U of M apologizes for inappropriate acquisition of Indigenous artifacts

The University of Manitoba made a public apology to First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities Monday afternoon.

U of M president Michael Benarroch apologized for the university’s history of inappropriately acquiring and housing items related to cultural heritage, including ancestral remains and burial belongings.

The university said it began the process in the fall of 2019, when its anthropology department reached out to Indigenous faculty and staff.

As a result, a group of elders and knowledge keepers connected to the U of M formed the Respectful Rematriation and Repatriation Ceremony (RRRC) Council, with the goal of guiding school officials.

Along with the policy, the university and council developed a policy to acknowledge the U of M’s role in historical injustices, and to prevent similar transgressions from happening in future.

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Lorena Sekwan Fontaine, U of M Indigenous Studies head and RRRC chair, said Monday that the process is about restoring dignity to the people and communities that have been wronged by the university’s actions.

“Both the apology and the policy are essential steps in addressing the historical injustices inflicted on First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities,” Fontaine said.

“An apology acknowledges the colonial violence, and the policy provides a framework for respectful repatriation. Together, these actions are critical in repairing relationships between the university and Indigenous peoples.”

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