- Other Name
- OBSIDIAN CORE
- Date Range From
- 4000BP
- Date Range To
- 1700
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- OBSIDIAN
- Catalogue Number
- P20150027000
2 images
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- OBSIDIAN CORE
- Date Range From
- 4000BP
- Date Range To
- 1700
- Materials
- OBSIDIAN
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 8.5
- Length
- 32.7
- Width
- 24.7
- Description
- SHINY, BLACK OBSIDIAN ROCK. VARIOUS GROOVES AND FLAKE SCARS ON THE OVERALL SURFACE OF THE ROCK.
- Subjects
- MASONRY & STONEWORKING T&E
- INDIGENOUS
- Historical Association
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- ARCHAEOLOGY
- History
- THIS OBSIDIAN ROCK WAS DONATED ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 BY NANCY BIGGERS IN MEMORY OF HER LATE PARENTS, BOYD AND MARY BIGGERS. IT WAS LOCATED ON THE FAMILY FARM BY BOYD BIGGERS. ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT GIVEN BY NANCY AT THE TIME OF DONATION, "... FARMERS NEED TO CLEAR THEIR LAND OF ... ROCKS IN ORDER TO PLANT AND HARVEST THEIR FIELDS. BOYD WAS DOING THIS ONE DAY (IN THE EARLY 1980S) AND CAME ACROSS A BEAUTIFUL SHINY BLACK ROCK. HE WAS IMPRESSED BY [ITS] COLOURING AND THE VARIOUS GROOVES, SO RATHER THAN THROWING IT ON TO THE PILE WITH THE OTHER ROCKS, HE DECIDED TO TAKE IT HOME. ... MARY, BEING A SCHOOL TEACHER, TOLD HIM THAT IT APPEARED TO BE OBSIDIAN, WHICH THE ABORIGINALS USED TO MAKE ARROWHEADS AND TOOLS. MARY RETIRED FROM TEACHING IN 1986 AND THUS BOYD DECIDED TO SELL THE FARM. THEY MOVED TO LETHBRIDGE ... [AND] THE OBSIDIAN CAME WITH THEM ... AS IT WAS A REMINDER OF THEIR FARM LIFE. IT WAS USED AS A DECORATIVE PIECE IN BOTH OF THE HOMES IN WHICH THEY LIVED IN LETHBRIDGE." ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2015, ARCHEOLOGIST, NEIL MIRAU, OF ARROW ARCHAEOLOGY LIMITED STATED VIA EMAIL THAT THE ROCK HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO THE AREA BY HUMANS AND THAT IT WAS RELATIVELY EASY TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE OBSIDIAN FROM ITS GENERAL APPEARANCE. HE WAS ALMOST CERTAIN THAT THIS PIECE OF OBSIDIAN CAME FROM THE OBSIDIAN CLIFFS IN WHAT IS NOW YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING. HE WROTE, “OBSIDIAN DOES NOT OCCUR NATURALLY IN SOUTHERN ALBERTA AND REALLY THE ONLY WAY FOR IT TO GET HERE, ESPECIALLY THIS TYPE OF ROCK IS TO BE CARRIED BY HUMANS. OBSIDIAN ... WAS PRIZED BY PAST CULTURES AND IT MAKES VERY ATTRACTIVE AND VERY SHARP TOOLS AND PROJECTILE POINTS. THIS PARTICULAR PIECE HAS FLAKE SCARS SHOWING THAT IT WAS WORKED BY HUMANS. IT WAS LIKELY, GIVEN ITS ‘VALUE,’ CARRIED BY ITS OWNER TO FLAKE PIECES OFF EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE TO MAKE A NEW TOOL. OBSIDIAN IS ONE OF THE RARE TYPES OF STONE THAT IS CURATED BY PAST HUMANS, THAT IS, ALTHOUGH HEAVY, THEY WOULD HAVE CARRIED IT WITH THEM TO MAKE TOOLS WITH.” HE ALSO WROTE THAT OBSIDIAN FROM WYOMING THAT HAS BEEN FOUND IN SOUTHERN ALBERTA HAS ARRIVED “EITHER THROUGH TRADE OR BY LONG DISTANCE TRAVEL OF PEOPLE FROM HERE TO THERE AND RETURN," AND THAT THERE IS EVIDENCE OF BOTH METHODS. MIRAU INFERS THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN DROPPED THERE THREE OR FOUR CENTURIES AGO, OR MANY THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO. SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR COPY OF THE NANCY BIGGER’S INFORMATION, EMAIL TRANSCRIPTS, MAPS OF THE LOCATION OF THE BIGGERS’ FARM WHERE ARTIFACT WAS FOUND, AND A PHOTOGRAPH OF BOYD AND MARY BIGGERS. 