Janith English, Principal Chief of the Wyandot Nation of Kansas, took part in an emotional homecoming ceremony at the Craigleith Heritage Depot Monday.

"It was 359 years ago, almost to the day, on a moonlit night in March that we were driven across the bay from our village," Chief English told dignitaries gathered at the Depot.

"The rock up on the hill behind us, this spot was the birthplace of the Wyandot Nation of Kansas," she said, referring to the site of a Petun village that gave refuge to her ancestors.

The occasion of Chief English's return visit to Craigleith, at the invitation of the Town of the Blue Mountains and Depot Curator Suzanne Ferri, was so that the Chief could see the artifact displays from archaeological sites at Craigleith which are ancestral to Chief English's family.

The sweet aroma of burning sage filled the Depot as Roger Noganosh of the Magnetawan First Nation, assisted by his wife Kate on a drum, held a sage smudge ceremony in the Craigleith Heritage Depot building to cleanse and bless the building and those present.

The Noganoshes stated that the Magnetawan First Nation also has ancestral connections with the Blue Mountains.

Chief English then sang a prayer, that she said, loosely translated, means: "Loving and great Creator, we give thanks and make peace. Allow us to heal for we have made peace."

The visitors were welcomed by Mayor Ellen Anderson on behalf of the Town and the Depot.

In response, Chief English presented Mayor Anderson with a clay pot made by a modern Wyandot potter in an ancient style.

Chief English affirmed she is a descendant of the two Wyandot villages which existed at Craigleith until 1650, and assured the Town of the Blue Mountains of the enthusiastic support of the Wyandot Nation of Kansas toward preserving the remains of these villages.

Following the ceremony, Chief English said it was difficult to articulate her feelings on her return to her people's homeland.

"We had to leave, but our spirit is still here," she said.

 "I am struck by how diverse and how rich the heritage of Ontario is - your wisdom will be richly rewarded. Your efforts at sustaining and protecting the heritage of the land, the way you are fighting to protect, preserve and sustain the land are to be commended. You are to be honoured and thanked," she said, offering special thanks to local archeologist Charles Garrad, who helped arrange Chief English's visit.

Chief English also announced that a movie was in the works about the history of the Wyandot people.

Sir Ben Kingsley, who achieved fame and an Academy Award for his portrayal of Gandhi in the movie of the same name and who is now principal of SBK Pictures, with his partners Simone Sheffield and Valerie Hoffman, has announced his intention to spread the historic significance of the Wyandot people to the rest of the world.

On Sir Ben Kingsley's behalf Chief English formally read the announcement of the film project Whispers Like Thunder, for which the script was written by Trip Brooks and Luis Moro,  which will portray the fight by the Wyandot Indians in Kansas to save their Cemetery in the heart of commercial Kansas City, Kansas, and particularly the role of the Conley sisters to preserve their ancestor's sacred burial ground and legacy.

Chief English commented that many ancestors and relatives of hers, including the two Conley sisters, are buried in the Wyandot cemetery in Kansas. Lyda Conley became the first native woman attorney to argue a case before the Supreme Court of the United States.

Sir Ben's announcement included a welcome to Chief English to the Depot, his regret at not being there personally, and his special thanks for the efforts that made the Depot a reality.