Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 20/99) - The skeletal remains of Inuit ancestors laid to rest in museums around the world are one step closer to coming home as a result of an agreement that was signed last week.

For at least one elder, that means the days of sorrow in his heart are coming to a close.

"Everybody loves their father dearly. So did we and our forefathers, too. For that reason those artifacts meant so much because they were owned by our ancestors," said Barnabas Peryour, a Baker Lake elder and the Kivalliq representative of the Inuit Heritage Trust.

"We survived because of our ancestors' love and this has been passed on. It's important for the elders to carry that on too."

The trust was mandated under the Nunavut Final Agreement in 1993 to assume increasing responsibility for the repatriation, conservation and restoration of archaeological sites and specimens. To that end, they collaborated with Nunavut Tunngavik and the Government of Nunavut on the agreement.

"All three parties have been saying that it's important to establish museum facilities in Nunavut. We've agreed on that, but we'd like to take it one step further," said Deborah Kigjugalik Webster, the president of the trust.

She explained that the memorandum of understanding, signed in Iqaluit, meant that a Nunavut Historical Advisory Board would be established to undertake such repatriation and to begin the commemoration of historical sites and areas. It would also, she said, work to establish a heritage facility in the territory.

"We need a main repository to house collections," said Webster.

Canada's collection of Inuit archaeological items is currently housed at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife and at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull, Que. It is expected that the board will also work on repatriating artifacts from other countries.

Premier Paul Okalik agreed with the importance of the agreement and said the government -- specifically the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth -- would lend its financial and administrative support to the board.

For Peryour, an almost lifelong advocate of the issue, the dream of finally seeing the tools of his ancestors come home is an emotional one.

"There will be no more sorrow. We will be blessed. It will be like the lost has been found and we will be grateful. It will come from our hearts."