The Royal Alberta Museum is committed to working with Indigenous communities for the repatriation of cultural belongings.

In 2000, Alberta passed the First Nations Sacred Ceremonial Object Repatriation Act (FNSCORA), which enables the repatriation of sacred objects from government collections to First Nations.

Presently, the Blackfoot First Nations Sacred Ceremonial Objects Repatriation Regulation, 2004, provides for repatriation to the nations of the Blackfoot confederacy in Alberta: Piikani Nation, Siksika Nation and Kainai First Nation. There are two deadlines for Blackfoot repatriation applications each year: February 15th and September 1st.

Download the Blackfoot repatriation application form.

Museum staff are engaged in ongoing conversations with First Nation, Metis, and Inuit representatives, Treaty Organizations, Elders, knowledge holders, and communities about a process for repatriating cultural belongings that do not fall within the scope of FNSCORA and the Blackfoot First Nations Sacred Ceremonial Objects Repatriation Regulation.

To find out more about repatriation, please contact our Indigenous Engagement team.