Ross-Thomson House: Decolonizing Interpretation and Cultural Preservation

In this episode, hosts Itai Kuwodza and Shawn Smith are joined by Erin Isaac, a PhD candidate and Renewal Coordinator for the Ross-Thomson House and Store Museum in Shelburne. The conversation explores the challenges and opportunities of cultural preservation, community engagement, and the evolving interpretation of Loyalist and Black history in Nova Scotia.

Episode Highlights:

• Introduction to the Ross-Thomson House and Store Museum: its history, current interpretation, and the need for more accurate and inclusive storytelling.
• The importance of community consultation in museum renewal projects, including the use of surveys and outreach to ensure diverse voices are heard.
• The complexities of interpreting sites of enslavement and the story of Catherine Edwards, a woman enslaved at the Ross-Thomson House who later escaped.
• The role of language, accessibility, and collaboration in public history and academic research.
• Decolonizing historical narratives: moving beyond traditional, white-centered perspectives to include Black, Indigenous, and other marginalized voices.
• The challenges of resource limitations, institutional discomfort, and the need for ongoing, community-led change.

Credits:

• Hosted by Itai Kuwodza and Shawn Smith
• 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:

• “Growth happens at the edge of comfort. When we push just enough to make people a little uncomfortable, that’s where real change begins.”
• “Expanding the narrative, we tell doesn’t mean we’re removing other narratives. It just means we are complicating ones that have not been complicated yet.”
• “The only way we can do this work is by working together. There’s so much value in sharing what you’re learning, especially when it comes to community history.”

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