THEY ARE NOT ARTIFACTS: HUMAN REMAINS

EXCERPT:

Serpent Mounds repatriation stalled

The Michi Saagig
of Hiawatha First Nation have been working for several years on the
repatriation of about 200 ancestral remains and ancestral artifacts
removed from the Serpent Mounds national historic site, about 150km
northeast of Toronto.

The park is home to ancient burial mounds
that date back about 2,000 years. There are 10 mounds in total.  The
largest is 60 metres long and 8 metres wide, shaped like a snake, that
contains the remains of 150-200 individuals.  It's surrounded by eight
smaller round mounds, each containing the remains of between 50 and 80
individuals.

The site was excavated in the late 1950s by an
archeologist affiliated with the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). Hiawatha
First Nation has been wanting the ancestral remains and artifacts that
are at the ROM repatriated for decades, although the formal process was
only started a few years ago. 

Richard Johnston's excavation at Serpent Mounds, near Peterborough, Ont., took place from 1957-1960. (Royal Ontario Museum)

While
the First Nation received approval to have the remains and items from
the mounds returned, not everything from the park is included.

Near
the mounds, three burial pits were also excavated.  The Huron-Wendat
nation has made a claim to the remains and artifacts removed from the
pits.

• Royal Ontario Museum to return human remains and artifacts removed from burial mounds

• Remains from 145 Indigenous ancestors in storage at University of Winnipeg

Chief Laurie Carr of Hiawatha First Nation says this has stalled the repatriation process.

"It's
very frustrating that our ancestors are still sitting at the ROM
because Huron-Wendat believe that they have claims to them and there's
no archeological proof of any Huron-Wendat villages in our area," said
Carr.

"There are a few sites around Rice Lake that are said to be Huron-Wendat, however they need to be substantiated." 

Carr said the Huron Wendat haven't come forward to meet with them, "which leaves us stuck."

There
are ten mounds in total at Serpent Mounds national historic site, the
largest being 60 metres long and shaped like a serpent. (Royal Ontario Museum)

"If they really cared about the ancestors they should be having discussions with us and they're not."

The Conseil de la Nation Huronne-Wendat did not respond to a request for comment. 

The Royal Ontario Museum declined to comment.

The
ROM's board policy regarding repatriation of Indigenous human
remains says "The ROM will not arbitrarily decide contested cases, i.e.,
cases in which more than one Indigenous group claim the same
ancestors."

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