For me, the history of the Sharphead band illustrates the significance of questions of ownership and responsibilities. When the remains of Sharphead people were found on privately owned land in 1965 they were sent to the University of Alberta's Anthropology department for storage. They stayed there until they were returned to the earth with care in 2014. Although the remains of these Sharphead people were not in a museum, I would like to share why I think what happened to them matters for museums and for thinking about museum issues...

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1. Some Îethka people describe Sharpheads as Nakoda. Living Sharphead descendants now live on several reserves, and identify as Nakoda, Cree, and as part of other communities. As the remains were in the hands of the government, it took the role of deciding who should be part of the reburial of the Sharphead people. Ultimately 14 bands were part of the process. This points to questions of power, possession, and collaboration.

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2.  The Sharphead people's remains were found on private land. Descendants argue that the Sharphead people suffered intentional genocide and that the government intended to steal Sharphead land and that Sharpheads never intentionally vacated their reserve. What happened with the remains represents important sovereignty concerns.

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3.  Historically Canadian laws have been unclear about disinterring remains. Today when remains or artifacts are found they are automatically the property of the province of Alberta. To me this raises concerns about recently identified burials, such as those at former residential sites. The legislation that allows for repatriation of artifacts owned by the province applies only to Blackfoot ceremonial items.

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4. It's not clear to me what happened to the Sharphead remains while they were at the university. I assume that when they were found, they were not reburied immediately because they were presumed to be of some scientific value. I do not know this, but it is something I am wondering about. Were they studied? If so, where is that data, and who owns it today? A University of Alberta student wrote their master's thesis on the Sharphead remains while they were there. When remains and belongings are kept for scientific value, what does that mean?

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If you would like to read more about the Sharphead community there is an archive that has gathered the stories of knowledge keepers and elders who spoke about the Sharphead people. Also there was local media coverage in the Ponoka news, and APTN.