22 OCTOBER 2021 UPDATE: THE LABEL TEXT QUOTED BELOW WAS DEVELOPED WITH KAINAI ELDERS FOR A SUB-THEME WITHIN THE EXHIBIT ‘MADE IN’, TITLED ‘NIITSITAPISSKSAHKOYI’ AND INSTALLED WITHIN THE GALT IN 2021. ELDERS WHO PROVIDED MUSEUM CURATOR AIMEE BENOIT WITH DIRECTION ON SUBTHEME’S CONTENT INCLUDED: AAGOHH GISS STSISTIIGIIAAKII (MANY OFFERINGS WOMAN, GRETA MANY BEARS), GUUYII STAA BAAMUUGHKAA (WALKING ON TOP, RAYMOND MANY BEARS), NIINAA PIIKSII (CHIEF BIRD, MIKE BRUISED HEAD), MO’TOKAANII’PO (WALKING WITH A SCALP, HARRISON RED CROW) AND MIINIIPOKA (SACRED BERRY CHILD, PETER WEASEL MOCCASIN). THE GALT APPRECIATED THE GENEROSITY OF THE ELDERS WHO SHARED THEIR KNOWLEDGE FOR THIS EXHIBIT PROJECT. “AAPAOOKI (OBSIDIAN CORE): PRIZED FOR THE SHARP TOOLS AND PROJECTILE POINTS IT CAN PRODUCE, OBSIDIAN DOES NOT OCCUR NATURALLY IN WHAT IS NOW SOUTHERN ALBERTA. THIS LARGE PIECE LIKELY CAME FROM THE OBSIDIAN CLIFFS IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK AND WAS CARRIED OR TRADED NORTH. ‘NIITSITAPISSKSAHKOYI (REAL PEOPLE TERRITORY) WENT AS FAR AS OTAHKOITAH’TAYI (YELLOWSTONE RIVER). SOME OBSIDIAN WAS TRADED, BUT A LOT OF IT, THEY ACTUALLY PICKED IT AND BROUGHT IT HERE. THAT’S HOW FAR NIITSITAPI TRAVELLED.’ – NIINAA PIIKSII”
- Catalogue Number
- P20150027000
- Acquisition Date
- 2015-09
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Date Range From
- 1880
- Date Range To
- 1890
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- COTTON, LEATHER, GLASS
- Catalogue Number
- P20170002000
2 images
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1880
- Date Range To
- 1890
- Materials
- COTTON, LEATHER, GLASS
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 103.2
- Width
- 5
- Description
- BEADED BELT WITH A GEOMETRIC PATTERN SET AGAINST A GREEN BEADED BACKGROUND. PATTERN ALTERNATES BETWEEN TWO MIRRORED BLACK, YELLOW, BLUE TRIANGLES WITH THEIR BASES AT EITHER WIDTH END OF THE BELT MEETING IN THE CENTER AT THEIR POINTS AND LARGE RED AND BLUE WITH A GREEN CENTERED TRIANGLES WITH THEIR BASE AT ONE WIDTH END AND THEIR POINTS EXTENDED TO THE OPPOSING END. BEADS ARE SEWN INTO A COTTON, CANVAS FABRIC. TWO ANIMAL HIDE TIES (EACH A DIFFERENT LENGTH FROM 6.2 TO 11.8) ON EACH END AT EACH CORNER OF BELT. BACK SIDE IS RAW FABRIC WITH SEAM AT CENTER CONNECTING THE TWO HALVES. ENDS ARE HEMMED WITH TIES SEWN TO THE OUTSIDE. CONDITION: SEVERE DISCOLOURATION TO FABRIC BACKING AND SEVERE WEAR TO ANIMAL HIDE TIES. MANY LOSS THREADS OVER ENTIRE SURFACE OF BACK. BEADS AND BEADING IN EXCELLENT CONDITION OVERALL.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- Historical Association
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- UPON THE DONATION OF THIS BELT TO THE GALT MUSEUM, THE DONOR – PATRICIA LYNCH-STAUNTON – EXPLAINED THAT THIS BELT BELONGED TO ALFRED HARDWICH LYNCH-STAUNTON, WHO SERVED IN THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE IN FORT MACLEOD. HE RANCHED IN THE LUNDBRECK AREA AND SUPPLIED HORSES TO THE MOUNTIES. THE DONOR SAID THAT SHE HAD “NO KNOWLEDGE OF HOW [ALFRED HARDWICK] CAME INTO POSSESSION OF THE BELT. A NOTE ON THE INITIAL DOCUMENTATION