John Haugen (Lytton First Nation), Richard Forrest (Lytton Museum & Archives Commission), and Lorna Fandrich (Lytton Chinese History Museum). Photo: Mark Forsythe

The British Columbia Historical Federation (BCHF) is pleased to announce the Lytton First Nation, Lytton Chinese History Museum and the Lytton Museum and Archives have jointly received the second annual Cultural Resource Accessibility Award. Each lost priceless collections following the devastating fire of 2021.

The Lytton First Nation is recognized for its dedication to rebuild, restore and re-establish artifact collections to maintain Nlaka’pamux cultural traditions and ensure knowledge transfer. The Lytton Chinese History Museum is recognized for its dedication to rebuild, restore and re-establish artifact collections telling the stories of the Lytton and the Interior’s Chinese community. The Lytton Museum and Archives is recognized for its dedication to rebuild, restore and re-establish artifact collections telling the community’s stories in Lytton.

The Cultural Resource Accessibility Award honours excellence in cultural resource management that connects British Columbians with their history and highlights steps being undertaken by communities to improve visibility and access to British Columbia’s cultural resources.

After the 2021 heat dome fire that consumed their village, these three organizations worked tirelessly to rebuild artifact collections — and their communities. Working with conservators, they have been able to
salvage select objects from their organizations. Richard Forrest of the Lytton Museum and Archives was able to save a shared server containing the digital archives of both the Lytton Museum and Archives and the Lytton Chinese History Museum. Artifacts and belongings lost during the fire will live on for researchers interested in Lytton’s rich history through this database and will help reduce the effects of the mass loss of critical cultural and historical materials in the region.

All three organizations are being offered new artifacts to replace those that were lost and are embarking down paths to keep connecting people with the community’s rich history. Each is doing remarkable work rebuilding important collections that speak to the rich history, people and events in one of the provinces oldest communities.

The award was presented at the Federation’s annual conference awards gala in Princeton on July 22.

To view videos of each of the recipients, created by the BCHF in 2021, see: https://www.bchistory.ca/lytton-museums-plan-to-rebuild/