Image credit - CFJC Today

By Michael Reeve/CFJC Today

Indigenous trail blazer

‘Belief in the possibility of change’: The story of Len Marchand opens

Jul 1, 2023 | 9:45 AM

A new exhibit is set to open to the public today at the Kamloops Museum and Archives honouring the life and legacy of the late Len Marchand.

Marchand, who was born in Vernon and passed away in 2016, was an Indigenous trail blazer, serving the Kamloops community and the nation of Canada throughout his distinguished life.

He never truly expected to win the 1968 Federal Election in Kamloops.

“There is no shame in losing to a guy like Davie Fulton, but this is a great country and I know we have the vote now. why shouldn’t we participate,” said Marchand in 2011 to CFJC News.

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But with the help of Trudeau mania, the late Honourable Marchand made history in 1968, becoming the first member of parliament in Canada of indigenous descent. He would go on to serve in cabinet and then the senate, also firsts for a person of first nations status.

Now his life and legacy are on display in Kamloops for all to see and learn more about.

“I think my dad is a great example of what is possible, that believing in yourself, going through open doors, seeing advantages and making good choices all lead to the ability, and I will say, change the world,” noted Lori Marchand.

Marchand was elected only eight years after first nations people were given the right to vote in 1960.

“One of the very hurtful things in my life is not having the right to vote,” remarked Marchand in that same 2011 interview with CFJC. “And I knew it was very hurtful to a lot of my people, not being able to vote. So, regardless of which way I look at different things that still comes back to me as the major thing I did that was so important.”

A member of the North American Indian Brotherhood, Marchand help lead the fight to give his people the right to cast a ballot. Even now, more than 60 years later, the battles fought and won by Marchand are still reverberating throughout the nation.

“I think that there is a real statement there, that why everything is really important, and it is urgent, some of these issues before us as a society are very urgent,” said Lori. “But there is that element of patience as well, to make sure we are going forward in a good way, with understanding, compassion, generosity, and love.”

The exhibit, in titled ‘Len’, features a number of photos and pieces from the Marchand family, curated to show how he helped shape the nation through his ability to advocate for change.

“Introducing the history to some of those younger students, is amazing. I think that what we would hope, particularly for the first nations, indigenous students, that in his story they would see a possibility within their own stories, and stake strength from it,” added Lori.

The idea for the exhibit first began to take shape in 2019, through the pandemic the idea blossomed into the display that’s finally set to open tonight. For the museum itself and curator Matt Macintosh, he needed only a light hand, as the family was so supportive through build up.

“From our side it has been a really light touch curatorially speaking,” began Macintosh. “We wanted to show Len as someone who was always embedded in social environments. I think there is one or two shots of just Len, but most of them are Len with the people he would of interacted, and primarily people local, and also some lovely family photos from over the years.”

‘Len’ will be open until the middle of December for the public to take in. Lori’s hope is that all who view it can learn something new about her dad, and carry on his courage to fight.

“In his kind, gentle, humble, quiet way, was part of some remarkable, transformative times. and I think that belief in the possibility of change is really what I hope people take away,” said Lori.