The Yukon Historical & Museums Association unequivocally supports the joint statement submitted by the Indigenous Cultural Heritage Rights (ICHR) Task Force to the office of the Prime Minister and the Quality of Life and Well-Being Committee on June 19, which urges the Government of Canada to take leadership in implementing UNDRIP Action Plan Measure 98.
Measure 98 commits Canada to co-developing, with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, a coordinated national approach to repatriation/rematriation of Indigenous cultural belongings and ancestral remains, and as of the most recent annual report on Action Plan implementation is listed as ‘Not started/Pending’.
This measure is a critical step towards reconciliation, a stronger Canada, and the fulfilment of Canada’s obligations under UNDRIP. Recent cases such as the proposed auction of the Hudson Bay Company’s collection clearly demonstrate the urgent need for immediate, decisive action on this measure, and the lack thereof to date is deeply concerning.