Canadian Museum of History returns artifacts to northern Ont. First Nation

Artifacts returned to northern Ont. First Nation For decades, Mississauga First Nation has known that human remains from their land were being held at the Canadian Museum of History.

For decades, Mississauga First Nation has known that human remains from their land were at the Canadian Museum of History.

On Monday, they were returned to their original -- and final -- place of rest.

"There (were) no agreements or any kind of, legislation to say that when they came across an artifact, they were to stop digging and inform the First Nation," said Wilma Bissiallon of Mississauga First Nation.

"It was probably in the late '80s when we started talking about repatriation of our artifacts.”

The artifacts came from a settlement on the west bank of the Mississagi River, now the municipally run Huron Pines Golf Club.

In recent months, the Town of Blind River allowed the First Nation to fence off burial sites, with the recovered human remains set to be buried on site once again.

"I've learned so much about our First Nation communities and the situation at the golf course," said Blind River Mayor Sally Hagman.

"And once we found out what was happening or what had happened in the past, we wanted to do everything possible to make things right."

In total, eight boxes of artifacts have been returned from the Canadian Museum of History, with First Nation officials saying more will be repatriated in time.

"It's very important," said Bissiallon.

"It's the recognition that the First Nations do have the responsibility of having those artifacts and the remains of our ancestors back home, because then we could put them to rest.”

Eventually, Mississauga First Nation hopes to display the artifacts in their own community, and also form an agreement with the Canadian Museum of History to lend out some items for specific exhibits.

First Nation officials are confident both the museum and Blind River will support any future repatriation efforts.