BRINGING AKWESASNE'S HISTORY HOME: CULTURAL ARTIFACTS RETURNED TO FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITIES

Representing Akwesasne at the ceremony were Grand Chief Leonard Lazore, along with District Chiefs Tesha Rourke, Scott Peters, Teresa Oakes, and Tom Thomas. They were joined by Cheyenne Lazore and Adam Jacobs of the Akwesasne Rights and Research Office, who also played an important role in supporting this historic moment.

The uncrating ceremony took place at the Canadian Museum of History and was hosted in partnership with the Assembly of First Nations. The morning began with a welcoming reception and opening prayer, followed by remarks from First Nations leadership before the sacred bundle and artifacts were formally uncrated. A closing prayer and Haudenosaunee Round Dance performed by the Akwesasne Men’s Singers helped mark the significance of the occasion and celebration.

Grand Chief Leonard Lazore reflected on the significance of the moment during his remarks, sharing, “These are not simply objects. They carry our stories, our teachings, and the voices of our ancestors. They connect us to who we are and where we come from.” He added that when these belongings were taken from communities, important relationships and understandings were also lost, and that repatriation is an important step toward restoring those connections.

The return of these cultural artifacts represents an important step on the ongoing work between First Nations communities and museums across the world. Through continued collaboration, respect, and dialogue, institutions and Indigenous Nations are working together to bring pieces of their history back to their rightful homes.