2020 GRANT RECIPIENTS

The BCMA is happy to announce the 2020 Repatriation Grant recipients and projects are as follows:

Organization	Region	Project Summary
Cowichan Tribes	Vancouver Island/Coast	Continuation of the search for cultural objects in worldwide collections
Gitanyow Huwilp Society	North Coast	Creation of an inventory of ancestors and artifacts in worldwide collections
Gitxaala Nation	North Coast	Research and engagement with institutions in Canada and the USA
Haida Gwaii Museum Society	North Coast/Cariboo	Funding Repatriation Coordinator Intern and continued research
Haida Heritage and Repatriation Society	North Coast	Repatriation of ancestors from Canadian Museum of History, and masks and belongings from the Royal BC Museum
Heiltsuk First Nation	North Coast	Repatriation of three objects from the Royal BC Museum
High Bar First Nation	Cariboo	Research into unmarked gravesites
Huu-ay-aht First Nations	Vancouver Island/ Coast	Repatriation of cultural patrimony from the Royal BC Museum
Kitasoo / Xai’xais First Nation	Vancouver Island/ Coast	Repatriation of an ancestor from Museum of Vancouver
K’omoks First Nation	Vancouver Island/ Coast	Return of 38 ancestors, hosting of ceremonies, and creation of a database
Lax Kw’alaams Band	North Coast	Research and documentation of cultural items held in museums
Little Shuswap Band	Thompson- Okanagan	Research to find cultural patrimony and ancestors
Lower Nicola Indian Band	Thompson- Okanagan	Research and activities related to ancestors held by the Canadian Museum of History
Maiyoo Keyoh Society	Cariboo	Research of headdress held at Royal Ontario Museum
Maiyoo Keyoh Society	Cariboo	Repatriation of headdress held at Royal Ontario Museum
Nunwakola Cultural Society	Vancouver Island/ Coast	Build in-community capacity to repatriate Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw peoples’ intellectual and material culture
Semiahmoo First Nation	Lower Mainland / Southwest	Repatriation of 200 ancestors held at Simon Fraser University
Shuswap Indian Band	Kootenay	Build capacity for research activities related to repatriation
Squamish Nation	Lower Mainland/ Southwest	Repatriation of ancestral remains from Museum of Vancouver
Stólō Research and Resource Management Centre	Lower Mainland/ Southwest	Inventory of Stólō remains in museums
Tsawwassen First Nation	Lower Mainland/ Southwest	Research and repatriation of ancestors
Tsleil-Waututh Nation	Lower Mainland/ Southwest	Development of an archaeological repository to support the repatriation of archaeological and cultural heritage belongings
T’Souke First Nation	Vancouver Island/ Coast	Identify cultural material, develop relationships with institutions and create opportunities for digital repatriation
Ulkatcho First Nation	Cariboo	Form a committee and develop policies
Witset First Nation	Nechako	Compile and inventory work already done to identify artifacts housed in institutions in Canada and abroad

GRANT GUIDELINES

These grants support First Nations and Indigenous communities to bring their ancestors and culture back home.

Applications for the 2020 Repatriation Grants have closed and all available funding has been allocated. We thank everyone who applied and we are honoured to support the work of repatriation in British Columbia. If you are looking for other sources of funding for repatriation activities, there are currently two federal funding programs that can support repatriation, we recommend you consider reviewing the following:

• Indigenous Heritage — Museums Assistance Program
• Movable Cultural Property Grants

About the 2020 Repatriation Grants

The 2020 Repatriation Grants are for BC First Nations and Indigenous organizations and support the repatriation of ancestors, cultural property, and intangible cultural heritage.

The BCMA respectfully acknowledges the decades of work and advocacy Indigenous leaders and communities have undertaken to support the return of their ancestors and cultural patrimony. We thank the BC Government for their support of the 2020 Repatriation Grant and extend appreciation to the Royal BC Museum and the BCMA Indigenous Advisory Committee for their expertise, time, ideas, partnership, and guidance.

Applications for the 2020 Repatriation Grants are now closed, we thank everyone who inquired and applied. The intake for applications opened on September 8^th, 2020, and closed on January 15^th, 2021.

For questions regarding the 2020 Repatriation Grant, or for general assistance with your application, please contact us at bcma@museumsassn.bc.ca or phone 250.356.5700.

Eligibility

Applications for the 2020 Repatriation Grant are open to BC First Nations and Indigenous organizations. BCMA respects that every community has unique cultural practices and repatriation requirements. If you feel these guidelines do not reflect your cultural needs, please contact us to discuss how improvements may be made.

