Reshaping Heritage: Law, Logistics, and Learning from the Ni'isjoohl Memorial Pole's Rematriation

Resource type
Presentation
Creator (person)
Brownlee, Yvonne
Abstract
In late 2023, National Museums Scotland and the Nisga’a Nation undertook the immense task of returning an 11-meter-high totem pole, weighing over 1 tonne, from Edinburgh to the Nass Valley in Northwest Canada. Now on display in the Nisga’a Museum, the Ni'isjoohl Memorial Pole is the first cultural belonging to be legally transferred out of Scotland’s National collections for the purposes of rematriation. This presentation reflects on the application of UK law as well the practical considerations of returning collections to countries of origin. I will explore how National Museums Scotland worked with the context and restrictions of UK law, the logistical challenges of moving a totem pole of this size, as well as the cultural sensitivities that informed and changed our processes for the better.
Event title
Publisher
European Registrars Association
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Related URL
Rights statement
In Copyright