‘It’s hope for our people’: Sacred ribstones returned home to Siksika Nation

More than 100 people gathered at Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park for a repatriation event involving the return of two sacred items called ribstones.

Two artifacts are back home at Siksika Nation after being removed more than a century ago.

More than 100 people gathered at Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park (BCHP) for a repatriation event celebrating the return of two sacred ribstones with ceremonial drumming, dancing and storytelling.

“With them coming back, it’s a sign of good renewal, I think,” said Megan Jerry, a museum tech with BCHP, where the ribstones are now placed.

Siksika Nation says reclaiming pieces of their culture is important to healing and revitalizing their traditions.

“It offers a form of spiritual healing to our people,” said Lynden Many Heads, a cultural programmer at BCHP.

Experts say the large ceremonial rocks were important landmarks for the nomadic Blackfoot people for centuries.

“We put these all up when we went east as far as the buffalo, especially if we had a successful kill, let’s say, and we were able to get our stores for the winter and we knew we were going to survive and were going to make it to the next year, we would give thanks to the creator,” said Grant Many Heads, senior interpreter and education cultural programmer at BCHP.

They say one stone was removed in the late 1800s, the other in the early 1900s, and the artifacts eventually ended up at the Canadian Museum of History.

A delegation from Siksika was invited to Ottawa in February for ceremonies before the ribstones were returned.

It was Elder Duane Many Shots’ first time on a plane and a special journey.

“We welcomed them to come back home where they belong,” he said.

The ribstones are not the first and likely not the last items to come home.

Over the past two years, Siksika members say they brought back items including a headdress and war shirt from England and are working with other museums to repatriate more artifacts.

“It’s not going to happen overnight, but they are coming back home, and it’s hope for our people,” said Elder Gabriella Many Shots, who was part of the delegation that flew to Ottawa.

Members of Siksika Nation hope the event promotes better understanding with the wider community about what was lost and how to move forward.

“I understand they could be tough conversations for some people in the community, but these are things that we would like to change and promote and help educate people throughout Canada and Alberta,” said Lynden.

“I think it’s important that we not only attend these and observe them but really embody them in our journeys into everyday life,” said Jae Barker from Calgary, who attended the event with her nine-year-old daughter, Amaya.