2001, September. Letter to the territorial conservator. O&M Correspondence. Box 29b. Dawson City Museum Archives.

Thistle, Paul. 2001, October. Letter to the Deputy Minister of Tourism. Lind Gallery Phase III. Box 28a. Dawson City Museum Archives.

YHMA. 2001, Fall. “Yukon Museum News and Notes“ Yukon Historical & Museums Association Newsletter. 7.

YHMA. 2002, Summer. “Museum Strategy Working Group.” Yukon Historical & Museums Association Newsletter. 5

Last updated : February 15, 2022

As part of the Dawson City Museum Project, I am creating timelines of the Museum’s development in relation to government policy and community action (1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s).

• Museum Operations
• Government Policy
  • First Nation
  • Federal
  • Canada – Yukon
  • Territorial
  • Local
• Community Action
• Questions
• References

Museum Operations

After a decade of increased funding and activity related to territorially significant centennials (e.g., the Klondike Gold Rush), the 2000s saw significant changes for the Dawson City Museum (DCM). Signaling the shift, in 2000-2001, the Director / Curator was laid off for 20 weeks and the Administrative Assistant was placed on part time hours. The Museum was also forced to borrow money on two occasions (DCM AGM June 6, 2002).

• 2000:

  Building

  The Museum nominated the Old Territorial Administration Building to the National Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada as a National Historic Site.

  

  The Museum completed the Lind Storage Facility (See documents available in City of Dawson funding 2000, Box 27a, Dawson City Museum Archives).

  Exhibitions

  The Museum worked to develop a new gallery, but began experiencing delays in obtaining approval from the Yukon Territorial government to conduct renovations on the Old Territorial Administration Building (Thistle 2001, October).

  Governance

  The Museum began a strategic planning exercise (DCM Newsletter vol. 15 no. 4).

  Programming (Other)

  The Lecture Series was re-established (DCM Newsletter vol. 16 no. 1; See documents available in City of Dawson funding 2000, Box 27a, Dawson City Museum Archives).

  Staffing

  The Museum continued to use short term grants for staffing, including (DCM Newsletter vol. 16 no. 1):

  • Funding from Human Resources Development Canada’s Summer Career Placement Programme for five summer interpreters. Importantly, this program was becoming less effective due to reductions to individual applications (see government policy – federal – 2000 – employment policy below).
  • Young Canada Works students through the Canadian Heritage Foundation, the Canadian Library Association, the Canadian Museums Association, and the Canadian Council of Archives.

  In total, the Museum hired 12 contract workers in addition to the staff complement of 2.5 (See documents available in City of Dawson funding 2000, Box 27a, Dawson City Museum Archives).

• 2001:

  The Museum began to experience significant financial difficulties, requiring the use of a personal line of credit to operate the museum (See documents available in O&M correspondence, 29b, Dawson City Museum Archives)

  Building

  The Old Territorial Administration Building was designated as a historic site.

  Collections

  The Museum experienced an insect infestation, requiring 245 hours of work to dismantle exhibitions then examine, bag, freeze, thaw, clean and reinstall infected artifacts (Thistle 2001, September).

  Exhibitions

  Heritage Canada’s declared that 2001 was a year to celebrate transportation history. So, the Museum mounted a photography exhibit on the history of the Klondike Mines Railway (YHMA 2001, Fall)

  

  Fundraising / Earned Revenue

  The Museum established an endowment (DCM Newsletter June 2001).

  Governance

  The Museum adopted a five year plan (DCM Newsletter vol. 16 no. 4).

  Programming (Other)

  The Museum continued the lecture series.

  The Museum published A Walking Tour of Dawson City Cemeteries with funding from Yukon Tourism’s “On Yukon Time” program (YHMA 2001, Fall).

  Staffing

  The Museum hired 16 contract workers (See documents in City of Dawson Funding, box 28c, Dawson City Museum Archive).

  Due to financial difficulties, the Director was temporarily laid off (see Too Much for one Person).

• 2002:

  Advocacy

  The Museum engaged in an advocacy campaign for increased operational funding (See documents available in O&M Correspondence, Box 29b, Dawson City Museum Archives).

  Exhibitions

  The Museum opened the Lind Gallery, which focused on pre-Gold Rush history (DCM Newsletter vol. 18 no. 2).

