After leading repatriation efforts here on Haida Gwaii, Lucy Bell will now lead the First Nations department and repatriation program at the Royal BC Museum.
A UBC anthropology graduate who did her master’s in Indigenous Language Revitalization at the University of Victoria, Bell began working for the Royal BC Museum in 1995 as part of the Aboriginal cultural stewardship program.
“It’s great that the Royal BC Museum repatriated me back, as my Haida repatriation journey began here at this museum,” said Bell in a recent press release.
“In this role I look forward to helping other nations bring their ancestral remains and cultural treasures home.”
Bell helped coordinate the return of over 500 Haida ancestors from museums in Canada, the U.S., and U.K., and has since advised on a number of exhibits of indigenous culture.
In her new role, Bell will bring the Royal BC Museum’s former ethnology and archeology departments into a single team.
“I am delighted to welcome Lucy Bell from the Haida Nation as our new Head of Department,” said Jack Lohman, CEO of the Royal BC Museum.
“She will focus on revitalizing our First Peoples gallery, assisting with repatriation, and ensuring that indigenous perspectives are mainstreamed into our work.”