After 110 years, the Royal BC Museum is returning a Nuxalk totem pole to Bella Coola.
The Nuxalk Nation was amalgamated and relocated to Bella Coola on BC’s western coast after dealing with settler relations and a bout with colonizer diseases that left their numbers sparse in 1862.
During this time, several Indigenous artifacts with deep spiritual and sentimental meaning to the Nuxalk peoples were stolen or purchased and put on display in museums.
The Nuxalk totem pole was one of these artifacts.
“The pole was purchased by Charles Fredrick Newcomb, who purchased the pole in 1913,” said Janet Hanuse, Vice President, Engagement for the Royal BC Museum.
In 2022, Nuxalk hereditary chiefs filed a civil claim to get the totem pole back and the Royal BC Museum acknowledged this claim and agreed to return the artifact to its rightful owners.
The totem pole will now undergo a two-day journey from Victoria to Bella Coola. While it is being transported, ceremonies will be held at the Royal BC Museum and in Bella Coola.
“Today was the blessing ceremony for the trip and then the awakening of the spirit,” Hanuse told Victoria Buzz. “Tomorrow is the celebration.”
Due to the size of the artifact, the totem pole had to be lifted out of a large window by way of crane. It had been on display on the third floor of the museum in the Hall of Totems.
Although the Royal BC Museum has put forth the good will to return the totem pole, the Nuxalk chiefs have filed for one more totem pole and additional artifacts to be returned to them.
“According to our records, information that I’ve just passed onto Chief Snow, Charles F. Newcomb purchased two poles on that journey and some other pieces,” said Hanuse.
“I don’t know what that pole is and I don’t know any details of the other artifacts, I just saw the list of things in the journal he brought with this particular pole.”
The Hall of Totems in the Royal BC Museum contains at least 12 totem poles.