Eligible organizations must:

• Be a Tribal Council or a First Nations Band Council; or an Indigenous cultural centre/friendship centre, community repatriation committee, or individual with the written support of a Tribal Council or First Nations Band Council
• Demonstrate how funding from the 2020 Repatriation Grant will contribute to the completion of your repatriation research or project
• Present a proposal that is achievable within the time and funding available, and within the scope of the 2020 Repatriation Grant

Other considerations:

• Applicants may apply for both Research Grants and Project Grants in 2020
• Non-Indigenous not-for-profit organizations may apply for 2020 Repatriation Grants, but must partner with an Indigenous community/organization as the lead applicant and have written support from a Tribal Council or a First Nations Band Council

COVID-19

For public safety, many communities currently do not permit travel due to COVID-19. Travel restrictions may make your repatriation research and activities more challenging or impossible for the foreseeable future. If you wish to postpone travel until 2021, we will strive to accommodate this, please note this request in your application. It is difficult to predict how COVID-19 may impact repatriation activities and timelines and we will work with communities to ensure that projects can be completed safely.

Available Funding

A total of $450,000.00 is available for the 2020 Repatriation Grants.

Successful applicants will receive 80% of requested funds upon approval and 20% upon completion and acceptance of a final report.

We encourage applicants to combine BCMA funding with other funding sources if possible. If you are interested in exploring other funding sources, please contact us and we can connect you with funding resources.

All communities and cultural organizations that receive 2020 Repatriation Grants will also receive a complimentary one-year membership to the BC Museums Association; this membership provides access to special programs and support services, as well as connects you to a network of heritage professionals across the province. All communities and cultural organizations who apply will also be sent an electronic version of the Royal BC Museum’s Repatriation Handbook.

Research Grants

Grants of up to $15,000.00 are available (Research Grants are very flexible, there is no minimum amount, so please apply even if you only need a small amount of money) for earlier stage repatriation activities, these may include:

• Conducting research to document cultural items, ancestral remains, and/or burial items held in museums and/or private collections
• Travel by community members to assess what is being held in museum collections
• Travel and expenses for meetings between community members and museum representatives

Project Grants

Grants of up to $35,000.00 are available for repatriation activities that have moved beyond the research stage, this may include:

• Construction of containers to transport repatriated cultural items
• Materials necessary to facilitate the return of cultural items
• Transportation of ancestral remains and/or cultural items
• Ceremony
• Staff time required for administration and/or coordination of repatriated items
• Travel and expenses for meetings between community members and museum representatives

Ineligible Expenses

The goal of the 2020 Repatriation Grant is to support Indigenous organizations and communities in undertaking the return of their ancestors and cultural patrimony, therefore expenses that do not align with this objective will be considered ineligible for funding.

Capital equipment costs (i.e. purchases of equipment like laptops, cameras, vehicles, etc.) are generally not considered eligible expenses. If your proposal requires capital equipment, please contact us to discuss your specific needs.

The purchase of tangible and intangible heritage is not permitted through the 2020 Repatriation Grant.

Review Process

All applications will be reviewed by a special Repatriation Grant sub-committee of the BCMA’s Indigenous Advisory Committee. The review committee will jury anonymized applications to avoid conflicts of interest.

Funds for the 2020 Repatriation Grant are limited, the Repatriation Grant sub-committee will give priority to projects that are deemed to be most achievable within the funding and timelines permitted through this opportunity. The BCMA reserves the right to contact applicants for additional information if the Repatriation Grant sub-committee requests.

If your application is successful, you will be required to complete a brief final report within one month of the completion of your project. This report will be shared with the BC Government.

About the BC Museums Association

The BCMA is honoured to support the repatriation of Indigenous ancestors, culture patrimony, and heritage. Founded in 1957, the British Columbia Museums Association (BCMA) creates a bright future for British Columbia’s museum, gallery, and related heritage communities through networking, advocacy, innovation, and professional development. It delivers programs and services to the benefit of its members and the sector at large, acting as the cultural and heritage information hub for British Columbia while providing a unified voice for the institutions, trustees, professional staff, and volunteers.

We encourage communities to share updates about their repatriation work which can be featured on the Repatriation page of the BCMA’s Indigenous Culture & Heritage resources.

Reporting

Communities and organizations that received funding through the 2020 Repatriation Grants are required to submit their final report to the BCMA thirty days after project completion, or no later than March 31, 2022.

• Complete and submit your final report online
• Download an offline version of the final report form and email it to bcma@museum.bc.ca

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The 2020 Repatriation Grants support First Nations and Indigenous communities to bring their ancestors and culture back home

The Province of British Columbia has provided $500,000 to the BC Museums Association to create grants to support Indigenous communities at different stages of the repatriation process. First Nation communities and organizations will be eligible for grants to support repatriation planning, building capacity to take on repatriation projects, and encouraging collaboration with cultural organizations.

This page answers frequently asked questions from applicants and grant recipients – this page will be updated as new questions are asked.

-Updated April 23, 2021

FAQs for Grant Recipients

Q. Now that the 2020 Repatriation Grants have closed, what other sources of funding are available?

A. If you are looking for other sources of funding for repatriation activities, there are currently two federal funding programs that can support repatriation, we recommend you consider reviewing the following:

• Indigenous Heritage — Museums Assistance Program
• Movable Cultural Property Grants

 

Q. When do I need to submit a final report for my project?

A. The final report (click here to access the online final report form) and all financial reporting must be submitted to the BCMA thirty days after project completion or no later than March 31, 2022. An offline final report form can be downloaded here and emailed to the BCMA at bcma@museum.bc.ca.

