Haida narratives: reclaiming remains, stories, and artifacts of a living culture: Reclaiming a living culture

Abstract

  In recent decades, Haida of Haida Gwaii (formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands) has repatriated ancestral remains and sacred artifacts back to their communities amid conversations of reconciliation for past oppressive transgressions made upon Indigenous people. Some museums, collectors, and institutions refuse to participate in the repatriation, contending that they have the appropriate environments to preserve these pieces. Institutions also claim that the artifacts and Indigenous remains serve as reminders of colonialism associated with English history. This paper will argue that reclaiming and returning ancestral artifacts and remains is essential for reconciliation.

By revealing historical data, namely the consequences of the Indian act, The Truth and Reconciliation Report, and The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, this study clarifies the importance of returning the remains and artifacts of Haida Gwaii, adding that the best approach is to respectfully open dialogue to attain a common ground between stakeholders.

Keywords: Reconciliation, Haida, artifacts, remains, UNDRIP, Indian Act, museums, worldview.