Ancestors Reburial Project

The ancestors’ remains were brought to the University of Alberta in July 1967 and they have been housed in the Osteology museum collection. The circumstances of how they came to the University of Alberta relate to there being no existing legislation outlining the care of archaeological human remains or unregistered burials. Due to this, archaeological remains were often turned over to the institution relevant to the researcher related to the excavation. In this instance, the University of Alberta. 

At the time, the Universities Act 1966 (since replaced by the Post-Secondary Learning Act) gave authority to the University of Alberta to collect human remains. The Post-Secondary Learning Act details that the board of a university is able to “demand, obtain, and use unclaimed [human remains]” for scientific and research purposes. While it is allowable, currently the Department of Anthropology no longer actively seeks to accession human remains into museum collections at the University of Alberta.

It has been confirmed that there are three ancestors identified as part of the original discovery in 1967. Osteobiographies were performed on each of the ancestors by the Curator of the Osteology Collection and forensic anthropologist.

In no particular order, the following information has been confirmed:

• One ancestor was identified as an Indigenous female, most likely between 50 and 60 years of age. It is possible that she had a child sometime during her life, and she stood approximately 162.70 ± 2.41 cm tall.
• One ancestor was identified as an infant, likely nearing 1 year of age, of undetermined sex, stature and ancestry. Based on its original burial location, it is likely that this ancestor is Indigenous (as other cultural markers could not be determined).
• One ancestor was identified as a child, most likely between 4 to 5 years of age, of undetermined sex, stature and ancestry. Based on its original burial location, it is likely that this ancestor is Indigenous (as other cultural markers could not be determined).

There were burial artifacts uncovered with the ancestors and those are also housed at the University of Alberta. Our intention is to rebury these artifacts with the ancestors. More details about these needs are currently being researched and verified as part of this project. 

Only one individual - the second infant - was recovered with several artifacts. Please note that the beads are loose and not in any associated pattern. Many of the artifacts are in states of moderate/heavy degradation.

These include:

• Two spoons

•  Enamel cup with handle, enamel plate with material, enamel dish, enamel bowl'

• Combs of various sizes

• Bundle of matches

• Spool of thread

• Two bracelets

• Beads and buttons

• Leather strap fragment - about 6 by 1 inches

• Leather sole with paper inside - 3 by 5 inches

• Textile fragment - about 4 by 3 inches

• Piece of cloth - fragmented and folded - 1 in by 2 inch
• Piece of leather clothing - folded – around 2.5 by 2.5 inches
• Cloth collected from the burial, which underlay and wrapped the skeleton

• Leather strap - about 3 by 1 inches

• Knife with cloth and beads

• Faunal remains of small mammal (vertebra, right innominate, right femur, cranium, tooth root)

*For more detailed information on these cultural artifacts, please contact the Project Team. 

This project is a partnership between the City of Medicine Hat, the Miywasin Friendship Centre, and the University of Alberta. This project has been partially funded by Canadian Heritage and any additional funds and in-kind costs will be covered by the partners depending on the areas of responsibilities.

With the participation of the Government of Canada. 
« Avec la participation du gouvernement du Canada. »

 

They will be laid to rest in the Hillside Cemetery in the City of Medicine Hat. Specific locations within the cemetery are not yet known.

The Project Team would like to invite all interested community members to attend upcoming community events to invite consultation, conversation, and dialogue around welcoming the ancestors home.  During these gatherings, the Medicine Hat Ancestors Reburial Project Team will be there to present information, respond to questions, invite discussion, and listen to considerations and recommendations from the community. All are welcome to attend these gatherings. 

Upcoming events include:

November 16, 2023 - Community Event panel presentation and discussion: "Welcoming our Ancestors Home."

More dates will be added as they become available.