I don't how long ago it was that I first heard this historical account of the story about the Inuit family who were taken to Europe with the promise of wealth and adventure in exchange for them to be exhibited in a 'human zoo'. The idea and the story is a horrendous, and an unimaginable one, but a very important story that has needed to be told. It profoundly conveys how tragic the Colonialists and their ilk had no regard for Indigenous people and devalued humanity itself. Shamefully this disregard continues throughout the world.
It truly is an unbelievable event that happened, but the fact is it did, and is once again is an example of man's inhumanity to man. The family of Abraham Ulrikab and thousands of Indigenous people's are still displayed all over in European museums, whose bodies must be repatriated and brought back home.
When I first heard this historical account a few years ago, it was very disturbing. Today I again heard another broadcast on the Current about this Inuit family. In The Footsteps of Abraham Ulrikab is the work of France Rivet and the documentary Trapped in a Human Zoo is to be aired tonight on The Nature of Things.
During The Current interview I was deeply moved when I closely listened the Inuit elder Johannes Lampe from Nain, answer the question asked, what would it mean to his community to have his ancestors brought back to Labrador. His emotion and silence spoke volumes and it was very touching.
