The 29 hand-woven baskets on display at the Sts91裸聊视频檃iles Lhawathet Lalem (Healing House), were empty. Yet, the memories and wisdom they contained filled the hearts of the people who welcomed them home.
The joyous repatriation ceremony on Friday, March 3, was an 91裸聊视频渁nswer to prayers91裸聊视频� as the Sts91裸聊视频檃iles community celebrated the return of the 29 baskets that were once on display at the Kilby Historic Site in Harrison Mills. Some of the baskets dated back at least 100 years.
Chief Ralph Leon said the return of these baskets has been in the works since about 2017.
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91裸聊视频淭he history that91裸聊视频檚 here with us belongs to the Sts91裸聊视频檃iles people,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲hatever91裸聊视频檚 embedded into the ground, surrounding our territory, belongs to the Sts91裸聊视频檃iles people. I really want to thank those who are really involved in this beautiful work.91裸聊视频�
St91裸聊视频檚ailes Elder Sel Ya:al (Nancy Patricia Charlie) said she was 91裸聊视频渢ouched91裸聊视频� by the return of the ancestral baskets.. Even without seeing the display first, she was certain some of the baskets belonged her and her husband91裸聊视频檚 ancestors.
91裸聊视频�(My husband) used to make these baskets; he used to work with his mother,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淲e remember those old people. They told us, because we were young when we got married, they told us 91裸聊视频榶ou91裸聊视频檙e going to carry it on. You91裸聊视频檙e a part of helping us, to guide us to where we are today.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
Sts91裸聊视频檃iles Coun. Boyd Peters, Friday91裸聊视频檚 master of ceremonies, said the return of these baskets were vitally important to the people, particularly the youth.
91裸聊视频淭heir great grandparents, their, great, great, great, great grandparents, they91裸聊视频檙e the ones that did this work, and they91裸聊视频檙e in museums right now,91裸聊视频� Peters said.
He recalled his own grandmother, blind from diabetes, weaving the baskets, fueled by her passion for the work.
The joy at Lhawathet Lalem was palpable. Boyd hearkened the celebration to a repatriation ceremony when a s谩sq91裸聊视频檈ts (Sasquatch) mask was returned to Sts91裸聊视频檃iles years ago.
91裸聊视频淲hen the family was bringing in that mask, that mask was just dancing,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭hat spirit was just so alive. That mask was alive; everything we have is alive. So when that happened, it was a real healing for our family.91裸聊视频�
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MLA Kelli Paddon expressed her gratitude and joy to be able to witness the repatriation.
91裸聊视频淚 get to share Sts91裸聊视频檃iles because you share so generously with me, about the stories and the strength,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淎nd I get I get to talk about the baskets and what they mean and what they carry. The baskets are being held, and there91裸聊视频檚 nothing in them, but there91裸聊视频檚 everything in them.91裸聊视频�
Members of staff from the Kilby Historic Site and Fraser Valley Regional District Area C director Mel Waardenburg also witnessed the repatriation. Ceremonies concluded with celebratory dances from the Sasquatch Dancers.
Peters said some of his grandmother91裸聊视频檚 baskets are on display at a museum in Vancouver, urging the province to continue the works of repatriation and reconciliation.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a lot more work that we need to do,91裸聊视频� he added. 91裸聊视频淲e want to turn back things to our communities. We91裸聊视频檙e getting back a little bit of our land right now, but it91裸聊视频檚 so critical for the next generations that we do this 91裸聊视频� that we always have a place in our heart, we have a place to put these sort of things.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淭he closer we work, the work becomes strong,91裸聊视频� Leon said. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 my message to my friends that are here.91裸聊视频�
adam.louis@ ahobserver.com
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