Repatriation of Labrador Inuit Remains

The Nunatsiavut Government announced today that it plans on repatriating Labrador Inuit remains that were removed from the former community of Zoar.

Johannes Lamps is the Minister of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.

He says the remains were removed from Zoar, an area located between Nain and Natuashish, in the late 1920s.

The remains of Labrador Inuit were removed by the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

The museum had planned on collecting natural history specimens and archeological material that could assist in learning more about the history of Labrador.

At the time the remains were removed, the archeologists were met with opposition from residents in Nain and Hopedale.

In a release from the Nunatsiavut Government the museum recognizes it’s wrong-doing and the impact the removal of the remains has had.

The museum has agreed to cover all costs associated with the repatriation of the human remains.

The Nunatsiavut Government has been working with the Field Museum of Natural History to develop a plan since 2008.

They hope to have the remains repatriated some time next summer.