A reference for BC Indigenous communities and museums, created by and for Indigenous people working in repatriation.

?Our late friend and brother Rod Naknakim said, ?Reconciliation and repatriation cannot and should not be separated. The two must anchor our conversation and guide our efforts as we move forward collectively with common purpose and understanding.??
?Dan Smith, BCMA Indigenous Advisory Chair, Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre

We are in a new era of reconciliation that involves repatriation?the return of Indigenous objects and Ancestral remains to their home communities?and the creation of meaningful relationships between museums and Indigenous communities. This handbook, the first to be created by and for Indigenous people, provides practical information that will enable each of the 34 unique Indigenous language and cultural groups in BC to carry out the process of repatriation in ways that align with the cultural traditions of each respective community. It also provides information that will be helpful to museums, and to Indigenous communities across Canada.

Acknowledgements
Message from Lucy Bell, Head of the Indigenous Collections and Repatriation Department, Royal BC Museum
Message from Professor Jack Lohman CBE, Chief Executive Officer, Royal BC Museum, and Tracey Herbert, CEO, First Peoples? Cultural Council
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Organizing a Successful Repatriation
Part 3: Conducting Research
Part 4: Repatriation from the Royal BC Museum
Part 5: Repatriation from Other Institutions
Part 6: For Institutions Wishing to Repatriate to Indigenous Peoples in BC
Part 7: Case Study: Repatriation Journey of the Haida Nation
Appendix A: Glossary of Terms
Appendix B: Indigenous Museums and Cultural Centres in Canada
Appendix C: Organizational Templates, Procedures and Examples
Appendix D: Fundraising Resources
Appendix E: Sample Letters to Museums
Appendix F: Tips for Planning for Travel and Transport
Appendix G: Global Museums with Major Indigenous Collections from BC
Appendix H: Resources on Education in Indigenous Museology
Appendix I: Frequently Asked Questions about Repatriation
Appendix J: Repatriation Success Stories
"It was great to read the stories of young people encountering their Ancestors for the first time and of Elders working to add depth to the written histories in collections. The optimism and genuine enthusiasm in the text is important and deliberate."? Anna De Aguayo, BC Studies

Jisgang Nika Collison is executive director and curator at the Haida Gwaii Museum at Kay Llnagaay. Sdaahl K?awaas Lucy Bell is the head of the Indigenous Collections and Repatriation Department at the Royal BC Museum. Lou-ann Neel is the repatriation specialist at the Royal BC Museum.