[BCMA] $454, 000 Granted to Support First Nations and Indigenous Communities to Bring their Ancestors and Culture Back Home

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv]

For Immediate Release

Province of BC and the BC Museums Association Announce 2020 Repatriation
Grants Results: $454,000 Granted to Support First Nations and Indigenous
Communities to Bring their Ancestors and Culture Back Home

May 17, 2021



The BC Museums Association is awarding 25 grants, representing nearly 50
First Nations and Indigenous communities in British Columbia $454,000 to
fund repatriation research and activities.

Throughout the history of Canada, Indigenous peoples have had their
belongings, language, culture, and even ancestors taken from them and
housed in museums, universities, and private collections across the world.
For decades, Indigenous leaders have worked tirelessly to support the
return of their communities’ ancestors and cultural patrimony.

Through the 2020 Repatriation Grants, the BCMA and the B.C. government are
taking a critical step in reconciliation and supporting this work. These
grants are funded through the B.C. government’s $500,000 investment in 2020.

“I raise my hands to all these communities doing this difficult and
necessary work,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and
Sport. “There is more to do but this is a step in the right direction. I’m
proud of our government for supporting each of today’s recipients to return
ancestral remains and cultural belongings to their communities. This is
reconciliation in action.”

The 2020 Repatriation Grants funded both research projects and repatriation
efforts. Research funding is critical because for more than a century
Indigenous ancestral remains and cultural property have been seized and
relocated across the world, often with little to no documentation. The 2020
Research grants assist communities in dedicating staffing, time, and
financial resources to seek information regarding the whereabouts and
identification of their ancestors and cultural heritage.

“First Nations throughout British Columbia are eager to have their
ancestors and related cultural patrimony returned. This funding
demonstrates a commitment to helping achieve this important step in the
reconciliation process and the BCMA is proud to support this work,” said
Jodi Simkin, BCMA President.

Projects funded by the grants will help Indigenous communities return the
remains of hundreds of ancestors home over the next year.

“We are grateful to be a successful recipient of the BCMA Repatriation
Grant. The grant provides us the means necessary to have sacred ancestral
remains and cultural belongings returned home,” said Samaya Jardey,
Director, Ta na wa Ns7éyx̱nitm ta Snew̓iyalh Language and Cultural
Affairs. “There are no words to fully express the positive impact this
sacred work will have on past, present, and future generations. Having
ancestral remains and cultural belongings returned home will bring a sense
of pride and peace to Nation members knowing that our ancestors and family
treasures are taken care of in a good way.”

For a full list of 2020 Repatriation Grant recipients, visit:
https://indigenous.museum.bc.ca/repatriation
<https://indigenous.museum.bc.ca/repatriation%20>



Contact:

Ryan Hunt

Executive Director, BC Museums Association

executivedirector at museum.bc.ca

<http://www.museum.bc.ca>

250.884.0499
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.museum.bc.ca/pipermail/listserv-museum.bc.ca/attachments/20210517/254acb4c/attachment.html>