Legacy signs BCMA Repatriation Call to Action
UVic Legacy Art Galleries has signed the UVic is dedicated to more respectfully stewarding the Indigenous collections in our care. We are currently working to research the collections and make known to Indigenous communities the Indigenous cultural material we are holding. We are guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the UN Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, and will look to Indigenous people to determine how these materials should be cared for going forward, and if it is appropriate to be held in a collection.
About the logo:
The logo for the Repatriation Call to Action was created by , an emerging artist of mixed ancestry. Sarah is a member of the W̱SÁNEĆ nation from the Tseycum village. She holds a BFA from UVIC and conducts environmental restoration on her ancestral territory. Creating place-based artwork of her homelands and waters allows her to educate others about the importance of native plant food systems and coastal medicines in relation to the ecosystem and W̱SÁNEĆ culture.
Sarah explains the elements used in the logo; “The moon and stars are ubiquitous entities that hold so much meaning for many. A moon in transition symbolizes the act of repatriation; communities are becoming whole again by receiving what truly belongs to them. The surrounding plants represent good medicine for this phase in life and stars are meant to give good wishes and represent ancestors.”