Tse'k'wa Repatriation

The First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC) asked me to document the repatriation of ancestral remains and cultural objects that were given to Simon Fraser University between the 1970s and 1990s. The repatriation ceremony took place at Tse’k’wa, a sacred gathering place of the Dane-zaa for over 12,500 years. Tse’k’wa means “Rock House” in Dane-zaa/Beaver language.

The event was marked by drumming, singing, dancing, and shared meals. We also set up to film interviews with key individuals, including a member of the archaeological team that unearthed the remains and artifacts, as well as a professor who has studied the repatriated objects over the years.

Tse’k’wa has been a meeting place for countless generations. It was an amazing experience visiting this sacred place.

A woman and a man sitting under a dome structure. The woman, wearing a green dress and red sandals, is holding papers. The man, wearing a blue shirt, is adjusting a camera on a tripod with headphones on. Another camera is visible on a table.

Three people in a casual indoor setting; one attaching a microphone to another.

Two men in a storage room with shelves; one holding a camera, the other examining an artifact

A small room with a film crew interviewing a person. The interviewee sits near a window, and a colorful backdrop is on the wall. The crew includes a camera operator, wearing an orange shirt, and another person sitting across from the interviewee. A b

Man with a bun filming on a professional camera and tripod, wearing earphones and a smartwatch.

Woman in orange jacket talking while sitting beside a man operating a video camera on a tripod indoors.