Sdahl Ḵ’awaas, Lucy Bell, reflects on Tla Yahda – Making it right

Join the Bill Reid Centre’s 2023 Visiting Fellow, Sdahl Ḵ’awaas, Lucy Bell, PhD (ABD) of the Haida Nation as she reflects on Tla Yahda – Making it right.

Perspectives on preserving and practicing Indigenous heritage can evolve over time. By researching, showcasing, and creating Haida art, Dr. George MacDonald and renowned Haida artist Bill Reid played significant roles in raising awareness and respect for Haida art and heritage. They also believed they were making things right in their attempts to “salvage” the past.

The Haida Repatriation Committee, co-founded by Sdahl Ḵ’awaas, Lucy Bell, strives to make things right too. For the past 30 years, the Committee has repatriated hundreds of Ancestral remains and belongings back to Haida Gwaii.

As Lucy reflects on the 12,000 Haida belongings in museums and the generations of Haida change-makers, she must also recognize the historical context in which George MacDonald and Bill Reid lived and worked, as well as acknowledge the changing perspectives, actions and priorities of the Haida. This work helps bridge the gap between past actions and present reconciliation efforts, ultimately contributing to a more respectful and inclusive approach to museum practices and Indigenous rights.

We are streaming the talk at the SFU Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology on October 19 at 2:30pm! Please join us there. There will be a reception with refreshments and light snacks following the lecture.

This event is free, but donations to the Bill Reid Gallery for Northwest Coast Art are encouraged at the door!

**Due to ongoing strike action and picketing by TSSU, we understand that you may not feel comfortable coming to campus for the livestreaming event. In that case, we encourage you to sign up for the online talk via the link below, or RSVP to attend in person at the Bill Reid Gallery downtown.

Bill Reid Gallery: https://www.billreidgallery.ca/blogs/news/from-reconnaissance-to-repatriation-lucy-bells-reflections-on-the-work-of-dr-george-macdonald-and-bill-reid