  The Museum held a temporary exhibition of posters designed by the local grade three students. The photo below is of the student poster chosen for promotional materials (DCM Newsletter vol. 18 no. 2):

  

  Grants

  The Museum received the following grants (DCM AGM Director’s Report 2003):

  Granter	Purpose	Amount
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Operations & Maintenance	$23,500
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Gift Shop Development	$11,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Exhibit planning	$30,00
  YTG – Heritage Branch	right sizing	$12,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Negative scanning	$12,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	KRMy	$14,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Walking tour booklet	$6,000
  Federal	HRDC	$21,520
  Canadian Museum Association	Young Canada Works	$5,518.80
  Canadian Library Association	Young Canada Works	$2,488.50
  Federal	YCW in Both Official Languages	$3,197.70
  Koerner Foundation	production of Dawson at 40 Below	$1,500
  KVA Community Events Casino		$8,095.92
  Tr’ondek Hwech’in		$5,000
  City of Dawson	Operating	$10,000

  Library

  Using funding from lotteries, the Museum updated the Klondike History Library Equipment (DCM AGM Director’s Report 203).

  Staffing

  The Museum once again hired 16 contract workers (See documents available in City of Dawson funding, Box 29a, Dawson City Museum Archive), employing 19 people in total (DCM AGM Director’s Report 2003)

• 2003:

  Building

  The Museum began to experience difficulties with the sprinkler system in the storage facilities (DCM Report to Sept 17 to October 20).

  Collections

  Significant acquisitions included (DCM Newsletter vol. 19 no. 2):

  • an original slide projector from the Orpheum Theatre
  • an album of photographs
  • Royal Canadian Legion Dawson Branch minute book and associated papers
  • a number of Rebekah Lodge ledgers and membership rolls

  

  The Museum began to experience significant backlogs in registration of the departure of the collection’s manager (Report to Board for June 19 to July 22). The Museum then hired a full time registrar and re-established the collection committee (DCM AGM Director Report 2004).

  Exhibits

  The Museum developed a Banking Exhibition and worked to redesigned visible storage (DCM AGM Director’s Report 2003).

  The Museum redid a temporary exhibition called “Too Thick to Drink, Too thin to Plow exhibit” in the Court Room (DCM Report to Board for May 15 to June 18)

  Grants

  The Museum received the following grants (DCM AGM Director Report 2004):

  Granter	Purpose	Amount
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Operations & Maintenance	$80,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Emergency security	$12,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Security upgrades	$50,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Exhibit planning	$25,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Cemetery brochure	$3,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Medallions	$6,622
  Federal	HRDC	$12,628
  Canadian Museum Association	Young Canada Works	$11,073.75
  Canadian Library Association	Young Canada Works	$2,612.93
  Federal	YCW in Both Official Languages	$3,952.32
  CCA (?)		$3,952.32
  Lotteries		$6,445
  City of Dawson	Operating	$10,000

  Staffing

  There were significant cuts to the funded summer student employees (DCM Newsletter vol. 19 no. 1). However, the Museum still employed a total of 16 people in 2003 (DCM AGM Director Report 2004).

  The Museum experimented with a co-directorship, hiring a Director / Administration and a Director / Curator (DCM Newsletter vol. 19 no. 1).

• 2004:

  Collections

  The Museum worked with the Tr’ondek Hwech’in to create a First Nations photo finding aid of all the collections held at the Museum (DCM DA Report October 14).

  The Museum received 36 new deposits, meeting with 15 donors to conduct oral research on the donations. They catalogued or significantly modified the records for 2,790 artifacts. They still had a backlog of about 600 items, representing 2% of the collection (DCM AGM Director Report 2005).

  Grants

  The Museum received the following grants (DCM AGM Director Report 2005):

  Granter	Purpose	Amount
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Operations & Maintenance	$80,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Exhibit plan	$15,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Lind Extension	$10,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Train Conservation	$10,500
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Library Biography files	$2,000
  YTG	Community Development Fund	$17,70
  Federal	HRDC	$12,964
  Canadian Museum Association	Young Canada Works	$2,445.14
  Federal	YCW in Both Official Languages	$3,102.80
  CCA (?)		$3,192
  Lotteries	Oral historic recorder	$481.48

  Programming (other)

  The Museum partnered with Tr’ondek Hwech’in and Parks Canada on a school program titled “Secret Life of Artifacts,” which aimed to help students develop a better understanding of the role of heritage organizations (DCM Newsletter vol. 20 no. 1)

  The summer interpreters performed a musical skit – “Songs in the Key of Gold” (DCM AGM Director Report 2005)

  Staffing

  The Museum employed 14 people (DCM Presentation AGM 2005).
• 2005:

  Collections

  The Museum hired a collections manager for Fall and Winter, holding regular collections committee meetings where donations were reviewed and participants reminisced about people they recognized in images (DCM Executive Director Report AGM).

