British Columbia's system for overseeing archeological objects is "flawed, unsustainable and filled with contradictions," says the B.C. Museums Association.
"We have under-invested in our heritage for decades," the association said Tuesday. "The need for significant overhauls to archeological repository legislation is just one part of a broader heritage crisis. If heritage is to have a future, we need to prioritize its health in the present."
For nearly two decades, from the early 2000s until a series of cultural investments started in 2017, the province spent less per capita on arts, culture and heritage than any other Canadian province, the association said.
"During that period our cultural institutions have decayed, our collections spaces have become full to the brim, and we have delayed work that is critical, and legally required, for reconciliation," it said.
Under the Heritage Conservation Act, all sites containing archeological materials from before 1846 face legal requirements, such as archeological inspections, that must be followed before objects can be removed. Violators face fines of up to $1 million or imprisonment for up to two years.
"The severity of these penalties reflects the importance of these sites," the association says. "Archeological sites are non-renewable resources – once altered or destroyed, the knowledge and cultural significance they contain are lost forever."
The legislation requires that artifacts be stored indefinitely, meaning they cannot be returned to their original site or the descendant community, despite the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, signed into law in 2019, which gives Indigenous peoples the right to control their cultural heritage.
Source: B.C. Museums Association