University giving artifacts back to First Nation

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Remains exhumed from a First Nations burial ground on Old Birch Island 67 years ago will finally be returned to Whitefish River this summer. For Chief Franklin Paibomsai, the battle to secure the repatriation has been arduous.

The small band, consisting of 315 on-reserve members and 435 off-reserve members, has been grieving the violation of their community cemetery since 1939. At that time, Emerson Greenman, a University of Michigan professor, conducted an unsanctioned dig. Human bones, copper kettles, iron knives and beads were removed from the gravesite.

Whitefish River lands manager Esther Osche maintains that Greenman took advantage of the band members. In her view, the anthropologist raided the graves without permission and transported the remains and artifacts to the Michigan Museum of Anthropology.

"Their innocence, their naivete were exploited by Mr. Greenman," she said.

In 1983 the First Nation, located 68-kilometres southwest of Sudbury, started negotiations with the university in a bid to right the decades-old wrong. By 1997, Paibomsai said, the campaign for repatriation had intensified.

The band encountered many roadblocks and brick walls along the way. Aboriginal world view clashed with the university's entrenched European value system, the chief said.

"We had discussions back and forth but communication was fragmented because the university representatives did not understand the wound that had been created in the community. They didn't see it (the artifact removal) as catastrophic as the community perceived it to be."

Grappling with the bureaucratic maze at the academic institution was frustrating, Paibomsai acknowledged. However, he eventually came to understand the credo at work within the institution.

"The university took the position that they were the keepers of knowledge. They didn't recognize the First Nations view of the Elders as the true keepers of knowledge. They took a very narrow view of the issue."

Fear was also a factor, he noted. University officials were worried about the loss of research grants. They were also concerned that other groups would demand return of materials in their collection. And the university did not believe the remains were from the White Fish River First Nation. The band sought feedback from outside experts and eventually presented evidence that supported their claim.

"What worked in our favour was the fact that we knew our history," he said. "We were honest and consistent. That convinced them that we were not going to go away. We would continue to hammer away at them."

The approach paid off. The university relented in March 2005 and arrangements have been made to turn the artifacts over to Whitefish River.

"The ancestors are happy they are coming home. It is truly rewarding to know that," the chief said. "The ancestors are definitely our link with our past and our future. The return of the artifacts will provide some closure to some very old wounds."

Now comes the difficult spiritual work. From community discussions with Elders, a protocol for reburial will be agreed upon.

The chief emphasizes the importance of involving the youth of the community in the re-interment ceremony. Once the new generation understands the link with the ancestors, he believes future violations can be prevented.

The long ordeal has left him with mixed emotions. "This has taken a lot out of me spiritually," he said. "I am relieved it is over but I am frustrated that it took so long."

In 1990 the U.S. Congress passed legislation requiring museums to notify Native communities about artifacts in their collections. The law does not apply to Canadian institutions but some museums are adopting the policy.

For instance, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto has stated its intention to follow Michigan's example. The ROM holds in its collections a number of objects that were taken from burial grounds on Old Birch Island/Great Cloche Island The museum is expected to comply with the band's request for the return of the 222 beads, seven bullets, one wooden cup, three bangles, one gunflint and one metal strike-a-light dating from the 18th century.