Pair of ribstones returned to Blackfoot Crossing 

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Two sacred cultural artifacts have been returned to Siksika Nation after more than a century of being held in the Canadian Museum of Natural History. 

The two artifacts are ribstones, which are carved objects which bear spiritual significance. Shannon Bear Chief, CEO of Blackfoot Crossing Museum and Historical Park, explained they were previously used for mediation and prayer by previous generations. 

“Why they were taken, I believe it was just like everything else – language, culture, that was stripped from the Blackfoot people. It was also just another act of removing them rocks to remove the meditation and the prayer,” she said. “Bringing home our objects is also a significant historical event because our spirits are coming home. And then we’ll become whole as a Siksika Nation.”

A delegation of Blackfoot elders traveled to Gatineau, Que. earlier in 2025 to identify the stones and that they originally belonged to the Siksika people. 

The stones are believed to have been removed from Siksika Nation in the late 1800’s and early 1900s. The ceremony marking the return of the stones to Blackfoot Crossing was held June 6.

“We can tell our future generations what they were used for, and how they were helpful [to] maintain our life and exist on the prairies by being able to hunt the buffalo and live off the buffalo and live off the land,” said Blackfoot Crossing Board of Directors Chair, Strater Crowfoot. “For us to bring these home and recount the significance of them to our people and to our future, it’s important that we have them here to be able to tell that story.”

Grant Many Heads explained carved buffalo ribstones were placed all across Blackfoot territory as far eastward as the buffalo traveled. 

Particularly following successful hunts, stones were etched and placed as ceremonial sites where people were able to make offerings and give thanks to the Creator. 

Blackfoot Crossing Museum and Historical Park has established a 25-year cultural master plan centered on raising awareness for what was lost, as well as working with other museums to repatriate more cultural and historical artifacts. 

“We are looking at bringing more things home each year. We are looking at going to New Mexico … in Colorado a museum there, and of course, Washington D.C.; there are things there that belong to us, and we are looking at reaching out and bringing more items home,” said Crowfoot.

“Our spirits are coming home and then we will become whole as a Siksika Nation,” added Bear Chief. 

The return of the stones is another step in the Blackfoot First Nations Sacred Ceremonial Objects Repatriation Regulation, which began in 2023, being an effort to repatriate sacred ceremonial objects and artifacts to the Siksika, Blood Tribe, and Piikani nations.