ABSTRACT
In 1636, the phrase “cry of the souls” was used to describe the grieving that occurred during the creation of a Huron-Wendat ossuary. In 2013, the remains of more than 1,700 Ancestors from ancestral Wendat ossuaries in southern Ontario were returned to mother earth. This was the result of a ground-breaking collaborative process between the Huron-Wendat Nation and the University of Toronto, with help from provincial agencies, industry partners, and scholars. A commitment was also made for continued collaboration and research regarding the Huron-Wendat Ancestors and their burial items. This is built on using retained samples to explore aspects of the Ancestors’ lives that are of interest to their descendants. Through this activity, the Ancestors help their descendants to learn about their heritage and homeland.
