Tŝilhqot’in National Government Working to Repatriate Baskets After More than a Century Away from Home

Members of the Tŝilhqot’in National Government are working to repatriate a series of baskets originally woven more than a century ago.

Removed from Tŝilhqot’in territory during an expedition in the early 1900s, the baskets have been housed at the Brooklyn Museum ever since.

Each woven tight enough to carry water, the baskets all feature stunning artwork which connect them to the Nation’s roots.

Last month, a delegation of TNG members were in New York to attend the United Nations 22nd Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

During the trip, they were able to tour the museum to view the baskets and conduct a ceremony with them, which included traditional drumming and singing.

While the Nation aims to bring the baskets back to their home territory, the process of doing so has only just begun.