Mount Allison University gifts 250 Mi'kmaq artifacts to the Membertou Heritage Park
There was music, prayer, and a special ceremony for 250 Mi'kmaq artifacts dating back to the 18th century that were gifted to the Membertou Heritage Park Monday.
“We have everything from stones, to axes, to hammers, but also tools, arrowheads, mini arrowheads, we have some old items that are very special to people,” said Jeff Ward, the general manager at the Membertou Heritage Park.
The artifacts have been held at Mount Allison University for several decades. However, the facility recently decided they would like to return them to the Mi'kmaq.
“They were donated to us back in 1958 by an alumni,” said Anne Comfort, the vice-president, International and Student Affairs at Mount Allison University.
It is believed the artifacts came from Nova Scotia, specifically somewhere in Cape Breton.
Comfort says it's important all universities return indigenous artifacts to where they belong.
“I think we've taken so much from Indigenous people across Canada and I think when we realize we have items that are sacred to them, that are part of their history and culture, I think we need to return them to heritage sites like the one in Membertou,” she said.
Ward says there are more pieces of history on their way, but wouldn't say from where.
He says Monday's ceremony is a true example of reconciliation.
“When we talk about reconciliation, there's real action. The real action of making things happen and before we can have reconciliation, we must know the truth and here we have artifacts that are the truth,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.