Handlung

This feature-length documentary traces the journey of the Haisla people to reclaim the G'psgolox totem pole that went missing from their British Columbia village in 1929. The fate of the 19th century traditional mortuary pole remained unknown for over 60 years until it was discovered in a Stockholm museum where it is considered state property by the Swedish government.

This NFB (National Film Board of Canada) documentary follows the story of the G'psgolox pole, a traditional mortuary totem pole taken from the Haisla people of Kitamaat village, B.C. in 1929. Finally located 60 years later at a museum in Stockholm, Sweden, Director Gil Cardinal reveals the long, difficult process of its repatriation through interviews of both the Haisla and Swedish communities, highlighting the contrariety between Native traditions and western museum practices.

The film begins with the story of Chief G'psolox, who erected this pole in honour of his family's death. It was cut down and taken to Sweden before it could naturally fall, decompose and return to Mother Earth as was the tradition of the Haisla people. 60 years later, they finally locate the pole at the Museum of Ethnography in Stockholm, and subsequently begin negotiating for its return. After years of deliberation, the Swedish government agrees to return the pole under the condition that it is to be preserved in a museum rather than returned to its original place to be returned to the Earth. This leaves the Haisla people conflicted: they are angry that the Swedish government does not respect Haisla ownership and tradition, but they acknowledge that Sweden had taken care of the pole and allowed for present and future generations of Haisla people to have access to a tangible piece of their cultural history.

It is consequently decided that the grandson of the original carver of the G'psolox pole will create two replicas; one to be gifted to the Stockholm museum, and one to stand at the original location it was taken from. Director Gil Cardinal captures the carving processes, as well as the complicated discussions for the poles' transportation given the Haisla Nation's financial constraints, exposing the lack of aid from the Swedish government. Cardinal also allows us to witness Haisla traditions and ceremonies as they erect the replica pole at the original site, and bless the second replica for the Stockholm museum.

The film concludes tragically with the original pole still standing in the Swedish Museum of Ethnography, next to the replica pole that was gifted to them.