First Nations Sacred Ceremonial Objects Repatriation Act
{{Italic title}}{{Use Canadian English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Short description|Alberta provincial legislation}}
{{Infobox legislation
| short_title = {{PAGENAMEBASE}}
| legislature = Legislative Assembly of Alberta
| citation = RSA 2000, c. F-14
| assented_by = 2000
| bill_citation = Bill 2
| introduced_by = Pearl Calahasen
| status = in force
}}
The First Nations Sacred Ceremonial Objects Repatriation Act is an act of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta relating to the repatriation of certain sacred ceremonial objects.
History
Initial repatriation efforts in Alberta arose from a controversial museum exhibition, which was entitled “The Spirit Sings”.{{Cite journal |last=Tünsmeyer |first=Vanessa |date=2022 |title=Repatriation of Sacred Indigenous Cultural Heritage and the Law |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-89047-6 |journal=Studies in Art, Heritage, Law and the Market |volume=3 |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-89047-6 |isbn=978-3-030-89046-9 |issn=2524-7425|url-access=subscription }}
Provision
The legislation mandates the return of certain sacred ceremonial objects by the Royal Alberta Museum and the Glenbow Museum.{{Cite news |last=Lederman |first=Marsha |date=2017-07-08 |title=For Haida, this wooden chest holds the promise of reunion with Indigenous treasures |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/haida-indigenous-repatriation/article35572292/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200705221229/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/haida-indigenous-repatriation/article35572292/ |archive-date=2020-07-05 |access-date=2025-05-01 |work=The Globe and Mail}}{{Cite news |last=Griwkowsky |first=Catherine |date=2018-05-09 |title=Bigstone Cree repatriating objects from Royal Alberta Museum |url=https://www.thestar.com/edmonton/bigstone-cree-repatriating-objects-from-royal-alberta-museum/article_1126d490-a4c5-5f0a-b385-0301671cd020.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250501230124/https://www.thestar.com/edmonton/bigstone-cree-repatriating-objects-from-royal-alberta-museum/article_1126d490-a4c5-5f0a-b385-0301671cd020.html |archive-date=2025-05-01 |access-date=2025-05-01 |work=Toronto Star}}
Further developments
In 2022, certain sacred ceremonial objects were returned to the Siksika Nation after being stored in the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery in Exeter, England for 144 years.{{Cite news |last=Gervais |first=Brittany |date=2022-05-20 |title=Sacred items returned to Siksika Nation after 144 years in U.K. museum |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/sacred-items-returned-to-siksika-nation-after-144-years-in-uk-museum |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521030238/https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/sacred-items-returned-to-siksika-nation-after-144-years-in-uk-museum |archive-date=2022-05-21 |access-date=2025-05-01 |work=Calgary Herald}}
In 2017, there were negotiations to expand it to the expand it to include the Plains Cree, Assiniboine and Saulteaux in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
= Amendments =
The act was amended by the First Nations Sacred Ceremonial Objects Repatriation Amendment Act in 2008.{{Cite journal |last=Fisher |first=Darlene |date=2012-05-07 |title=Repatriation Issues in First Nations Heritage Collections |url=https://jis.athabascau.ca/index.php/jis/article/view/79 |journal=Journal of Integrated Studies |language=en |volume=3 |issue=1 |issn=2816-3001}}