  The Museum catalogued/accessioned 674 artifacts and significantly modified over 3000 artifact records during the visible storage project (DCM Executive Director Report AGM).

  Exhibitions

  The Museum opened two new photographic exhibitions – Oldest Profession and Dogs. The Dogs exhibition featured a section for people to pin pictures with their dogs.

  

  The Museum displayed Chris Caldwell’s “Quoth of the Raven” from the Yukon Government’s permanent art collection in their Gift Shop for the Summer (DCM Report for April 22 to May 19 2005).

  Grants

  The Museum received the following grants (Executive Director Report AGM 2006):

  Granter	Purpose	Amount
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Operations & Maintenance	$80,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Exhibit planning	$15,000
  YTG – Heritage Branch	French	$7,500
  YTG – Heritage Branch	Train Conservation	$13,000
  YTG	Community Development Fund	$56,187
  Federal	HRSDC	$7,640
  Federal – Canadian Heritage	Virtual Museums of Canada	$102,720
  Canadian Museum Association	Young Canada Works	$4,536
  Canadian Library Association	Young Canada Works	$3,033
  Federal	YCW in Both Official Languages	$4,629
  Canadian Council of Archives		$8,096
  Lotteries	Oral historic recorder	$750
  STEP		3,240

  Partnerships

  The Museum continued to emphasize partnership in their work. Joint projects included (DCM Executive Director Report AGM):

  • the Parks Canada / Tr’ondëk Hwech’in joint partner pass
  • Science Institute lecture series
  • work with McBride and the Yukon Arts Centre
  • assistance to the Old Log Church for their travelling exhibit
  • work with the Yukon Queen on a prop display

  Staffing

  The Museum continued to use student employment programs, but had a number of performance issues and had to let a student go (DCM Report for July 2005). They provided employment for 15 people and 5 contractors (Executive Director Report AGM 2006).

• 2006:

  Exhibitions

  The Museum launched its first virtual exhibition and opened the redesigned visible storage, which involved treating the silver collection (DCM Newsletter vol. 22 no. 1 and 2).

  Partnerships and collaborations

  The Museum engaged in several partnerships / collaborations with other nonprofits, including (DCM Newsletter vol. 22 no. 2):

  • The Klondike Institute of Arts and Culture (KIAC) to present the movie series Miracle Planet during the summer.
  • KIAC and Musicfest on an application from the federal Cultural Investment Fund to redesign their websites.
• 2007:

  Earned Revenues

  The Museum decided to close the cafe and focus on things like consignments in the gift shop (DCM Final Report Summer 2007).

  Collections

  The majority of acquisitions were archival, such as a postcard featuring the Yukon Machine Gun Detachment (DCM Annual Report 2008).

  

  Governance

  The Museum held a series of meetings to develop a strategic plan (DCM Dawson City Museum Strategic Planning Final Report).

  The Board began to review policies (DCM Annual Report 2008).

  Programming

  

  The Canada Day attendance figure in the chart above reflects work to offer new and more exciting programming in front of the Museum (DCM Executive Director June 19 2008).

  Since the Museum received late notice for student employees, students did not give guided tours and a self guided booklet was developed. The students conceived and wrote the Miner’s Meeting where an audience member was accused of something and the audience voted on their guilt (DCM Final Report Summer 2007).

  The Museum created a Program Co-ordinator position, leading to Classic Movie Night and Oscar Night (DCM Annual Report 2008).

• 2008:

  Collections

  The Museum began a project to address the backlog of artifacts for cataloguing. As such, over 3,000 new records were entered into the database (DCM Annual Report 2009).

  Significant acquisitions included:

  • The Yukon Hotel Directory

  

  • Klondike Sun Photographs

  

  • Gold samples and pokes

  Governance

  The Museum adopted a new constitution and mission statement:

  To be a gathering place where people are inspired to explore the connection between the Klondike and their world.

  DCM Mission Statement Resolution February 21, 2008

  Programming

  The Museum began to offer “A Night at the Museum” for school children with funding from Yukon Energy (DCM Annual Report 2008).

  The Museum piloted a new program – Camp Cheechako – which taught people about what they needed to survive in Yukon at the turn of the century (DCM Annual Report 2009).

• 2009:

  Building

  The sprinkler system in the Locomotive Shelter failed. In response, volunteers formed an Emergency Response Team and began training for future problems (DCM Annual Report 2010).

