Canada Requests Return Of Indigenous Peoples Remains From Scottish Museum

New from the Celtic League:

Canadian broadcaster CBC has revealed that the Canadian Federal government is backing efforts to get the remains of two Indigenous people taken from a Newfoundland gravesite in 1828 that are now at a museum in Scotland.

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly has taken the unusual step of notifying the director of National Museums Scotland that Canada will make a formal demand.

The remains are Nonosabasut and his wife Demasduit, two of the last Beothuks, an Indigenous people declared extinct in 1829. Some historians have claimed the Beothuks were the victims of genocide.

It seems likely that the official involvement of the Canadian government makes it almost certain the request will be acceded to.

Reports here from CBC and the National newspaper of Scotland:

http://www.thenational.scot/…/canada-to-begin-process-to-re…

http://www.cbc.ca/…/beothuk-repatriation-mi-kmaq-newfoundla…

BERNARD MOFFATT
Public Relations Officer Mannin Branch

Issued by: The Mannin branch of the Celtic League.

TEL: 01624 877918 or 07624 491609

28/08/16

THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Celtic League established in 1961 has branches in the six Celtic Countries including our own Mannin branch. It promotes cooperation between the countries and campaigns on a range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, military activity and socio-economic issues