Canadian Museum for Human Rights opening marked by music, speeches and protests

It was a morning of music, dance, speeches, a little rainand a lot of protest as theCanadian Museum for Human Rights officially opened in Winnipeg.

"With the placement of this final stone, at the heart of our circle, it is with great pleasure that we now declare open the Canadian Museum for Human Rights,"Gov. Gen. David Johnstonstated as the centre stone part of a circle ofhand-gathered stones from national parks and national historic sites was set in place during theopening ceremony Friday.

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Inside the event, hundreds of dignitaries gathered and heard speeches about the genesis and purpose of the $351-million museum.

Meanwhileoutside, dozens of protestersused the media spotlight to bring attention to issues of murdered and missingwomen,First Nations water rights, the disappearing traditional lifestyle of First Nationsand the Palestinian conflict.

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"What happens when these guys over here, with their suits and ties and their outfits, destroy everything?" one First Nations protester yelled.

You have to shine a light in some dark corners in Canada's history because we have to know, I think, where we came from to know where we're going.Stuart Murray, museum president and CEO

As strains of O Canada rang out, itmixedwith songs of First Nations women protesting and was punctuated by a woman yelling, "Your museum is a lie."

One of the first groups to arrive brought their message of the struggle of Palestinian people in Gaza.

They said they feeloverlooked and will continue to push in the hopesthat eventually they will be featured in themuseum.

The protesters saidthey wereupset theissue is not being recognized at the museum, even though they havemet with museum representatives over the past couple of years to have it featured in one of the galleries.

Other protesters called on the museum to recognize what they said was the historical "genocide" committed against First Nations by the Canadian government. They drummed, performed ceremonial smudges, chanted and carried placards.

Their sentiments were echoed by legendary Canadian musician Buffy Sainte-Marie, who is performing at the museum's opening concert Saturday night.

Sainte-Marie told reporters that Canada and the human rights museum should use the term "genocide" to describe the residential school experience.

"I think the museum needs to be much more honest, much more bold and much better informed," she told reporters Friday afternoon.

"I don't really think that some of the museum people are truly aware of what our history has been."

Sainte-Marie admitted that she hadn't seen all the galleries in the museum yet, but added that her expectations were not high.

Group cancels performance

Saturday's concert was supposed to featureFirst Nations DJ groupA Tribe Called Red, butthe grouppulled out on Thursday, citing concerns about how the museum portrays aboriginal issues.

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"We feel it was necessary to cancel our performance because of the museum's misrepresentation and downplay of the genocide that was experienced by indigenous people in Canada by refusing to name it genocide," the group said in a statement Friday.

"Until this is rectified, we'll support the museum from a distance."

Museum president and CEO Stuart Murray said the museum will and should spark protest and debate. The vision for the museum has always been to allow people to voice their opinions, he said.

"The Canadian Museum for Human Rights will open doors for conversations we haven't had before. Not all of these conversations will be easy. We accept that but we will not shy away," he said.

Officials saidthey are open to talking to different groups and will update the museum's content as human rights issues unfold around the world.

'The journey is finally beginning'

In addition to the opposition from protesters, themuseumhas faced construction delaysleading up to Friday morning's grand opening ceremony, which began with an indigenous blessing led by elders, including a First Nations prayer, a Mtis prayer and the lighting of an Inuit qulliq, or oil lamp.

Current Manitoba Premier GregSelinger, Winnipeg Mayor SamKatzand themuseum'snational campaign chair, GailAsper, spoke at the event, while the program also featured special performances from Canadian vocal quartet the Tenors, YouTube singing star MariaAragonand Winnipegsinger-songwriterand fiddle player Sierra Noble.

Asperpaid tribute to her late parents, Babs and Israel Asper, who werethe driving forces behind the museum.

"Neither my father Israel nor my mother Babs[is]here alive to celebrate with us, but I know they would be filled with gratitude and joy that the journey is finally beginning, this beautiful journey of education and, most importantly, action,"Asper said during the ceremony.

A children's dance finale, representing Canada's next generation ofhumanrightsleaders,concluded the opening ceremonies program.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper wasn't in attendance. A spokesperson said his schedule didnot permit him to be there.

Heritage Minister Shelly Glover, who attended the opening ceremony, saidthe museum is an important space.

"This is a museum that will provide information and an educational opportunity to so many Canadians, and it'll make you proud to be a Canadian," she said.

When asked about the protesters outside, Glover said she would like people to take a look at the museum before judging what's inside.

Lightning rod for protests, questions

The country's new nationalmuseumis located next to the Forks National Historic Site, where the Red and the Assiniboinerivers meet in downtown Winnipeg.

Designed by world-renowned architect Antoine Predock, the museumwith its Tower of Hope and sweeping windowsforms a newsilhouette on the city's skyline.

The museum has been a lightning rod for protests, and some academics say they're concerned the content may be susceptible to interference by governments, donors and special interest groups.

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"The most important concern is not the concern of individual communities who are disputing the exact manner in which their wrongs have been depicted, but rather the overall issue of independence," said Michael Marrus, an expert on international human rights at the University of Toronto.

Glover said at theopening ceremony that the museum "must present a balanced and factually accurate account of both the good as well as the bad."

Murray said the museum has not been subject to any interference, and the content does expose Canada's humanrights failures.

"You have to shine a light in some dark corners in Canada's history because we have to know, I think, where we came from to know where we're going," he said.