Royal family to return Indigenous artifacts taken from B.C. during Crown visit in 1939: council member

Prince Edward, the youngest son of the late Queen Elizabeth, has agreed to give back artifacts that were not formally gifted to the Royal Family back in the 1930s.

Elected Council Member Wilson Williams from the Squamish Nation says he met with the Duke of Edinburgh on Thursday on the eve of the coronation of King Charles III.

Williams says the Indigenous artifacts in question, two wool jackets, were not offered officially to the Royal Family when they were taken during a 1939 visit to Vancouver. He says this has caused hard feelings for the family who made them.

“If we are speaking in terms of reconciliation, this is huge,” Williams said.

“This is huge for the Royal Family to not, ‘right wrongs’ but I think out of respect.”

Williams says he feels this is a step closer to reconciliation from when the British Empire colonized what is now known as British Columbia.

“They are really heartened, that’s the word they used, to work with us and to track it down. They are going to reconnect with us and we are going to start communication so we can connect with Buckingham Palace,” he said.

Williams says getting the jackets back would be significant, especially for the younger generation to be able to experience a piece of their heritage.

“We’re already talking plans on what we are going to do once we get the pieces back. It will be a teaching and education piece to our future weavers of our Nation,” he said.

“In the spirit of reconciliation, and out of respect, this is something they understand we want it back for use for the people. But at the same time, we want to gift them back.”

Williams says when the Royal Family gives back the artifacts, they will be formally gifted modern jackets as a symbol of moving forward.