CMHR Opens Nakba Exhibit Amid Board Resignation

Exhibit Opens to Public Despite Internal Tensions

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg is set to open its exhibit titled Palestine Uprooted: Nakba Past and Present to the public on Saturday.

The display focuses on people affected by the Nakba, the Arabic term for catastrophe, during which about 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced in 1948 amid fighting over control of what is now Israel.

Work on the exhibit has spanned four years, building on calls from Palestinian Canadians for their stories to be featured since the museum first opened in 2014.

Board Member Resigns Over Content Concerns

Board member Mark Berlin submitted his resignation earlier this week, stating that the museum was advancing ideology rather than accurate history.

Berlin had not viewed the exhibit prior to resigning and noted that it did not acknowledge the estimated 850,000 Jewish people forced to flee Arab countries in the years after Israel's establishment.

He argued that presenting the 1948 Palestinian displacement without sufficient historical and political context could increase distrust and animosity between Jews and Muslims in Canada.

Museum CEO Defends Decision and Process

Museum chief executive officer Isha Khan described Berlin's resignation as unfortunate, noting that he resigned based on his opinions about the exhibit and what he knew of it.

Khan emphasized that board governance exists to manage differing opinions and reach decisions in the best interests of the museum while fulfilling its mandate.

She stated that the board supported the museum in delivering on that mandate through the exhibit.

Criticism from Jewish Groups and Public Protest

Jewish groups have expressed concerns that the exhibit could fuel antisemitism by omitting broader historical context and by proceeding without enough consultation and transparency.

Dozens of people gathered outside the museum late Friday afternoon to protest the exhibit, carrying signs that read Don't erase Jewish experience and Facts not feelings.

Khan addressed criticism from individuals and groups who had not yet seen the Nakba exhibit, inviting them to view it with compassion and empathy.

Content and Artifacts Featured in the Display

The exhibit occupies about 12 metres of an existing gallery and incorporates video testimonies, photographs, art and writings.

Among the artifacts are property deeds, house keys and deep red embroidered clothing.

A timeline in the display references displacements on both sides, noting that before, during and after the war, hundreds of thousands of people became refugees, including Palestinian Arabs as well as Jews from surrounding countries.

Short videos present first-hand accounts from Palestinian Canadians displaced in 1948.

Curatorial Approach and Community Input

Curator Isabelle Masson consulted with about 10 Palestinian Canadians in Winnipeg and Montreal during development of the project.

Those conversations helped the team grasp the historical impacts of displacement and underscored the hope held by Palestinians.

Masson observed that the exhibition contains stories of intergenerational trauma, loss and uprooting, alongside accounts of beauty, cultural practice and art.

Personal Testimony from Fouad Sahyoun

Fouad Sahyoun, who was four when his family was displaced from Haifa in what is now known as Israel, settled in Canada in 1990.

Portions of an interview with the 82-year-old appear in the exhibit.

Sahyoun describes how his grandfather's properties were seized, along with the family's cars, bank accounts and furniture.

In comments to The Canadian Press, he expressed his dream of one day returning to Haifa as a Palestinian citizen.

He noted that people live under trauma that will only end when they are allowed to go back as decent people, as human people, in their homes and properties.

Sahyoun hopes the exhibit will help others know our story and know what we went through.

Museum Commitment to Additional Stories

Khan pointed out that stories of Palestinian Canadians have been underrepresented in the museum's galleries up to now.

She affirmed that sharing the experiences of one community does not diminish or negate the experience of another.

The museum has committed to telling stories about Jewish displacement in the future.

Khan encouraged those critical of the exhibit to enter the space first, after which constructive discussion about its content and any concerns could follow.

She observed that many concerns to date had been based on what the exhibit could be and on fear, rather than on direct viewing.

The report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2026.

Tags: Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Nakba exhibit, Palestine Uprooted, Isha Khan, Mark Berlin, Winnipeg, Palestinian Canadians, 1948 displacement

By Alex Thompson, Staff Writer