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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">April 10, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;font-weight:normal"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-right:9.3pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none">
<strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Royal BC Museum launches a new grant program
<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-right:9.3pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none">
<strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">for Indigenous communities<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-right:9.3pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none">
<strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"></span></strong><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;font-weight:normal"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">VICTORIA, BC&#8211;</span></strong><a name="OLE_LINK5"><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;font-weight:normal">Indigenous
 communities in BC engaged in the significant work of repatriating belongings or ancestors from cultural institutions across the globe can now apply for financial assistance from the Royal BC Museum.</span></strong><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Repatriation grants are available to First Nations in BC and associated organizations (e.g. cultural societies, repatriation committees, etc.) for
 the purpose of assisting in consultation, documentation and repatriation of First Nations cultural items, ancestral remains and burial items, as well as intangible cultural heritage (e.g. songs, stories and language recordings) from museums around the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&#8220;In the spirit of reconciliation, cultural institutions, including the Royal BC Museum, are repatriating cultural treasures to Indigenous communities
 throughout BC,&#8221; said Prof. Jack Lohman, CEO of the Royal BC Museum. &#8220;My hope is that this granting program can lighten the financial burden of their rightful owners, Indigenous communities wishing to return materials to their places of origin and deepest meaning,
 their cultural homes.&#8221;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;font-weight:normal">The Province of BC, which in 2016 allocated $2M to the Royal BC Museum to develop a First Nations department and repatriation
 program, has made the grants possible; </span></strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">$500,000
</span><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;font-weight:normal">is available to successful applicants through this program.</span></strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&#8220;These grants distributed by the Royal BC Museum are a step towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples,&#8221; said Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism,
 Arts and Culture. &#8220;Returning ancestral remains and cultural objects is essential to recognizing historical wrongs and honouring the rich traditions of BC&#8217;s history. This is important work that promotes healing and well-being for all British Columbians.&#8221;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Each grant awarded could be up to $30,000. Applicants may submit one application only. Successful applicants will receive 80% on approval and 20% on
 completion and acceptance of a repatriation grant report.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The deadline for applications is 4:30 pm, May 28, 2018. Applications and more background information is available at
</span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/first-nations/first-nations-repatriation/grant"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/first-nations/first-nations-repatriation/grant</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">.&nbsp;
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Applications will be reviewed by Royal BC Museum staff for completeness and clarity before the Grant Committee of the Royal BC Museum&#8217;s First Nations
 Advisory and Advocacy Committee (FNAAC) reviews the submissions and identifies the successful applicants.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">For more information about the Royal BC Museum&#8217;s First Nations and Repatriation program, visit
</span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/first-nations/first-nations-repatriation"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/first-nations/first-nations-repatriation</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">About the Royal BC Museum<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="xbodytext" style="margin-top:.1pt;background:white"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Royal BC Museum explores the province&#8217;s human history and natural history, advances new knowledge and understanding of
 BC, and provides a dynamic forum for discussion and a place for reflection. The museum and archives celebrate culture and history, telling the stories of BC in ways that enlighten, stimulate and inspire. Located in Victoria on the traditional territory of
 the Lekwungen (Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations), we are a hub of community connections in BC&#8211;onsite, offsite and online&#8211;taking pride in our collective histories.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xbodytext" style="margin-top:.1pt;background:white"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">- 30 -<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><a name="OLE_LINK1"></a><a name="OLE_LINK2"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Media contact:</span></b></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Royal BC Museum Media Inquiries
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">250-387-5051<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><a href="mailto:news@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">news@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Univers LT Pro 55&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">
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