Fur headpiece belonging to Harry Henry. It was purchased by Royal BC Museum in 1958. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

historic day

‘We bring this day to appease our ancestors:’ sacred valuables returned to Snuneymuxw First Nation

May 23, 2024 | 5:51 PM

SNUNEYMUXW — Dozens of sacred artifacts, some potentially thousands of years old, have been returned to Snuneymuxw First Nation (SFN).

A repatriation ceremony at SFN’s Recreation and Wellness Centre gym on Thursday, May 23 allowed band members an up-close look at numerous valuables produced by their ancestors, including sacred head dresses, stone artifacts and hunting tools.

Chief Mike Wyse said most of the collection of the nearly 100 items were stored at Royal BC Museum in Victoria for likely many decades.

“We don’t have a time when they were created, but some of them could be a couple thousand years old,” Wyse said.

Several stone artifacts like this one have been returned to SFN. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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He called reclaiming the items a lengthy and detailed process, culminating after an initial visit by SFN officials to the museum about 20 years ago.

“The spirit lives on within all of our ancestral remains,” Wyse said. “We bring this day to appease our ancestors to let them know that we’re remembering them and thinking of them and they’re going to live on in bringing them home today.”

Among the artifacts reclaimed were a herring drying stick, carved stone and bone jewellery, carved stone bowls and spindle whorls.

They’re believed to originate from areas in and around present-day Nanaimo, namely the downtown, Departure Bay, Cedar, Duke Point, the Nanaimo River and on Gabriola Island.

Chief Wyse proclaimed “this is just the beginning” in having many additional items belonging to SFN currently stored at other museums and galleries returned.

He estimated thousands of valuable artifacts produced locally by SFN ancestors are widely displayed, including as part of private collections.

“We’re going to be approaching museums around the world, US, eastern US and into Europe and getting a lot of our ancient items back. This is a process that’s going to be ongoing.”

A bow (top) and fish roasting stick (bottom) on display at an SFN repatriation event. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

While it’s not clear when or where the newly delivered artifacts will be displayed, Wyse said they will be available for public viewing at some point in the future.

Chief Wyse said a publicly accessible cultural interpretation facility to tell SFN’s story would be the perfect venue for the newly recovered items.

“It’s very important to let the people know we are and where we come from. When these artifacts come home we look after them spiritually, but the story behind them lets the people know who we are, where they come from.”

About 150 people attended the repatriation ceremony, including SFN Elders Geraldine Manson and Max Settler.

Manson was emotional while describing what she saw displayed, saying the items represent an important legacy established by their Elders.

“They’ve waited so long to come home, some of them are very, very sacred — it was used in ceremonies,” Manson said.

Settler said it’s powerful to be able to see and touch valued items from the past which shaped their way of life.

He hopes the return of their sacred items ignites interest among their youth to better connect with their past.

“We have been assimilated quite a bit already and we’re trying to turn the other way and recover our culture, so it’s up to the young people to initiate an interest, force themselves if you may, to take an interest, if they want to retain their identity,” Settler said.

Stone artifacts produced by SFN members. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

A berry rake device (L) and wool carder for textile production (R). (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes