Brilliant sunshine leads the ancestors home

Members of the Heiltsuk First Nation of British Columbia’s north coast gathered at the Simon Fraser University [SFU] campus in Burnaby Aug. 30 to participate in a ceremony that will end in the homecoming of their ancient relatives.

Coastal First Nations chiefs, community members, and representatives from the academic world filled the entrance of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at SFU to witness the Heiltsuk people reclaim a large quantity of ancestral remains that had been housed at the institution since the 1970s.

The remains, dated between 1,000- and 5,000-years-old, were handed over to the university’s archaeology department more than 30 years ago through an agreement between SFU and the Heiltsuk of Bella Bella and Namu, a small island 150 kilometres north of the northern tip of Vancouver Island.

Namu is the traditional territory of the Heiltsuk First Nation and is where the archaeological burial site is located from which the remains originally came.
“It’s a great, historical day,” announced Heiltsuk Tribal Council member Marilyn Slett.

“This is a momentous day for our people,” she continued. “It’s momentous and it’s also healing. It’s healing for our nation.”

“I’m honored and humbled,” agreed hereditary Squamish First Nation Chief Janice George. “I’m shaking inside with the power that’s here today. Your ancestors are here with you,” she told the Heiltsuk people.

George was asked to be a witness to the repatriation ceremony in which a document was signed and the remains were handed back to the Hailtsuk.

“I will tell my people that you took care of your ancestors in the right way, in the highest way that you can take care of your ancestors,” she promised.

The past agreement, approved by the Heiltsuk Tribal Council (HTC), allowed a group of archaeologists, led by Roy Carlson, the founder of SFU’s archaeology department, to excavate remains found at the Namu burial site in the 1960s and ‘70s.

During that time, the remains became the subject of many scientific studies, the findings of which now prove the Heiltsuk were the original stewards of the seasonal territories they occupied.

“The archaeology supports the Heiltsuk belief that they have been there [in their traditional territories] since time immemorial,” Carlson confirmed.

He said tests conducted on the remains determine sustenance patterns and diet the Heiltsuk survived on links them to the area.

Today, Carlson is continuing his research through examining potential bloodline connections by testing DNA samples from the remains against the DNA of present-day Bella Bella residents.

“We are very excited about this study,” Catherine D’Andrea, chair of SFU’s archaeology department, said in a statement.

“This research could yield important results, both in terms of increasing our knowledge about the B.C. central coast’s human history and in producing data relevant to significant First Nations issues, such as land claims.”

The topic of political and territorial right was echoed by members of the community.

“I believe that with the remains having been found there and being returned there, that this will open the door to land claims, and the testing of genealogy closes any unanswered questions,” said Namu native Arlene White.
“I feel [the testing] is important to our history and to our genealogy,” she continued. “We know we’ve been there from the beginning of time, but this is concrete evidence,” she said.

Andrew Petter, SFU president, expressed his respect of the Heiltsuk people for allowing the university to conduct the archaeological studies on their ancient ancestors.
“I know this is an incredibly important event for your community, and Simon Fraser is honored to play a part today,” he said.

“We spend so much time in our daily lives thinking about the here and now and the present, and this is a chance to really reflect on the past and show respect for history,” he added.

That deep respect for history was shared by other university faculty members.

“Bones matter. They’ve always mattered,” said John Craig, dean of Arts and Social Sciences at SFU. “We are intrinsically tied to the past,” he told ceremony attendants.

Although two ancestral remains were displayed during the ceremony, Heiltsuk Chief Harvey Humchitt said that the additional remains will be placed in bentwood boxes made by high school kids in the community before being in-turned back to the earth.

During the two-hour long ceremony, traditional drumming and song resonated throughout the campus building. Spiritual rites were also respected as a burning ceremony took place and certain dances were performed by the Heiltsuk people to ward-off bad energy during their ancestors’ journey back into the spirit world.

During these rites the sun began to shine onto the ceremony, transforming the day from otherwise grey, an omen for many that gathered.

“It’s an uplifting of our ancestors,” White said of the sudden sunshine during the ceremony. “It opened up the heavens,” she added.

“It brought excitement and goose bumps and all kinds of happy feelings,” White continued. “Those are our ancestors and they’re going home where they belong,” she smiled.

The reburial of the remains in Namu was held Sept. 2, while a community celebration was held Sept. 3 in Bella Bella.