About seven years ago, the Maiyoo Keyoh Society discovered a traditional headdress was on display at a museum in eastern Canada.
The headdress was taken by Father Morrice in about 1887, 145 years ago, and ended up on display at the Royal Ontario Museum.
The 200 year old headdress, in and of itself is a spectacular piece of indigenous art. However it’s much more that a piece of art, or a relegated museum piece. It represents indigenous cultural institution of governance and land tenure, the Keyoh system.
More recently, the society established a memorandum of understanding with The Exploration Place in Prince George to arrange its return to central B.C.
That will happen on Saturday, December 3.
The grand opening of the Susk’uz Headdress Exhibit will be 1 p.m. at The Exploration Place in Prince George.
To celebrate and recognize all parties involved in this repatriation process, the Maiyoo Keyoh Society welcomes neighbouring Keyohwhudachun (Keyoh chiefs), local Indian Act chiefs and councils, and provincial and federal politicians. The grand opening will celebrate the returned headdress, highlight its intrinsic social connection to its family and Keyoh (territory), and demonstrate the region’s Indigenous social organization.
“The return of our family territory chief’s headdress from the Royal Ontario Museum exemplifies many of the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions’ (TRC) calls to action and reflects sections of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP),” said Jim Munroe, President & Chief of Maiyoo Keyoh Society.
1:00 PM Opening, Khast’an Drummers
1:05 PM Honouring, Dominic Frederick (Domo)
1:10 PM Welcome, Kathryn Louro, Vice President, The Exploration Place
1:15 PM Keynote Speaker, Murray Sinclair
1:35 PM Keyoh Cultural Institution, Jim Munroe, President & CEO Maiyoo Keyoh Society
1:45 PM Keyohwhudachun, Petra A’Huille
1:50 PM Special Guest Speaker, Satsan Herb George
2:15 PM Exhibit Unveiling, Keyohwhudachun Petra A’Huille
2:20 PM Closing Remarks, Keyoh Members- Charlotte Rose Munroe, Seraphine Munroe
The Maiyoo Keyoh Society has received support from the Province of British Columbia, the BC Museums Association through the 2020 Repatriation Grants, Canadian Heritage’s Indigenous Museum Assistance Program, and from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.