ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the affective practices, or emotional responses, that develop between heritage professionals and community partners during curatorial projects dealing with challenging subject matter in a variety of Canadian museums. It seeks to better understand what kinds of affective practices are produced during the development of projects pertaining to difficult histories in Canadian museums and whether these emotional responses come to produce better museological methods. The chapter shows how examples of the museum work in Canada are being guided by culturally specific protocols. The practice of a human rights museology in Canada, that is, how museums are tackling topics related to cultural discrimination, violence and genocide through the lens of rights and justice, sits within the developing national discourse on human rights. Longstanding relationships in museum work are essential for any successful curatorial partnerships to grow; however, building these relationships takes time.
