Historic repatriation: Tsawwassen’s ancestral artifact returns home after a century in Quebec’s museum

By Radha Agarwal, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Delta Optimist A delegation from Tsawwassen successfully brought back their sacred belonging, “Sqəmáθiá” home after a journey to Gatineau, Quebec, where it was held for over a century. “More than 100 years after being removed from our territory and housed at the Canadian Museum of History, the ancestral stone figure known as Sqəmáθiá has returned to Tsawwassen lands through repatriation,” said the Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN). The nation celebrated Sqəmáθiá’s homecoming with a huge gathering at its longhouse on Sept. 11. The event included heart-warming speeches, songs of resilience, cultural protocols, and a cedar cleansing ceremony. “Her return is the result of generations of determination, vision, and care. It reflects the ongoing work of those who protected our rights and remained committed to…

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