  Collections

  The Museum worked to update its collection records (DCM Annual Report 2009-2010).

  Exhibitions

  The DCM had mannequins of local residents made in order to use in the exhibition (Source).

  

  Governance

  The Human Resources Policy was updated (DCM Annual Report 2009-2010).

  Programming (other)

  The Museum held A Night in the Museum for students in grades 5 and 6 (source).

  A new brochure was produced with funding from the Klondike Visitors Association (DCM Annual Report 2009-2010).

  The Museum held Invention Camp, which provided children from the Dawson Day Care and Tr’inke Zho Daycare to make devices based on the artifacts in the Museum’s collection (DCM Annual Report 2010).

  The Museum restarted gold pouring demonstration, which had stopped prior to 2007 because the machine broke (DCM Review of Dawson City Museum 2007-2012).

Government Policy

First Nation

• 2002:

  The Tr’ondek Hwech’in contributed $5,000 to support the work done for the Lind Gallery (DCM Newsletter vol. 18 no. 2).

• 2003:

  The Dawson City Museum (+ the ROM) lent the Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre artifacts for “Myth and Medium: Explore Athapaskan Artifacts in Their Homeland” (Source).

• 2004:

  A Tr’ondek Hwech’in Heritage Office invited the Dawson City Museum to participate in the event Myth and Medium 2004 (See documents in Julia Correspondence, Box 39a, Dawson City Museum Archives).

Federal

• 2000:

  Employment Policy

  There were some reductions in program amounts. Previously, the Dawson City Museum received funding for five students for eleven weeks. However, in 2000, the Museum received funding for five students for only ten weeks (Thistle 2000).

  Explicit Cultural Policy

  Tomorrow Starts Today was announced and led to investment in the arts and cultural sector, such as the cultural spaces fund (source) as well as the Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program (source).

  Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC)

  The VMC was established.

• 2002:

  Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI)

  The CCI conducted a report on the Dawson City Museum’s performance, finding “lt is imperative that key staff be hired on full time status … without key, full time staff, the museum’s operational profile will fall to levels which will question its ability to continue to operate as a museum” (p. 22 qtd in DCM Director Curator Report June 19 2002)

• 2004:

  Parks Canada

  Parks Canada submitted the Tr’ondëk-Klondike for consideration as a UNESCO world heritage site (source).

• 2006:

  Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) and Virtual Museums Canada

  CHIN launched an online museum learning space (DCM Newsletter vol. 22 no. 1).

  Explicit Museum Policy

  There was an unprecedented 3 hour debate in the house about museum funding and Members of parliament voted to both rescinding cuts to the Museums Assistance Program and establish a museums policy. A CMA communique on the topic sent to Yukon museums is available here and the relevant debate minutes are available here.

• 2007:

  Explicit Cultural Policy

  The Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program was created to support local festivals and capital projects with an emphasis on local engagement (Source).

• 2009:

  Explicit Cultural Policy

  The Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Programs was renewed, becoming the Cultural Investment Fund (Source).

Canada – Yukon

• 2000:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  The Yukon government began developing two virtual museums with 100% funding from the federal government (Source)

• 2006:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  The territorial government sponsored a Canadian Conservation Institute workshop on mannequin making (DCM Newsletter vol. 22 no. 2).

• 2008:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  The territorial Museums Unit help a Canadian Conservation Institute workshop on the care of industrial artifacts in Dawson City (Meeting 2008).

Territorial

There were significant changes to the territorial funding practices in the 2000s. Most notably, some of the project funding shifted to operational funding in 2003-2004, leading to a notable increase in that grant amount.

• 2000:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  The Minister for Tourism articulated an intent to develop a Museum Strategy based on consultation (Source).

  Implicit Cultural Policy

  The Community Development Find, which had previously funded the Dawson City Museum’s new storage facility, was threatened as it underwent review (See for example documents in 2000 CDF application, Box 27b, Dawson City Museum Archives).

• 2001:

  Explicit Cultural Policy

  The Art and Heritage branches merged (Slobodin 2001).

  Explicit Museum Policy

  The territory began consultations on a new museum policy, but did not consult the museum community on the terms of reference for the study (DCM Newsletter June 2001). The Territory hired consultants who released a discussion paper (DCM Newsletter vol. 17 no. 3).

  The Museum Advisor began actively advising museums to be more entrepreneurial:

  I understand now that one of the museum advisors has been to the community of Teslin, talking to the George Johnston Museum Board, insisting that the museum have a gift shop of sorts or something where they could souvenirs, mementoes, that type of thing on a bigger scale.

