| Home | |||||||||
| Our Process | |||||||||
| The Journey | |||||||||
| Our Learning | |||||||||
| Cultural Treasures | |||||||||
| Respecting Our Ancestors | |||||||||
| End of Mourning Ceremony | |||||||||
| Documentaries | |||||||||
| Contact and Contributions | |||||||||
BUTTERFLY DESIGN
The idea of the butterfly was brought to our attention by the
Late Margaret Hewer. The butterfly represents the messenger
of the departed souls. It is also said to be a symbol of the traveling
Spirits, those departed and misplaced that are wandering about.
The design was created by the Late Brad Collinson and adopted
by our committee as our logo.
THE FIELD MUSEUM
In October 2003, a delegation of almost forty Haida, joined by relatives and friends, traveled to Chicago to repatriate the remains of one hundred and sixty Haida ancestors from the Chicago Field Museum (CFM). This was the largest repatriation of Haida ancestral remains, and the largest cross-border repatriation the CFM had ever done. These ancestors originated from villages all over Haida Gwaii, including Kung, Massett, Kiusta, North Island, Yan, Skedans, Nan Sdins, Skidegate, T’aanuu, Cumshewa, Kayang, Kaisun, Ts’aahl, Skincuttle and Kaidsu. They were taken from their graves on Haida Gwaii between 1897 and 1903, primarily by George Dorsey and Charles F. Newcombe. There is one Haida ancestor from Alaska, who will be dealt with by the Kaigani Haida of Alaska through NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection & Repatriation Act).
Records indicate a collection of well over two hundred Haida pieces held at the Chicago Field Museum, including ten model houses and fourteen plus model poles out of a collection of twenty-nine houses and forty plus poles made by Haida artists for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Two House frontal poles which stand in the CFM’s main entrance, a large selection of incredible pieces on permanent exhibit, much more in storage.
LINKS TO STORIES AND INTERVIEWS
CHICAGO FIELD MUSEUM
Press release, 2003
INDIAN COUNTRY
Chicago Field Museum repatriation, 2003
STORY 2
SPRUCEROOTS 2004
Chicago Field Museum repatriation
NPR
Chicago Field Museum repatriation – includes sound clips from interviews
MACLEAN'S
Chicago Field Museum repatriation preparation, 2003
