Artifact repatriation

For centuries, Indigenous cultural objects and ancestral remains have been appropriated and held captive by museums, collectors and institutions. It is estimated that in Canada alone, there are 6.7 million Indigenous cultural artifacts and 2,500 ancestral remains held in Canadian museums.

Rooted in racism, it was often thought that Indigenous people were unable to care for and preserve the objects as well as museums. By holding these artifacts, museums, institutions and non-Indigenous groups have profited off the Indigenous people.

While physical possession of objects and remains is one aspect of colonial harm, the inaccurate telling of Indigenous history and culture contributes to the ongoing mistreatment and misconceptions of Indigenous people.

Our role

Over the course of decades, our people have worked tirelessly to repatriate and bring home precious objects belonging to our ancestors and caring for them in the community. We are also helping museums and institutions tell more culturally informed and accurate stories of Indigenous people.

In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada published a report with 94 recommendations to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation. Recommendation 67 states that we call upon the federal government to provide funding to the Canadian Museums Association to undertake, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, a national review of museum policies and best practices to determine the level of compliance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to make recommendations. Since then, Indigenous groups across the country have been working with museums to decolonize their collections and return artifacts and ancestor remains to their communities. 

At our centre, we advocate and work toward the return of artifacts to Wékopekwitk (modern-day, Millbrook). We also work with community members who wish to donate artifacts to our centre. Our museum manager has participated in repatriation work [explain].

Contact us to learn more about repatriation or to discuss donating your artifacts to the centre.