Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has revoked the Order of the Buffalo Hunt, one of the highest honors in the province, posthumously awarded to Ferdinand Eckhardt, former director of the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
The move follows recent allegations and research revealing Eckhardt’s support for the Nazi regime while residing in Germany during the 1930s. The award, granted in 1982 for “outstanding service in the field of the arts in Manitoba,” was annulled by Premier Kinew, who emphasized the inappropriateness of honoring someone who had pledged allegiance to Hitler.
Eckhardt’s association with Nazi Germany came to light through an article published in The Walrus in November. The Winnipeg Art Gallery has already removed Eckhardt’s name from its main entrance hall, website, and other materials. Both the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg, which have facilities named after Eckhardt’s wife, Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté, are conducting reviews to determine their next steps.
The Order of the Buffalo Hunt, awarded at the premier’s discretion, can be revoked more informally than other honors. Premier Kinew drew a line through Eckhardt’s signature in the ledger of recipients at the Manitoba Legislative Building, signifying the revocation. The provincial spokesperson mentioned that the Manitoba Historical Society’s website would also reflect the revocation.
The Winnipeg Art Gallery is conducting research into materials donated by Eckhardt and the Eckhardt-Gramatté Foundation to ensure none were confiscated during the Nazi regime. If any such materials are found, efforts will be made to return them to the rightful owners or their heirs.
Eckhardt, born in Vienna in 1902, served in the German army from 1942 to 1944, eventually becoming an art historian. He moved to Canada in 1953 and served as the director of the Winnipeg Art Gallery until 1974. His connection to and support of Nazi Germany were highlighted in the article published last November, revealing his public endorsements of Nazism and his association with IG Farben, a company linked to the construction of Auschwitz concentration camp.
While the Order of Canada does not revoke appointments posthumously, a spokesperson expressed regret for Eckhardt’s appointment in 1976 and acknowledged the need to proactively address situations where an individual’s conduct does not align with shared Canadian values. The Order of Canada is considering ways to acknowledge such situations, responding to new information when possible.
