Repatriation of artifacts that were taken from the BC coast during the age of exploration and afterward, has been ongoing for two decades.
Museums, institutions, universities and even, in some cases, private collections have opted to return important cultural items to their rightful place within their culture of origin. In some cases bones are returned to their home resting place, while tools and artifacts are deposited in museums where they can be documented and studied.
The decision to remove the culturally altered tree that was discovered in Toba Inlet from its natural state and display it in the Klahoose First Nation community centre in Squirrel Cove was likely unavoidable. With all of the surrounding trees removed, the risk of blowdown was too great. Further, the remote location of the tree factored into the decision. When the tree was removed a plaque was put up where it once stood, commemorating the historical and cultural significance of the find.
The Eburne Site midden in Vancouver, approximately where Granville Street is now, was an incredibly rich archaeological find. Extensive surveying work to catalogue as much of the site as possible was undertaken, but ultimately much was lost in the name of commercial and industrial progress.
On the other side of the coin though, what an excellent opportunity to create an important spiritual and cultural destination out in the wilderness. Under different circumstances, if the tree had been left where it was, it could have become part of an eco-tourism plan and a cultural education program. People would see the splendor of the face in the tree staring down the river valley—guardian and protector of Klahoose territory. It was a rare find. There are not many out there. There is a photograph online that shows several loggers sitting atop a massive felled tree. This tree also had a large face or arborglyph carved into the trunk. For how few have been discovered, there is a good chance there are very few left.
However reasonable the decision to move the Klahoose arborglyph tree seems, it is still profoundly sad. The tree has been there for the better part of two centuries. The need to take it down because of preservation still seems unjust—a sad commentary on what happens to the past in the name of progress.
