not only should they not sell these items for profit, they should be kept together as a snapshot of HBC colonization in a museum paid for by HBC or CA Gov w free access to Indigenous people and available to academics to study and summarize for the benefit of Indigenous peoples
there could be historical documents in here of legal importance to native land claims or lawsuits. Not to mention documentation of peoples ancestors and sacred items.
“It is highly possible there are sacred belongings in the collection including wampum, quillwork, moccasins, and other belongings that should be restituted to Indigenous communities and families,”
“Bell suggested there may be historical trade documents that would attest to the company’s colonial endeavours, as well as portraits of Indigenous leaders that could “provide evidence of Indigenous negotiations and sovereignties.””