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EDITORIAL: Protection of ancestral remains overdue

Finally, the Lower Similkameen Indian Band is getting some provincial help to ensure the remains of their ancestors are protected.
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Finally, the Lower Similkameen Indian Band is getting some provincial help to ensure the remains of their ancestors are protected.

The Review was told this week that an application to the court under the Heritage Conservation Act is expected no later than September 8.

This historical filing will mark the first time the province has used the Heritage Conservation Act in this way, but hopefully it won’t be the last.

It’s a nice thought that private property owners will do what’s right and allow remains to stay in place and possibly provide a fence but it’s probably not reality.

In this case, the LSIB and the province have both requested resolve with the owner of the property to no avail. Meetings have been cancelled by the property owner’s lawyer and negotiations to ensure the remains are repatriated at the site have been unsuccessful.

The application being filed will ask that the land be restored to the way it was before the remains were unearthed Feb. 29, 2016.

Until last winter that portion of the property was undeveloped.

And considering there are remains of human beings in the land it should not be developed.

In the past when remains were unearthed, First Nations people have been forced to move their dead from where at one time was thought to be their final resting place.

A sign being held by a boy at the recent Day of Action rally summed things up clearly.

It read, ‘Would You Dig Up Your Grandma.’

We should all ask ourselves that question.

Would it be acceptable to you that your Grandma was unearthed and moved from where she was buried because an orchardist wanted to plant more apple trees or someone wanted to build a condominium or supermarket?

Would you be OK with that?

During the recent rally, each chief who spoke talked about their own community’s fight to repatriate or even to have access to the remains of their ancestors.

For generations living First Nations people have had to fight to ensure their dead were respected.

It’s time that fight comes to an end.

Members of the LSIB and technicians from around the province will be at the site Sept. 11 to repatriate their dead.

Show your support and show that you believe the rights of living First Nations people and those that have passed on matter.

- T.B.