Nuu-chah-nulth exhibit items return home

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After two years and three showings, Out of the Mist-Huupukwanum Tupaat: Treasures of the Nuu-chah-nulth Chiefs, has been closed and artifacts are being sent back to the families, collectors and museums they were borrowed from.

According to Grant Hughes, director of cultural services, and the tribal council executive director, the Royal British Columbia Museum (RBCM) has been searching for museums nationally and internationally to borrow the exhibit and show it to their local audiences.

"There has been success with the Denver and Los Angeles museums. However, there have been no firm bookings since LA," said museum committee member Nelson Keitlah, who added that other museums have not been able to commit to receiving the exhibit as part of their travelling exhibit planning.

"Because of the size of the Nuu-chah-nulth exhibit, many museums were unable to accommodate unless the displays could be made smaller," said Ha'wiih protocol worker Willard Gallic.

"There was also some indication that American museums are focussing their efforts on domestic exhibits since September 11th," he said.

"The RBCM will be experiencing a significant reduction in available funding for the next few years, which will make it impossible to continue paying for safe storage while searching for other venues," said Keitlah.

The RBCM wants to express its "sincere thanks for a wonderful collaboration that created HuupuKwanum Tupaat: Treasures of the Nuu-chah-nulth Chiefs."

The RBCM will acknowledge and thank the Nuu-chah-nulth chiefs, in an event that will be attended by the corporate representatives of the museum.

The ceremony will take place on July 15, prior to next tribal council meeting in Tsaxana.