b'REPATRIATIONWe laboured to correct a historical injustice and succeeded: members of the Kitigan Zibi community in Ottawa to collect the human remains of their ancestorsOur people stated that if this is going toplastic bin and transporting them by car, bushistory, ties to the land and how burials happen in a respectful way, we need toor van. This was done in a ceremonial waytook place. It has reconnected the make the appropriate containers to reburyas decided by our community and Nation. community with a special part of their trad-the human remains, says Tenasco. It wasitional, unceded territory and affirmed the a natural fit to select birch bark for basketsEager to share their learnings with otherneed to keep in touch with their commun-because the Anishinabe Algonquin NationIndigenous communities, late in 2005ities via circles, dialogues and ceremony. are birch bark canoe and basket builders.Kitigan Zibi hosted the First Nations Birch bark played (and still plays) a hugeInternational Repatriation Symposium.Now, the repatriation is spurring intergener-role in our cultural traditions. We invited individuals from Haida Gwaii,ational connections. The human remains says Tenasco. It was a lot of sharing are located very close to the school, in a They collaborated with birch barkknowledge keepers shared teachings, storiesbeautiful place on top of a hill. Our resi-craftsperson and community memberand history of burials taking place in ourdential school survivors really connect with Daniel Pinock Smith to create birch barkrespective Nations. this sacred space. They have some orange containers. The human remains were care- rocks nearby, and they go up to feast with fully placed in these birch bark baskets atThat fall, the Kitigan Zibi Cultural Centrestudents and with youth, says Tenasco. Its the museum prior to the remains returningopened its doors to continue their journeyconnected us with our past, made links with to our community. We had prayers, cere- of reconnecting to their traditional heritage,our present and gets us thinking about our mony, and used sacred medicines, Tenascolands and cultural practices. Reflectingfuture. It encourages us to talk about who recalls. The women placed the humanon how this repatriation impacted herwe are as Anishinabe Algonquin people remains in the birch bark baskets. It wasntcommunity, Tenasco is grateful that itand about our traditions. Thats whats just a case of putting human remains in asparked conversations about their existence,so valuable.The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centresstrives to improve the quality of lifefor urban Indigenous people by providing innovative research, policy, training and community development to 29 Friendship Centres across Ontario.Join the movementScan the QR code to acess our careers pageor visit oforgareersOntario Native Womens Association47'