House post returning to BC First Nation after 138 years, decades in Harvard storage

B.C. house post returning to First Nation after 138 years, and decades in Harvard storage

Now the long-house post, which has “incredible” cultural value for the Gitxaala Nation on British Columbia’s northern coast, is on its way home.

House post returning to B.C. First Nation after 138 years, and decades in Harvard storage

In the 138 years since an Indigenous house post was chopped down and ordered burned by missionaries, it was sold under duress and damaged.

Harvard museum returns House post to Gitxaala First Nation after 138 years

In the 138 years since an Indigenous house post was chopped down and ordered burned by missionaries, it was sold under duress, damaged and displayed as a historic oddity, donated to a museum, then packed away in storage for decades.

House post returning to BC First Nation after 138 years, decades in Harvard storage

In the 138 years since an Indigenous house post was chopped down and ordered burned by missionaries, it was sold under duress, damaged and displayed as a historic oddity, donated to a museum, then packed away in storage for decades. Now, the long-house post, which has “incredible” cultu...

House post returning to First Nation after 138 years, and decades in Harvard storage

VANCOUVER — In the 138 years since an Indigenous house post was chopped down and ordered burned by missionaries, it was sold under duress, damaged and displayed as a historic oddity, donated to a museum, then packed away in storage for decades.

House post returning to First Nation after 138 years, and decades in Harvard storage

VANCOUVER — In the 138 years since an Indigenous house post was chopped down and ordered burned by missionaries, it was sold under duress, damaged and displayed as a historic oddity, donated to a museum, then packed away in storage for decades.