Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
August 17, 2011
Inuit Remains Returned to Rose Island
The remains of 13 Inuit were returned to northern Labrador and laid to rest during an emotional ceremony that took place yesterday, August 16. Attending the repatriation were the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nunatsiavut President Jim Lyall. Also present were the Honourable Patty Pottle, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, and Nunatsiavut’s Minister of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Johannes Lampe.
“This repatriation ceremony – a ‘homecoming’ of Inuit ancestors who are loved and revered – took the collective efforts of both our governments to accomplish,” said Premier Dunderdale. “The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Nunatsiavut Government have long enjoyed a warm and friendly relationship. The return of these remains to their rightful place of eternal rest, to Nunatsiavut, ‘Our Beautiful Land,’ has served to strengthen and deepen that shared bond.”
Rose Island is located in Saglek Bay within the Torngat Mountains National Park. In the early 1970s, the remains of 113 Inuit – 100 from Rose Island and 13 from Upernavik Island – and associated artifacts were excavated from stone burials as part of a research project conducted by Memorial University. What was believed to be all of the remains were returned and reburied in 1995. It was recently discovered that some fragmentary remains were accidentally missed. These remains had been part of The Rooms Provincial Museum Human Remains Collection in St. John’s.
“I want to commend the Premier and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for ensuring these remains and associated artifacts have finally been returned to their rightful resting place,” said President Lyall. “This ceremony closes another sad chapter in the history of the Labrador Inuit.”
The Honourable Patty Pottle, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, noted how human curiosity can often compel people to seek information about the past. However, not all scientific practices have been respectful of the traditions and cultures of the Inuit.
“Much has changed in recent years to prevent what happened here decades ago from ever happening again,” said Minister Pottle. “Throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, we now have the protection of the Historic Resources Act. It is also clearly stated in the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement that the Nunatsiavut Government is the Archaeological Permitting Authority on Labrador Inuit Land.”
The Nunatsiavut Government will be fully engaged, along with Aboriginal groups throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, in the development of a formal provincial policy for Aboriginal human remains.
“Officials from the Nunatsiavut Government and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as The Rooms, have worked co-operatively to ensure the return of these remains was done in a respectful and honourable manner,” said Nunatsiavut’s Minister of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Johannes Lampe. “I want to commend all who were involved in making this ceremony a reality. These remains have finally returned home, and they can now rest in peace.”
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Photo: Rose Island, Saglek Bay, Torngat
Mountains National Park, Labrador. On August 16, 2011, the remains of 13
Inuit were returned and laid to rest during a special ceremony.
Photo: The Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, speaking at the Inuit repatriation ceremony on Rose Island, Saglek Bay, August 16, 2011.
Photo: Inuit youth lay final burying stone at the repatriation ceremony on Rose Island, Saglek Bay, August 16, 2011
Photo: The Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, speaks to the media following the Inuit repatriation ceremony on Rose Island, Saglek Bay, August 16, 2011.
Media contacts:
| Glenda Power Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3960 glendapower@gov.nl.ca |
Milly Brown Press Secretary Office of the Premier 709-729-4304, 631-8477 millybrown@gov.nl.ca |
| John Tompkins Director of Communications Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs 709-729-1674, 728-7762 jtompkins@gov.nl.ca |
Bert Pomeroy Director of Communications Nunatsiavut Government 709-896-8522 Bert_Pomeroy@Nunatsiavut.com |
2011 08 17 2:35 p.m.