  YLA 30.2.69

  Implicit Cultural Policy

  The Finance Administration Act led to a new accountability regime for the Community Museum Operations and Maintenance program, causing delays in receiving funding (See documents available in O&M correspondence, 29b, Dawson City Museum Archives)

• 2002:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  Consultants released a draft Museum Strategy Report – Strategy for Maintaining Yukon’s Museums (see documents available in Strategy for Yukon museums, Box 29a, Dawson City Museum Archives).

  Yukon formed an advisory committee to draft a strategy from the Report (YHMA 2002, Summer).

• 2003:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  Yukon began 3 year funding arrangements with “those institutions which have shown an ability to develop long term strategies” (Taylor 2003). They also added four new organizations to the funding program and shifted project funding into the operating grant program (AGM Director Report 2004).

  The Museum Advisor became increasingly unavailable to museums. In a report to the board, the Director of the Dawson City Museum wrote:

  We are still waiting to hear about the success of the exhibit grant and the security grant. Just before the long weekend, I called [Museum Advisor] about this and he said we would know by early the following week.  As is becoming common, I didn’t hear anything. So, I followed up with another call and he gave me the same promises, but nothing has been received yet.  I will continue to pester him until we know.

  Report to Board forJuly 23 to August 26

  There was a Museum Roundtable with the Minister of Tourism and representatives from Dawson City Museum, MacBride, Old Log Church, the Transportation Museum, Miles Canyon Railway, YTG, Yukon Council of Archives, Heritage Resources Board, Beringia, Na Cho N’yak Dun First Nation, YHMA and George Johnston (Report to Oct 21 to November 27).

• 2004:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  The territorial government implemented a merit based funding arrangement, conducting a technical review of applications (Krahn 2004).

  The Heritage Training Trust Fund was established (YLA 31.1.81). The new program responded to Museum worker concerns. As stated in the Dawson City Museum newsletter:

  I was recently successful in receiving training money from the Yukon Heritage Training Fund. In my case, it was an example of good government at work. I had commented during a recent Yukon Museum Strategy revue that I wished for more accessible funding for training and upgrading and mny wish came true. The administrators of the fund were very helpful and co-operative and the application process was painless

  DCM Newsletter vol.20 no. 1

  There was continued funding for (YLA 31.1.81):

  • Operations
  • Exhibits Assistance
  • Conservation and Security
  • Artifact Inventory and Cataloguing
• 2005:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  Yukon Museum Strategy

  The Territorial Conservative came to Dawson City for a week for Spring cleaning. While there, she discussed the Museum’s projects, agreed to partially fund a locomotive restoration as well as other projects (DCM Report for April 22 to May 19 2005).

• 2006:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  The Museum funding was divided into two categories – capital and operations (YLA 31.1.191).

  The Minister of Tourism and Culture announced $200,000 in new funding to museums (DCM Newsletter vol. 22 no. 2).

• 2007:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  A Museums Advisory Committee was established with representation from the community museums.

  The new Museums Advisory Committee endorsed new funding to the Museums Contribution Program and the creation of new funding levels as follows:

  

  Yukon began distributing funding through Special Projects Assistance (YLA 32.1.47)

• 2008:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  Yukon provided funding to museums for operations and through the Special Projects Capital Assistance Program (YLA 32.1.73).

• 2009:

  Explicit Museum Policy

  A new Museum was added to the support program:

  The museums program, administered through the Department of Tourism and Culture, is pleased to provide support to 18 museums in the Yukon for a total of just over $1.3 million in direct funding support. This year we are very pleased to provide funding support of $38,000 to the newest member in the museum family, the John Tizya Centre in Old Crow.

  YLA 32.1.164

  The Yukon Museums Strategy was reviewed (Cambio 2013).

Local

• 2001:

  The City only provided 2,500 in funding (See documents in City of Dawson Funding, box 28c, Dawson City Museum Archive)

• 2002:

  The City restored funding to the Dawson City Museum to 10,000 (See documents available in City of Dawson funding, Box 29a, Dawson City Museum Archive).

• 2006:

  The City was unable to commit funding to the Dawson City Museum, noting:

  As you know the municipality is striving to recover from dire financial hardship and still remains deep in debt. Unfortunately, until our financial picture has improved we must focus on ensuring that essential municipal services and infrastructure are maintained and therefore we are unable to commit any dollars outside of these core responsibilities. That said, we would certainly entertain any non-financial requests to support your work.

  city of Dawson funding 2006, Box 33, Dawson City Museum Archives.

