Museum, Kitigan Zibi in tug of war over remains

Page 24

The Canadian Museum of Civilization is refusing to hand over human bones that are thousands of years old because it says the Native group requesting them cannot prove the remains are those of its ancestors.

While the two sides are at an impasse, spokesmen say they plan to meet in February to discuss the issue.

"I've indicated to the museum 'No doors are closed as long as you don't close any doors'.... Everything's on the table for discussion," Gilbert Whiteduck, director of education for the Kitigan Zibi Anishnabeg, told Windspeaker.

The museum's director of archaeology, David Morrison, is waiting to hear if the band would agree to some of the bones being radiocarbon dated to establish their age, a process that would burn a mark the size of a pencil eraser on their surface.

"We're not asking their permission because (the bones are) still in our possession, but we do want to know what they think about it. But they haven't responded yet directly to us," he said in an interview.

If the band disagrees, "it may well be that we don't radiocarbon date them. We're trying to be transparent," Morrison added.

Whiteduck said the band learned of the bones, which have been in the museum's possession for eight years, by chance last year. Subsequently, a group of Elders traveled from the community (130 kilometres north of Ottawa) to view the remains.

"As they opened the cabinets and we looked at those human remains, we knew we had to (do it)," Whiteduck told CBC Radio. "It was almost like they said, 'Do something. Bring us back.'"

But Morrison said it's not that easy. While the museum has handed over remains to a half-dozen other Native groups in recent years, "this is the first time where we've been asked to repatriate human remains where there wasn't an apparent cultural connection.

"There is no way on present evidence that we can connect 5,000- or 6,000-year-old sites with the Algonquin," he said.

As a result, Morrison said the Kitigan Zibi's claim should not automatically override the museum's claim that it should be able to study the bones.

The museum's collection of remains found in traditional Algonquin territory includes 500 bones, likely representing about 30 individuals, Morrison added. About 80 per cent of those are thousands of years old.

According to Whiteduck, the link between his people and the remains is found in Algonquin Elders' teachings.

"These are our relatives. They don't have to be aunts and uncles, but we are the descendants of these people. There's a connection there, and a spiritual connection also. And we have a responsibility that we believe the Creator gives us to make sure that certain things are done right and are taken care of."

One expert says there are ways to satisfy both sides.

Kris Nahrgang says he has worked with Native groups, museums and other institutions to repatriate many remains in central Ontario.

"If we found remains tomorrow they would be exhumed as carefully as possible, with a ceremony if possible," said Nahrgang, chief of the Kawartha Nishnawbe in Burleigh Falls, near Peterborough.

"We take them to the university, do an examination of them-very detailed-try and get as much information as we can and when that is finished, they're given to the band and repatriated. There's no need to hold them after that," he said.

Nahrgang used human remains and artifacts to prove his band's claim to hunting and fishing rights in the area, and encourages other Native groups to make such historical information work for them. For example, some bands near Peterborough have agreed to let researchers routinely keep a tooth from remains so they can do certain tests.

"Every time we find something like this, we take that information and we use it for our land claims cases. We're more powerful for it," Nahrgang said.

"If (the museum) needs to do legitimate research, I think that's fair. I really think that that's important for all the people of Canada .... But First Nations have responsibility to put (the remains) back where they're supposed to be, in the ground, in mother earth."

One of Nahrgang's teachers and colleagues, Trent University anthropology professor Susan Jamieson, said the opposing sides have a communications problem.

"My stance would be, you open negotiations with the community and you don't do any of this (research) till you have approval. My experience has been that often when things are properly explained to the Elders they understand better and they will permit things."

Jamieson told Windspeaker she does not agree that today's Native groups must prove a direct link to remains.

"I don't think it's realistic...this business of saying 'you're a modern group of people, you have to prove descent. It's impossible because people move around and you're not staying in one place like a rock."

The notion that a direct cultural link must be established before remains will be repatriated was found in a Washington State court ruling last year. It supported a group of scientists who wanted to study the 9,000-year-old bones of the 'Kennewick Man,' remains, discovered in 1996 and claimed by the Puyallup Tribe.

Though four tribes were in court in January to challenge the decision, it "made archeologists in North America stand up, cheer, clap," said Morrison. "It's the first good news we've had in a long time on such issues."

The decision is not binding on Canada, yet it does set an ethical precedent here, said Morrison.

"It's our belief that we need to get along with Aboriginal people, but that doesn't necessarily mean that their views must prevail in all matters dealing with the ancient heritage of this continent."

Whiteduck said the museum could start getting along with the Algonquins by visiting their community.

"If the museum and anthropologists and archeologists want to learn about Aboriginal people, the Algonquin people, maybe they should come and see the real thing, come and talk to the people today because all of the orl history has been passed down to the Elders. They make no effort to come and talk to these people yet they want to destroy bones and dig at them."

Nahrgang said the Algonquins should also visit the museum.

"The band should be able to go in there right now and do a ceremony for those bones and those ancestors. They should be able to be involved in the process and know what's going on. Then they should be able to repatriate those bodies with a ceremony."