On January 14, 2000 The Aboriginal Cultural Property Agreement was
signed at Calgary's Glenbow Museum. This agreement reunited Blood,
Peigan, and Siksika (Blackfoot tribes living to the east and south
of Calgary) with 251 artifacts of their First Nations heritage.
Hailed as the largest voluntary restoration of Native artifacts in
Canada's history, this remarkable event transpired after 10 years
of negotiations.
Honorary Blood tribal chief and Alberta's Premier Ralph Klein
commented after the ceremony that Indian religious and ceremonial
objects held by museums are as important to First Nations as
religious artifacts are to the Vatican.
The Blackfoot religion is a living religion. The 251 ceremonial
objects redistributed among the three tribes inspire immediate
use. These objects are central to First Nations cultural identity-they need them to practice their religion.
"There are two kinds of sacred objects," explains Dr.
Gerry Conaty, Senior Curator of Ethnology at the Glenbow Museum.
"There are objects that can be passed on to others through a
formal transfer ceremony and there are personal items. Some of
these can be sacred, too." He continues, "The Blackfoot
were interested in the transferable items, so that more people
could be involved in the traditional ceremonies and that way the
culture can be kept alive."
Prior to their journey back to their ancestral keepers, the sacred
artifacts were in the guardianship of museum staff. Before encountering the
artifacts, select Glenbow staff had their faces painted with
traditional red ochre in a sequestered "smudging area."
The religious artifacts were off-limits to staff who hadn't
undergone this ceremony. Some artifacts were loaned temporarily to
Blackfoot sacred societies. Visiting First Nations people used the
smudging area and performed a purification ceremony involving
smoke before being accompanied to the artifacts by Blackfoot
staff. All activities respected indigenous heritage and tradition.
Heritage Community Foundation Presents
