As someone who has lived in Edmonton for a very short time, I find it extremely difficult to come up with a list of items--even as few as five--that could be included in an archive of Edmonton. My experience in Edmonton is extremely biased because of the influence of a critical perspective from a variety of university courses. In any case, items in my archive would attempt to address Edmonton's complex history, politics and culture.
- The first and by far the most important item in my list would be the mural of Bishop Grandin at the Grandin LRT Station. The mural shows him with his wife who is holding a baby--ostensibly forcibly taken away from his/her First Nations parents to be put in a residential school to 'take the Indian out of him.' The grounds on which this city and even the University of Alberta stands, have a history of imperialism that needs to be recognized as a first step and this item will serve to remind us of that history.
- The second item I would include would be something--I'm not sure exactly what--that would symbolize the 100 years (so far) of the University of Alberta. Unlike many other post-secondary institutions, I feel that that University of Alberta is distinguished in its contributions to the city's character. For me, it represents the best of city. The capacity to critique itself and the city--which I have learned here--is absolutely necessary for the betterment of all of us.
- The thirdm item I would include would be a miniature model of the South Common Mall or the West Edmonton Mall. This would serve to demonstrate the rapid and what I deem unplanned growth of the city. The reason for this item's inclusion would be as a stark reminder of mistakes made that we need to learn from as a community.
- Next, I would include a complete hockey kit--especially skates. There are two reasons for this: first, the overall obsession with the game in Canada in general and Edmonton in particular; and second, as a symbol of our long and cold winters. Although I'm not interested much in hockey, you are surrounded by it in this city. Gretzky is remembered in street names and shops etc, LRT trains are full of fans during hockey season etc.
- The last item would be bucket of the oil sands. Edmonton owes its growth to the oil sands and our economy is fuelled by oil. Oil has defined us politically as a city and as a province in the country. It is also critical to the great debate on the environment and therefore it's connection to the city's history, culture and politics are inexhaustible. For instance, the city and the province's feelings towards the federal government and rest of Canada are heavily coloured by Trudeau's policies regarding Albertan oil and more recently debates such as those initiated by James Cameron's Avatar have been important in shaping our identities and politics as a collective.
The five items, interrelated at many levels and in many ways, represent some of the most important aspects of Edmonton for me. The point in an archive should not merely be to celebrate but to critically evaluate the negative and the positive. That's why I feel that my list of archival items is not only warranted but a very important one.