 

Q. What do I do if the COVID-19 pandemic impacts my ability to carry out the project or research?

A. The BCMA is committed to working with grant recipients to ensure the money is used toward its original intended purposes while also adhering to the applicant’s project completion deadline but is aware that the COVID-19 pandemic may impact the applicant’s ability to carry out the project. The Recipient agrees to contact the BCMA (bcma@museum.bc.ca) immediately if they are concerned about their organization’s ability to complete the project within this timeframe, or within the scope of the allocated grant award.

 

Q. Do I need to recognize the funders in any public-facing publications about my project or research?

A. The Recipient must acknowledge the financial assistance in all project publicity and documentation by displaying the “Supported by the Province of British Columbia” logo and the BC Museums Association’s logo.

This logo acknowledgment must be used on all promotional items, including, but not limited to, posters, brochures, print ads and programs, media releases, plaques and signage. Here is the link to download high-resolution versions of the BC logo which are suitable for a variety of materials:

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/services-for-government/policies-procedures/bc-visual-identity (click on “Download Marks”)

If your organization has a social media account, we would appreciate it if you acknowledged the BC Museums Association and the B.C. government in the awarding of this grant in all project publicity. You can find us on:

Facebook:

• https://www.facebook.com/BCMuseumsAssn
• https://www.facebook.com/BCProvincialGovernment

Twitter:

• https://twitter.com/BCMuseumsAssn
• https://twitter.com/BCGovNews

Instagram:

• https://www.instagram.com/bc_museums_association
• https://www.instagram.com/governmentofbc

FAQs for Applicants

Q. Is it a requirement to have written support of a Tribal Council or First Nations Band Council?

A. It is possible to apply without written support from a Tribal Council or First Nations Band Council. For example, if you are applying on behalf of a community’s cultural department or an existing community repatriation committee, you may not need to submit written support with your application. If you are unsure and would like clarification, please contact us at bcma@museum.bc.ca or 250.356.5700.

 

Q. Can Project Grants be used to support research? What if I have a research project that requires more than $15,000.00?

A. Yes, Project Grants can be used to support research. Instead of thinking of Research Grants being used only for research and Project Grants being used only for projects, we encourage applicants to think of Research Grants supporting earlier stage repatriation activities (which can include research) and Project Grants supporting larger established activities (which could include larger-scale research activities or activities that have moved beyond the research stage). If you have any questions about the eligibility of your project or research, please contact us at bcma@museum.bc.ca or 250.356.5700.

 

Q. Can the proposed projects or research extend past March 31, 2021?

A. Yes. The 2020 Repatriation Grants will be as flexible as possible to accommodate your community’s needs. If you have any questions about the eligibility of your project or research, please contact us at bcma@museum.bc.ca or 250.356.5700.

 

Q. If we received funding through the Royal BC Museum’s Repatriation Grants, are we eligible to apply for 2020 Repatriation Grants?

A. Yes. The goal of the 2020 Repatriation Grants is to support First Nations and Indigenous communities in BC to bring their ancestors and culture back home, so if you have received funding from other sources (private funding, provincial funding, federal funding), you are still eligible to apply to 2020 Repatriation Grants.

 

Q. What if the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our project?

A. For public safety, many communities currently do not permit travel due to COVID-19. Travel restrictions may make your repatriation research and activities more challenging or impossible for the foreseeable future. If you wish to postpone travel until further notice, we will strive to accommodate this, please note this request in your application. It is difficult to predict how COVID-19 may impact repatriation activities and timelines and we will work with communities to ensure that projects can be completed safely.

 

Q. Can we include capital equipment costs (i.e. funding for the purchase of computers, cameras, vehicles, etc.) in our application?

A. Capital equipment costs are generally not considered eligible expenses, but we understand that every community has unique repatriation needs. If your proposal requires capital equipment, please contact us to discuss your specific needs.

 

Q. What kinds of expenses can be funded through this grant?

A. For a full description of potential expenses covered by Research Grants and Project Grants visit our website. In general, eligible expenses include travel, research, construction of containers to transport repatriated cultural items, transportation costs, ceremonial costs, and staff time for administration and coordination of the repatriation process.

 

Q. I’m not sure whether I should apply for a Research Grant or a Project Grant, what’s the difference between the two?

A. Research Grants fund up to $15,000.00 for earlier stage repatriation activities and are very flexible with no minimum amount, so please apply even if you only need a small amount of money. Project Grants fund up to $35,000 for repatriation activities that have moved beyond the research stage. If you are unsure which grant to apply for, please contact us to discuss your application.

 

Q. Can I apply for both a Research Grant and a Project Grant?

A. Yes. You are able to apply to both grants if you have multiple repatriation projects at different stages.

 

Q. When is the application deadline?

A. Applications to the 2020 Repatriation Grants have closed.