Regalia returning to Siksika Nation after being housed in Exeter since 1878
Regalia returning to Siksika Nation after being housed in Exeter since 1878
Sacred regalia belonging to the Siksika Nation will be making its way home to Alberta from England.
A delegation from Siksika First Nation including Chief Ouray Crowfoot received a number of items that have been housed in the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) in Exeter since 1878.
The regalia includes a buckskin shirt, leggings, and a knife with feather bundle, beaded bags and a horsewhip.
They once belonged to 19th century Blackfoot leader Chief Crowfoot, and will now be put on display at Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park.
"Today is a very historic day," said Chief Ouray Crowfoot, in a video of the event posted to YouTube, "and it's been a long time coming.
"Working with Camilla (Hampshire) and the City of Exeter, we're very grateful to have these items come back home.
"We don't only see this as one event," he added," but we see it as a relationship building, collaborative effort on ways we can open the door to bring many items back."
Exeter city council voted unanimously to return the objects in 2020, but COVID-19 travel restrictions delayed the entire process until this week.
“I feel very honoured to be here today to see the current Chief Crowfoot and his council, members of his family and the Blackfoot people here in Exeter to receive back into their ownership the artifacts that are here," said Councillor. Laura Wright, who is Exeter's Deputy Leader, in a story on the City of Exeter website.
“I feel so humbled and honoured to be part of the welcome, and to see everything going back to where it should be."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
No 'warnings or second chances' for illegal activity on Canada Day: Ottawa mayor
Ottawa's mayor is warning the city won't tolerate any illegal activity downtown during Canada Day festivities this year, as the city prepares for possible protests.

'Deepest apologies': Central Alberta rodeo organizers shocked by parade float
Organizers of a central Alberta rodeo and its parade committee are calling for calm after a float in this weekend's parade, which possessed a racist theme, was seen in the procession.
Woman trampled, killed by horses in central Alberta: RCMP
A 30-year-old woman is dead after falling off a horse at the Ponoka Stampede on Sunday.
Ukrainian officials: At least 2 dead as missile hits Kremenchuk mall
Scores of civilians are feared killed or injured after a Russian rocket strike hit a crowded shopping mall in Ukraine's central city of Kremenchuk, Ukrainian officials said Monday.
Canada outperformed most G10 countries during first two years of pandemic response: study
Canada handled key aspects of the COVID-19 response better in the first two years of the pandemic than most G10 countries, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Toronto, Unity Health Toronto and St. Michael's hospital.
When can you light fireworks in Canada? It depends on where you live
Figuring out where and when you're allowed to use fireworks in Canada depends on where you live and what rules apply in your municipality.
South Africa tavern deaths: 21 teens likely killed by something they drank, ate or smoked
South African authorities investigating 21 teenagers found dead at an east coast tavern over the weekend said on Monday the youths were probably killed by something they ate, drank or smoked, ruling out the earlier-touted possibility of a stampede.
Republican calls overturning Roe v. Wade a 'victory for white life'
U.S. Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois, speaking at a rally Saturday night with former U.S. President Donald Trump, called the Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade a 'victory for white life.'
Ghislaine Maxwell put on suicide watch after saying staff threatened her
Ghislaine Maxwell reported Brooklyn jail staff threatened her safety, prompting employees to place her on suicide watch, prosecutors said on Sunday, arguing there was no need to delay her sentencing on sex trafficking charges.