Approximate area in Medicine Hat where Indigenous remains were discovered and sent to the Osteology museum at the University of Alberta (CHAT News photo by Kevin Kyle)

By Brendan Miller

Indigenous ancestor remains to be returned to Medicine Hat

Mar 13, 2023 | 4:21 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Indigenous ancestor remains that have been in a museum will soon be returned to their original resting place in Medicine Hat.

The City of Medicine Hat is working with the Miywasin Friendship Centre and the University of Alberta to bring the remains back to be reburied in a respectful manner.

Three ancestor remains and associated burial artifacts have been held in the Osteology Museum at the University of Alberta since 1967 when they were uncovered near the Medicine Hat area.

Today the City of Medicine Hat launched The Ancestors Reburial Project website to highlight the details of the project.

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Leah Prestayko, Director of Community Development, says the next step is to support the Miywasin Friendship Centre while they do consultations with First Nations and Métis communities.

“They’ll be consulting with the indigenous community to understand how they best want to see the remains brought back to Medicine Hat and repatriate to ensure that we are upholding and following the cultural practices and traditions that are important to that community,” says Prestayko.

Prestayko says it’s important for the city to uphold the cultural practices traditions when moving ancestral remains.

“We’ll be able to learn more about how the remains should be handled, how they should be transported and how they should be repatriated, as well as, what will it look like in the community in terms of a celebration of that project,” says Prestayko.

“So what cultural traditions need to be abided by and take place so that those ancestors can be celebrated, brought back to the community and that the community can feel good about the process that’s been undertaken,” adds Prestayko.

The Miywasin Friendship Centre says the project will strengthen its ties with the city and the province.

“Miywasin will take the lead in community engagement to better understand traditional burial practices from the First Nations and Métis communities in this region to inform the respectful reburial of these ancestors,” reads a statement provided by the Miywasin Friendship Centre.

“Together we will bring education and awareness of our local and wider regional history, and the importance of Indigenous culture and traditions in healing and moving forward,” continues the statement.

The city plans to donate a space at Hillside Cemetery for the burial once the remains have been safely transported to Medicine Hat.

Consultations are expected to take place until April.