Allow me to welcome you to Victoria, the traditional home of the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations. I would like to thank Dr. Mark Ebert of the University of Saskatchewan for inviting me to address your conference today.

I wish to congratulate you on what is obviously a very successful conference.
We are truly in a new era where First Nations are no longer the mere subjects of investigation, but rather have become active participants in the study of Archaeology and Anthropology.

It is important, I think, to acknowledge the cultural, spiritual practices and beliefs of the First Nations under study. Collaboration, co-operation, and co-management are all now very common ways that describe the working relationship between academia and First Nations.

So much of our collective past has been collected, labelled, studied and then stored behind locked doors, away from their historic connections to First Peoples. These locked doors are now being opened and First Nations are utilizing these ancient items in the much needed re-establishment of cultural ways and ceremony. In the hands of the elders, these items gain a new significance because their knowledge and wisdom breathes life into an otherwise dead object. The recent discovery of “Long Ago Person Found” is an example of this new era, this new collaboration between academia, government and First Nations in which all mutually benefit.

On behalf of the Crown whom I represent, thank you for your commitment and sincere desire to preserve our collective past so that future generations can also benefit from this most important discovery at Tatshenshini-Alsek Park.

LOCATION:1401 Rockland Avenue
Victoria, British Columbia
Canada V8S 1V9

PHONE:(250) 387-2080

FAX:(250) 387-2078

EMAIL:ghinfo@gov.bc.ca

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