‘Colonial mindset’ preventing return of child’s remains to her community, says N.W.T. MLA

May 27, 2025

Some N.W.T. MLAs pressed the territory’s culture minister on Thursday to waive legislation that they say is holding up efforts to return a deceased child’s remains to her home community. The child from Fort Smith, N.W.T. — identified only as Alma by the Deninu Kųę́ First Nation — died while at residential school in the 1940s, according to the First Nation. Under the territory’s Archaeological Sites Act, Alma’s remains are considered artifacts since it’s evidence of human activity from over 50 years ago and that means a permit would be required to move them…