Healing narratives (Kataraina Poi, New Zealand, ITP 2025)

Written by Kataraina Poi, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou, Tairāwhiti Museum, Aotearoa (New Zealand, ITP 2025)

When people think of Glasgow, they often picture its striking medieval and gothic architecture, cathedrals, and old castles. It’s a city rich in history but not all of it is pretty. Sitting along the river Clyde, Glasgow’s beauty is layered over a difficult past built on the transatlantic slave trade.

Since arriving here, we’ve had the chance to visit places like Kelvingrove, Kelvin Hall and The Burrell Collection. All institutions are openly acknowledging this darker chapter of Glasgow’s history and are actively working to incorporate these narratives into their museum spaces. It’s a noble effort, and in some ways inspiring. The kind of work more institutions should be doing.

But as I walked through these spaces and listened, I found myself sitting with a lingering question: Whose voice is telling the story?

Yes, there’s an intention to shift the narrative, to take responsibility and bring these histories forward. But if we’re serious about reimagining how histories are told, then we need to move beyond the voices of the institutions and bring in the voices of those who were directly impacted. Shouldn’t they be leading these conversations?

In one of our sessions, we met with the team working on the redevelopment of the People’s Palace Museum, specifically around how to interpret the legacies of slavery and empire within the institution. They were passionate and enthusiastic, sharing curatorial plans focused on materials like wool and sugar, and how these were exploited for economic gain. As I listened, I felt that familiar burn, the one that signals something important needs to be said.

I asked: “I can see the intention behind this, and I acknowledge the work being done, but where are the voices of the people who were directly impacted by this history? How are you engaging with those communities? Will their stories be part of this narrative?”

Their response was honest – it wasn’t something they had considered in that way. But they understood where I was coming from. Right now, the project team are working on expanding the stories and narratives and their approach is community centred. They’re engaging with local Glaswegians and schools, running information sessions to gather feedback and perspectives.

While this lens hadn’t initially been front of mind, the team were open and receptive to my feedback and recognised that this is a key to growth. They’re taking steps in the right direction by involving the community. My hope is that this approach doesn’t stop at the local community but extends to include the voices of those impacted by the very legacies they’re trying to unpack.

I want to be clear: I’m not here to protest or impose my values on others. But when you’re inside an institution that holds power over how stories are told, you can’t help but speak up. Not just for yourself, but for the people, for the community, for the future generation.

Unpacking history through both lenses – the coloniser and the colonised, opens a pathway to healing. That healing begins by creating space for Indigenous and non-western voices to lead. To tell their stories. To create. To curate. To be heard.

Though this blog was supposed to be about my day in Glasgow. And to be fair – The Burrell Collection is stunning. Ethically curated, beautifully displayed, and a must-visit if you’re ever in town. The biggest highlight is the 5-minute walk to see the adorable highland cows; I wish I could take one back to New Zealand with me.

But I wanted to use this space to centre the voices that are often left out. To bring the full story forward – both sides of it. When relationships are built on trust, the narratives change. And when narratives change, healing begins for both sides.

If you’d like to stay updated on the People’s Palace project, follow this link. Their working team were open and positive to my feedback, so I’m sure they’d welcome yours too.

https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/venues/peoples-palace/whats-happening-at-the-peoples-palace