Rebury Indian Bones at Scarborough Oct. 20-21, Reeve Assures Six Nations of Due Solemnity

The hereditary chiefs of the Six Nations said firmly Sunday that reburial of the 500-year-old remains of Iroquois Indians unearthed recently in the Toronto suburb of Scarboro must be done in all solemnity.

Reeve Gus Harris of Scarboro, who visited the Six Nations Reserve to make plans for the Oct. 20-21 ceremonies, assured the chiefs there would be no commercialization of the ritual.

The discovery of the bones described by one Toronto scientist as the greatest archaeological find in Canadian history, was made recently as a bulldozer prepared land for a housing development in Scarboro.

What was turned up has been identified as an ancient mass burial ground. The Indians say they have been assured that it will be preserved as a national historic site.

The 500-year-old reburial service, Condolence to the Dead, was scheduled for Oct. 6 and 7 but the dates were pushed back to enable chiefs and braves from reservations as far away as the Gulf of Mexico to attend.

The Indian chiefs said an invitation will be extended to all North American Indian chiefs to attend the ceremony when they gather for the annual conference Sept. 15 and 19 at Akron, Ohio.

Dr. Walter Kenyon of the Royal Ontario Museum said the discovery was possibly the largest Indian cemetery yet uncovered in North America.

Reeve Harris told the chiefs he was making every effort to have either the Ontario or the federal government purchase the land for the building of an Indian museum and model village.

Mr. Harris' offer puzzled the Indians who said they were true owners of the land by virtue of a treaty signed 1871 with the English.

The treaty said the land would be protected by the Crown as long as the war with France lasted. The Indians insist the treaty meant the Crown-protected land would always be theirs. They offered to give it to Scarborough if the township would use it for a museum and village.

Before the reburial ceremony takes place the Iroquois will make Mr. Harris an honorary chief of the Longhouse Indians so he can take part in the service.

At the conclusion of the reburial service the Indians will assemble for the colorful "Great Feat to the Dead." This ceremony is to appease the spirits with feasting and dancing.

Reeve Harris had a box of the bones in the trunk of his car yesterday - and the chiefs made clear they wanted no photographs.

A skull and a legbone in his hands, Reeve Harris explained to a group of solemn Indians at the Onondaga Longhouse some of the details of the recent discovery. They were curious.

But the chiefs would neither touch nor go near the bones. Chief Howard Skye gave a flat "No!" to the suggestion of a photograph. Longhouse is their religion, that the finding of the bones and the plans for the reinterment are gravely serious ones. As for any lack of solemnity...

"We do not want that," said Chief Skye. "To us these mortal remains are sacred. We will reinter them in the tradition of our people... We believe this ceremony must be conducted with dignity."

The reeve and his party were cordially received. Because there was not a full council present (some chiefs were absent because of the Green Corn Dance being conducted elsewhere on the reserve), arrangements could not be completed.

The reeve did learn some of the details of the ancient Indian burial ceremony. He also was advised that the Indians would use their own utensils for preparation of the ceremonial feast.

They will take to Scarboro two huge ancient iron kettles in which to cook the food. The kettles each will hold 125 pounds of beef. In them, too, will be boiled gallons of Indian corn soup, prepared by the women of the tribes in the manner of their forebears.

The ceremony of reburial to be conducted by the hereditary chiefs will include an oration, casting of sacred tobacco into the ceremonial fire and covering of the bones with a deerskin before committal.

"We will need a lot of dry hardwood," Chief Skye told the Scarboro representatives. "Something that will give a good flame but not much smoke."

The Iroquois death feast traditionally does not occur until 10 days after burial. When the reburial takes place at Scarboro it will be conducted at dusk on the same day.

"This will be necessary because our people cannot return in 10 days," said Chief Joe Logan, Jr.

Reeve Harris said it is evident from the remains found at Scarboro that the dead were buried wrapped in a deerskin.

Because a deerskin is not easy to come by in this day and age, the Ontario department of lands and forests may be asked to supply one.

No less than the Indians, the Scarboro officials want the reburial to be solemnly carried out.

Before the feast begins, in a carved wooden bowl will be placed a meal for the departed. After it has been set aside no one will go near it.

"It will remain overnight for the dead," Chief Skye said. "We do not believe that the earthly body returns to eat the food. But the soul will come back to feast upon it. It is not necessary that personal contact take place with everything that is provided for the edification of man. Man can feed upon the beauty of a flower he sees but does not touch. He can enjoy the beauty of a sunset, feel the joy of a bright day, though he can touch neither. Thus the feast provided for the dead. Into the bowl will be put a little of each of the kind of dishes that are served."

Skye said the sacred tobacco has already been gathered by runners who have covered the reservation.

The Scarboro officials and the chiefs met inside the longhouse. There was speechmaking from both sides. It was a friendly meeting and, after another meeting two weeks hence, it is expected all details will be completed for the Scarboro ceremony.

The hereditary chiefs lead the people of the Longhouse. Their followers are the men, women and children of the Six Nations who follow the Longhouse religion and stick more closely to the ritual of their forebears than the rest of the Indians on the reserve. They deny they are pagan and claim a religion closely akin to Christian, with one creator. Their