The Bonaparte Indian Band and the company behind a large railyard expansion project have come to an agreement concerning ancestral remains unearthed in Ashcroft.

The agreement on an alternative burial site comes after a six hour meeting between Bonaparte elders and councillors, representatives of the BC Archeology Branch and the Ashcroft Terminal.

Band councillor Dr. Verna Billy Minnabarriet says talks were heated at times, but ended well.

“At the end of the day we had a collaboration and agreement to bury the remains back in the location or close to the location that he was or she was exhumed from and that happened last night so we had the burial ceremony last night (Thursday).”

But Minnabarriet says there are still other issues to be resolved.

“The Archeology Branch signed off on a permit that allowed the company’s archeologist to report their findings which did not include the Bonaparte First Nation. We feel that is not part of reconciliation. That is lip-service, it is not a real collaboration and so we need to address that. We need to look at the permit.”

She says the permit should be amended include the Bonaparte First Nation as well as the company that owns the Ashcroft Terminal, Singapore-based PSA International.

This morning, the Bonaparte band conducted a horseback Unity Ride Ceremony.

The sides have vowed further meetings to improve communication.

(Photo: Facebook)