(Version française de ce texte)
Hello,
You would have told me that, one day, I would see my name in the French magazine Géo (I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that it’s the equivalent of National Geographic for the French-speaking world), and I would have had a hard time believing it. But life sure holds for us the most extraordinary surprises: the August-September 2015 issue of Géo Histoire (Géo‘s publication dedicated to history) publishes a 10-page article on Abraham Ulrikab’s story! This issue has been on newsstands in Europe since July 22, and we be there for the next two months. It should arrive in Canada around August 22-23 (and be on newsstands until October). That said, the electronic version is available online and on magazine subscriptions sites such Zinio.
Five Inuit in a zoo : an article appearing in Géo Histoire
Mr Meyer has indeed alluded to Abraham’s group in his May 2015 editorial. Here is our own translation of an excerpt of his text:
But the situation that population finds itself in reminds us that – even in 2015 – a human culture is a fragile body that grows within a particular history and geography, and it is endangered when one wants to force upon it – and often saying that it is for “its own good” – an external model, supposed to be more “modern”. The Musée de l’Homme in Paris still retains many Inuit skeletons, human beings who, in 1880, were brought from Labrador to be exhibited in zoos in Europe, including at the Jardin d’acclimatation in Paris! The white man has done much worse than Inuit hunters who shoot bears.
Five Inuit in a zoo – pages 122-123
There is just one clarification I would like to make. The article mentions that the Inuit’s remains should be coming in the fall 2015. In my opinion, it is unlikely that the return of Inuit in Labrador will occur this fall. The Nunatsiavut Government is currently writing its repatriation protocol (for either the repatriation request of human bones or artifacts collected in graves). Public consultations with the Labrador Inuit population has started and the government expects it to be completed by September 2015. In addition, efforts to find descendants continue. Hopefully, in the fall 2015, the Nunatsiavut Government will be in a position to forward the official repatriation request to Canada’s Foreign Minister who will forward to his French counterpart. It is only then that the discussions can really begin between the two countries. At this point in time, no one can predict how much time will be required for them to reach an agreement.
Here is the cover of the August-Septembre 2015 issue of Géo Histoire! Watch for its arrival on newsstands!
Cover of Géo Histoire #22 (August-Septembre 2015)
All the best! If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to send them our way!
France Rivet
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