By Beverly Osazuwa
In February 2023, the Nuxalkmc (Nuxalk People) celebrated the return of a totem pole that was held by the Royal British Columbia (BC) Museum for over 100 years. Hereditary Chief Snuxyaltwa (Deric Snow), who led the ceremony and the repatriation process, shared with CBC News that the totem pole was carved by his great-grandfather, the late Louie Snow, in the late 19th or early 20th century. It was placed outside the family longhouse in Talleomy (South Bentinck).[1]
Indigenous peoples around the world have long sought the return of ancestral remains and cultural artifacts, and the homecoming of a totem to the Nuxalk Nation[2] adds to the strength of the repatriation movement in Canada. Upon its widely celebrated return, this article contextualizes the legal tools and social action for reconciliation that contributed to its homecoming.
The Nuxalkmc, Smayusta, Treasures & Loss
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