Cultural Belongings
When strangers first arrive, Indigenous tradition demands that gift-exchange must occur in order to establish good relations. When Captain Cook and other explorers and traders arrived in the late 1700s, Mowachaht and Muchalaht people presented carved images of our great Ancestors. These were gifts to be taken by visiting representatives of foreign governments. These Ancestors are now living in the great treasure houses which are called museums. They are our representatives in many cities and capitals around the globe. They are our ambassadors and proclaim the greatness of our Nation. They are our boundary markers and show the extent of our influence throughout the world. They now live in museums London, Madrid, Berlin, Paris, New York, Ottawa and many other places.
