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BUTTERFLY DESIGN
The idea of the butterfly was brought to our attention by the
Late Margaret Hewer. The butterfly represents the messenger
of the departed souls. It is also said to be a symbol of the traveling
Spirits, those departed and misplaced that are wandering about.
The design was created by the Late Brad Collinson and adopted
by our committee as our logo.

Photo: Trent Moraes

CULTURAL TREASURES
Although the main focus of the Haida Repatriation Committee is to bring home and lay to rest our ancestors, we have also managed to conduct
repatriation research and negotiations for the
return of our Haida Treasures.

Currently, Old Massett Heritage Resources and the
Haida Gwaii Museum are in initial negotiations with
the Royal British Columbia Museum, the UBC Museum
of Anthropology, and the Canadian Museum of Civilization, for the return of many of our cultural treasures. We have also been presented with voluntary repatriations of Haida cultural treasures over the years from private collections as well as institutions, including Parks Canada. 

As Haida treasures return home, our elders come to
see them. Seeing these treasures stirs memories long suppressed through religious influences and Residential School. It is so beautiful to watch these respected elders reach into their memories and relive the ancient knowledge passed down to them by their grandmothers and grandfathers. 

As they remember, they begin to talk, bringing the history, use and stories of these treasures out of concealment and passing this knowledge onto the
next generations to learn from. Without the return
of these cultural materials, so much of this knowledge would not come to the surface and subsequently would not be passed on.

GALLERY