Ancestors Repatriation Initiative

Help Us Bring Our Ancestors Home

The Ontario Regional Chief, on behalf of the 133 First Nations in the Ontario region, is calling on all Ontarians to help return First Nations Ancestors, sacred items, burial belongings, and other culturally significant items to their rightful Nations.

*If you are holding, or have knowledge of, First Nations Ancestors, sacred items, burial belongings, or culturally significant items, we encourage you to come forward and have a confidential conversation.

CONTACT US

About the Initiative

The Ontario Regional Chief is leading this initiative under the direction of the Ontario Chiefs-in-Assembly, through Resolution 25/14S Respectful Repatriation of First Nation Ancestors Held by Various Institutions in the Ontario Region, passed by the Ontario Chiefs-in-Assembly.

Calling on all Ontarians to help return First Nations Ancestors, sacred items, burial belongings, and other culturally significant items to their rightful Nations.

For generations, First Nations Ancestors and sacred belongings have been removed from burial places and communities and are now held by museums, universities, governments, archaeological collections, private collectors, and individuals. Repatriation is an important step toward restoring dignity, strengthening culture, and supporting healing for First Nations and future generations.

Whether you are a private citizen, a museum, university, archaeological organization, government institution, or another organization, we encourage you to come forward if you are holding, or have knowledge of, First Nations Ancestors, sacred items, burial belongings, or other culturally significant items. Chiefs of Ontario will work respectfully with First Nations and other relevant partners to facilitate First Nations-led repatriation efforts.

An Open Letter to All Ontarians: Help Us Bring Our Ancestors Home

Wa’tkwanonwera:ton/Greetings:

On behalf of the 133 First Nations in the Ontario region, it is with great respect that I write to all the people living on these lands with a call to help First Nations bring their Ancestors and sacred items and artifacts home. We are asking anyone—individuals and institutions alike—who may be holding the remains of our Ancestors, burial items or artifacts, or those having knowledge of Ancestors and/or sacred items being held, to come forward so that we may work together for their respectful return.

The direction for this mandate and initiative comes from a Chiefs of Ontario resolution calling for the respectful repatriation of First Nations Ancestors, which was passed by the Ontario Chiefs-in-Assembly in June 2025.

For generations, the resting places of our Ancestors have been disturbed. Their remains and sacred belongings were taken from the earth and from our Nations, sometimes by archaeologists or institutions, and sometimes by private collectors. In every case, these removals caused harm. That harm continues today. They disrupted our sacred responsibilities, severed spiritual connections, and denied future generations the ability to learn from, and carry forward, traditions that have guided our people since time immemorial.

These acts of removal have not only affected families and Nations; they have also deprived everyone in Ontario of a deeper, more truthful relationship with the history of these lands. When Ancestors are separated from their communities, culture is impacted. The songs, ceremonies, and teachings that accompany them are disrupted, severing the connection between the past and future.

Repatriation is a way to begin repairing this harm. It is a recognition that our Ancestors are not objects of study or possession, but relatives who must be cared for with dignity. The return of Ancestors and sacred belongings restores balance, strengthens culture, and supports healing for both First Nations and the broader society that has inherited these responsibilities.

This is why the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples affirms the right of Indigenous peoples to repatriate human remains and ceremonial items. But beyond international law and policy, repatriation is above all a moral responsibility. It is an act of respect, justice, and reconciliation. The Chiefs of Ontario strongly believe that reconciliation with First Nations of Turtle Island is the responsibility of the Governments of Canada and Ontario and that the costs of this should not be borne by individual citizens or homeowners.

 To advance this sacred work, we are calling on all Ontarians to take part in restoring dignity and balance:

  • To private citizens: If you are holding Ancestors or sacred belongings, or have knowledge of Ancestors and/or sacred items being held, we ask that you come forward so they may be returned home to their Nations and families. Your action will help heal the harms of the past and honour the spirits of those who have been kept from their rightful resting places.
  • To government institutions, museums, and universities: We call upon you to share your complete inventories of Ancestors and sacred or associated burial items with First Nations. Transparency is the first step toward accountability and toward enabling respectful and timely repatriation.
  • To all institutions and partners: We urge you to work collaboratively and in genuine partnership with First Nations to remove barriers, streamline processes, and ensure the repatriation is carried out with dignity, cultural integrity, and without necessary delay.

This is not simply about returning what was taken, it is about restoring what has been lost for many years. To those who respond to this call, your actions are part of a collective effort to do what is right and to ensure these histories are no longer repeated. To begin this process and to help connect you with the appropriate descendant First Nations, please contact repatriation@coo.org.

Chiefs of Ontario encourages individuals and families to come forward in good faith. Our goal is not blame, but respectful dialogue and the return of Ancestors and sacred belongings to the Nations to whom they belong.