• 2008:

  Dawson City Heritage Management Plan

Community Action

• 2000:

  Local Community

  The Klondike Institute of Arts & Culture (KIAC) began the Yukon Riverside Arts Festival.

  Museum Community

  The Dawson City Museum participated in the Museums Alberta pilot project – the Museum Achievement Programme – to assess their programming (DCM Newsletter vol. 16 no. 1).

• 2002:

  Local Community

  The Dawson City business community wrote letters in support for the Museum’s campaign for increased operational support (See Community Mobilized).

• 2003:

  Local Community

  There was a Mammoth Conference in Dawson. The Museum participated by hosting the opening reception (DA Report for June 18, 2003).

  The Klondike Visitor’s Association eliminated the Community Casino grants due to funding constraints (AGM Director Report 2004).

  Museums Community

  The Yukon Historical and Museums Association commissioned Economic Impacts of Yukon Museums and Heritage Institutions

• 2005:

  Museums Community

  The Director of the Dawson City Museum became the President of the Yukon Historical and Museums Association, working with the YHMA’s director on lobbying issues and sitting on the adjudication committee for the Heritage Training Fund. In that role, the Director attended the Canadian Museums Association’s FORUM meeting, which is a meeting of provincial associations. At the meeting, they realized they were all experiencing similar issues with student funding. The Director wrote (DCM Report for June 2005):

   I was thrilled to be at the table and will sit at the table as often as I am able.  We discussed a number of issues at the meeting.  All the PMA’s had experienced similar problems as Yukon with regard to student funding this year.  We decided as a body to send a letter to the Minister outlining our issues.  The letter that I presented to this board at our last meeting which I sent on behalf of Yukon was used as the basis of the Forum letter. 

• 2007:

  Museum Community

  The Yukon Historical and Museums Association’s Artefacts Canada Treasures of the Yukon project led to collections work for Yukon Museums, including the Dawson City Museum:

  Work is currently underway at the Dawson City Museum where Erin is working to enhance the records in the collections database for the museums North Gallery where 892 artifacts are on display. To date 342 records have been enhanced, 94 records have been digitized and an inventory of the north gallery has been completed. Once work is completed at the Dawson City Museum the enhanced records from Keno City Mining Museum and the Dawson City Museum will be uploaded to Artefacts Canada

  Source

• 2009:

  Local Community

  The City declared John Gould Day and the Dawson City Museum served as a gathering place, hosting his birthday (DCM 2009 and 2010 Chair message).

Questions

What do you think? Is anything important missing? What other events should be considered as I ask – How has the Dawson City Museum evolved in relation to government policy and community action?

References

Cambio. 2013, October. Yukon Museums & Cultural Centers: Annual Roundtable Workshop.

Catherine C. Cole & Associates. 2014, June.  Funding Allocation for Yukon Museums and First Nation Cultural / Heritage Centres Options Paper. Cultural Service Branch, Department of Tourism and Culture, Yukon Government. 

DCM – A file name: This documents are internal Dawson City Museum Minutes or reports.

Krahn, Ed. 2004, May. Letter to the Dawson City Museum. YTG O&M 2005, Box 32, Dawson City Museum Archives.

Meuthing, Garnet. 2008, Fall. “CCI Training: Industrial Conservation.” Newsletter: 5. https://www.heritageyukon.ca/sites/default/files/newsletters/Newsletter%20Fall%202008.pdf

Slobodin, Brent. 2001, Fall. “President’s Message.” Yukon Historical & Museums Association Newsletter. 3. 

Taylor, Elaine. 2003, March. Letter to the Dawson City Museum. Directors Correspondence 2003. Box 39. Dawson City Museum Archives.

Thistle, Paul. 2000, July. Letter to the Minister of Human Resources and Development Canada. Correspondence Director. Box 27b. Dawson City Museum Archives.

Thistle, Paul. 2001, September. Letter to the territorial conservator. O&M Correspondence. Box 29b. Dawson City Museum Archives.

Thistle, Paul. 2001, October. Letter to the Deputy Minister of Tourism. Lind Gallery Phase III. Box 28a. Dawson City Museum Archives.

YHMA. 2001, Fall. “Yukon Museum News and Notes“ Yukon Historical & Museums Association Newsletter. 7.

YHMA. 2002, Summer. “Museum Strategy Working Group.” Yukon Historical & Museums Association Newsletter. 5