Photo: Contributed

A conference in Kelowna on First Nations cultural repatriation is the first of its kind.

The Royal BC Museum and First Peoples’ Cultural Council teamed up to host the three-day conference, which got underway Wednesday and winds up Friday.

It's the first time in Canada a provincial museum has convened a symposium on the return of ancestral remains and items of cultural heritage.

“We are excited to come together at this event to talk about the First Nations point of view on heritage and repatriation,” said Tracey Herbert, CEO at the First Peoples’ Cultural Council.

“We hope that the outcome will be very forward-thinking and allow policy makers to respond to the unique needs of First Nations in B.C. Our knowledge-keepers are the experts and we look forward to receiving their direction on what investments should be made in order to protect and revitalize our cultural heritage.”

Forty-five indigenous leaders, museum professionals, First Nations artists and repatriation specialists will speak at the conference, including Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Aroha Mead from the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, artist Lou-Ann Neel and Jennifer Carpenter from the Heiltsuk Cultural Education Centre. 

The conference is titled Indigenous Perspectives on Repatriation: Moving Forward Together.

“This is the time to sit down with First Nations from across the province and hear the full range of experiences, expectations and desires about repatriation,” said Royal BC Museum CEO Prof. Jack Lohman.

“Additionally, we have assembled a dynamic group of repatriation experts from BC and around the world that we hope will be a resource for indigenous communities mapping out their repatriation plans.”