Gitxaala Nation, has welcomed back home 23 cultural treasures from the Royal BC Museum, marking a major milestone in its ongoing repatriation efforts.
The items were returned to the community of Lax Klan, located on Dolphin Island south of Prince Rupert, on July 8. A ceremonial blessing led by Gitxaala hereditary chiefs and elders took place at the local community hall for the occasion.
The ceremony included traditional medicines, drumming, singing, and dancing by Gitxaala鈥檚 Drum and Dance Group, followed by a community feast at the William Shaw Memorial Gym.
Among the items was a hayetsk (copper shield) once belonging to Chief Paul Ts鈥檌basaa, one of four Gitxaala hereditary leaders charged in 1872 with piracy and murder during the colonial Potlatch Ban era.
The hayetsk was eventually sold to the museum after ending up in the possession of a provincial police representative.
The return was facilitated through a collaboration between Gitxaala鈥檚 Language and Culture Department and the Royal BC Museum, supported by grants from Heritage Canada鈥檚 Museum Assistance Program and the First Peoples鈥� Cultural Council.
Gitxaala has been working on its repatriation program since 2018 and began working with the Royal BC Museum in 2021. The Nation is currently engaging with more than 20 museums around the world in efforts to return over 100 cultural items.
The 23 recently returned items are now displayed at Gitxaala鈥檚 Language and Culture Office in Lax Klan.
