h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

While the Provincial Museum of Alberta still seems to be making no movements concerning the Manitou Stone, The Glenbow Museum in Calgary has made some remarkable moves:

' The repatriation of ancient artifacts is a perpetually thorny cultural issue, but one Canadian museum has shown that honouring a request to return artifacts can be beneficial for both parties.

Calgary's Glenbow Museum had hundreds of sacred and ceremonial objects in its collection from the Blackfoot First Nation. About four years ago, the band asked for some of them back.

A number of the items had been at the museum for more than 50 years, but officials consented – leading to a positive outcome.

"After [that] repatriation, the Blackfoot confederacy members came back to us and said, 'Now we want to work with you to tell our story, in our words, in your museum,'" said director Mike Robinson.

As a result, the Glenbow now possesses one of the finest First Nations displays in the world, according to Robinson.

Based on his museum's experience, Robinson has one basic rule for curators about the return of artifacts.

"If it's a sacred and ceremonial object for which there is a real need in the community – for the religious observance or practice – of course you should give it back," he said.'

http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2004/06/29/Arts/glenbowrepat040629.html

One hopes that the Provincial Museum of Alberta will listen to the advice.