Sken:nen/Peace,

Abram Benedict
Ontario Regional Chief
Chiefs of Ontario

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Chiefs of Ontario is serving as a point of contact for individuals and institutions who wish to come forward with information about First Nation Ancestors, sacred items, burial belongings, or other culturally significant items. Our role is to receive inquiries, help identify the appropriate First Nation or Nations where necessary, and facilitate connections to support a First Nations-led repatriation process.

Chiefs of Ontario is not seeking to become a repository for Ancestors or sacred items. Wherever possible, we will support direct engagement between the current holder and appropriate First Nation or Nations, recognizing that each repatriation process will be unique and guided by the affected Nations.

Chiefs of Ontario supporting the efforts of First Nations in the Ontario region to identify, locate, and respectfully repatriate Ancestors, sacred items, burial belongings, and other culturally significant items; that may be held by individuals, institutions, museums, universities, governments, or private collectors.

Many of these items were removed from First Nations territories and burial places without the knowledge, or consent of the Nations to whom they belong. Repatriation helps restore cultural, spiritual, and familial connections and supports healing and reconciliation.

When we refer to Ancestors, we mean the human remains of Indigenous people that may be held in museums, universities, archaeological collections, private collections, or other institutions.

First Nations Ancestors are not artifacts or specimens. They are relatives who deserve to be treated with dignity and returned home.

Sacred items may include ceremonial objects, medicines, pipes, bundles, regalia, or other culturally significant belongings.

Burial items are items that were intentionally placed with an individual at the time of burial and may include tools, ornaments, pottery, clothing items, or other objects.

Please contact us if you are unsure about an item, its origin, or whether it may be association with a First Nation. We can help assess the information and determine appropriate next steps.

Yes. If you are uncertain about an item or its origin, or whether it may be associated with a First Nation, please contact us. We can help assess the information and determine appropriate next steps.

No. Many people have inherited items, collections, or information without knowing their history and significance. The purpose of this initiative is not to assign blame, but to support respectful conversations and facilitate the return of Ancestors and culturally significant items where appropriate.

Many Ancestors, burial items, or culturally significant items are currently held by institutions and private individuals and were recovered through archaeological excavations. Regardless of when or how they were collected, we encourage anyone holding or having knowledge of such materials come forward so that appropriate First Nations can be identified and engaged regarding potential repatriation.

That’s okay. You do not need to identify the descendant Nation yourself. Chiefs of Ontario will work with First Nations and other relevant partners to help determine which Nation(s) may have an interest in the Ancestors, sacred items, or burial belongings.

When you contact us, we will gather information about the Ancestor, item, collection, or location in question.

Where appropriate, we will work with First Nations and other partners to identify the descendent Nation(s) that may have interest in the item and determine appropriate next steps.

Each situation is unique, and all inquiries will be handled respectfully and in good faith.

No. Chiefs of Ontario is not seeking to become a repository for Ancestors or sacred items. Our role is to receive inquiries, help identify the appropriate First Nation or Nations where necessary, and facilitate connections to support a First Nation-led repatriation process. Wherever possible, repatriation will occur directly between the current holder and the affected First Nation or Nations.

The Chiefs of Ontario strongly believes that reconciliation with First Nations is a responsibility of governments and institutions and that repatriation costs should not be borne by individual citizens or homeowners.

Where costs may be involved, these matters will be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

We encourage institutions to:

  • Review their collections and records;
  • Identify any Ancestors, burial belongings, sacred items, or culturally significant items in their care;
  • Share inventories and available information with First Nations;
  • Engage proactively and collaboratively in repatriation discussions; and
  • Work with First Nations to remove barriers that may delay repatriation.

If you have information regarding the location of Ancestors, sacred items, burial belongings, archaeological collections, or other culturally significant items, we encourage you to contact us.

Even limited information may help support future repatriation efforts.

If you have concerns about privacy or confidentiality, please let us know when you contact us.

Chiefs of Ontario will make reasonable efforts to respect confidentiality requests while also ensuring that appropriate information can be shared with affected First Nations to support repatriation efforts.

To share information or begin a conversation regarding the repatriation of Ancestors, sacred items, or burial belongings, or culturally significant items, please contact: repatriation@coo.org

Help Us Bring Our Ancestors Home

If you are holding, or have knowledge of, First Nation Ancestors, sacred items, burial belongings, or culturally significant items, we encourage you to contact us.

All inquiries will be received respectfully and handled in good faith. Where appropriate, Chiefs of Ontario will work with First Nations and other relevant partners to facilitate a First Nations-led repatriation process.

Email: repatriation@coo.org

DOWNLOADS FROM THE ANCESTOR REPATRIATION CAMPAIGN

Resources

Icon

An Open Letter to All Ontarians: Help Us Bring Our Ancestors Home

1 file(s) 436.86 KB
Download
Icon

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1 file(s) 454.75 KB
Download

    Map

    View the Ontario First Nations Directory.

    The Advocate

    Our semi-annual magazine.

    Events

    Community and special events.

    Resources

    Download resources and information.