ATTRIBUTES THE DATE OF THIS BELT TO CA. 1880-1890. THE ACTING CURATOR OF THE NATIVE NORTH AMERICAN DEPARTMENT OF THE GLENBOW, JOANNE SCHMIDT, AGREED WITH THE DONOR’S BELIEF THAT THE BELT WAS BLACKFOOT. THROUGH THE COMPARISON OF THE BEADED MOCCASINS AND BELTS IN THE GLENBOW’S COLLECTION WITH THIS BELT, SCHMIDT EXPLAINED THAT THE DESIGN ON THE BELT WAS MOSTLY FOUND ON THOSE FROM SIKSIKA, BUT SHE HAS ALSO SEEN THE DESIGN IN PIIKANI AND KAINAI BEADWORK THOUGH THERE ARE NOT MANY EXAMPLES IN THE COLLECTION. ALSO BY USING THE GLENBOW’S COLLECTION AS A POINT OF REFERENCE, THE CURATOR BELIEVES THAT THE BELT IS SIMILAR IN APPEARANCE TO THOSE OF THE 19TH CENTURY TO EARLY 20TH-CENTURY MUSEUM HOLDINGS. SCHMIDT ALSO PROVIDED AN EXPLANATION OF THE DESIGN FROM THE CANADIAN MUSEUM OF HISTORY. IT STATES, “ONE OF THE EARLIEST DESIGNS USED WAS ‘MIISTA-TSIKA-TUKSIIN,’ OR MOUNTAIN DESIGN. OTHER DESIGNS INCLUDED SQUARES, DIAMONDS, BARS, SLOTTED BARS AND STRIPES… TODAY SUCH DESIGNS ARE CALLED ‘MAAH-TOOHM-MOOWA-KA-NA-SKSIN,’ OR FIRST DESIGNS.” IT WAS FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT A COMPLICATING FACTOR IN IDENTIFYING THE BELT’S ORIGINS IS THE FACT THAT THE BLACKFOOT TENDED TO USE WHITE OR BLUE AS THE BACKGROUND COLOUR, NOT GREEN AS IS PRESENTED IN THE LYNCH-STAUNTON DONATION. ON 19 JANUARY 2017, MUSEUM STAFF FURTHER CONSULTED WITH RYAN HEAVY HEAD, FORMER DIRECTOR OF KAINAI STUDIES AT RED CROW COMMUNITY COLLEGE, REGARDING THE BELT’S DESIGN. HE EXPLAINED, “THE GREEN BACKGROUND IS ATYPICAL OF BLACKFOOT BEADWORK, WHICH IS NORMALLY BLUE. THE ‘MOUNTAIN DESIGN’ [DISPLAYED ON THE BELT] IS A COMMON MOTIF IN BLACKFOOT BEADWORK, BUT AGAIN THE COLOURS ARE NOT TYPICAL IN THIS EXAMPLE.” RYAN SPECULATED THAT DURING THE TIME OF DISEASE (WHEN THIS BELT APPEARS TO HAVE ORIGINATED) THERE WAS SOME DISRUPTION IN TRADITIONAL LIFE AND THAT COULD BE REFLECTED IN THE COLOUR CHOICES. ALTERNATIVELY, THE BELT MAY HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE GROS VENTRES FROM NORTHEAST MONTANA. THE DONOR, PATRICIA LYNCH-STAUNTON, IS THE GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER OF ALFRED HARDWICK LYNCH-STAUNTON. THIS BELT WAS PASSED DOWN THROUGH THE FAMILY, FIRST FROM A. H. LYNCH-STAUNTON, THEN TO THE DONOR’S GRANDFATHER, F. C. LYNCH-STAUNTON, THEN TO HER FATHER, A. G. LYNCH-STAUNTON, FINALLY TO THE DONOR WHO BROUGHT IT TO THE MUSEUM. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION COMES FROM THE “A. H. LYNCH-STAUNTON FAMILY HISTORY” WRITTEN FOR THE MUSEUM USING ONLINE SOURCES, THE GLENBOW ARCHIVES, AND THE BOOK TITLED “HISTORY OF THE EARLY DAYS OF PINCHER CREEK AND SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS OF ALBERTA.” “ALFRED HARDWICK LYNCH-STAUNTON (1860-1932) WAS BORN IN HAMILTON, ON AND CAME TO FORT MACLEOD IN 1877 TO JOIN THE NWMP. ACCORDING TO THE PINCHER CREEK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, HE WAS SENT TO ESTABLISH A HORSE BREEDING FARM AT PINCHER CREEK IN 1878. AFTER RETIRING FROM THE NWMP IN 1880, LYNCH-STAUNTON STATED THE FIRST CATTLE RANCH IN THE PINCHER CREEK AREA WITH JAMES BRUNEAU AND ISSAC MAY, AND LATER HOMESTEADED WEST OF TOWN. ALONG WITH HIS RANCH, LYNCH-STAUNTON MARRIED SARAH MARY BLAKE (1864-1933) IN 1890 AND THEY HAVE FIVE CHILDREN: VICTORIA, FRANDA, FRANCIS, JOHN, AND D’ARCY… A.H.’S BROTHER RICHARD LYNCH-STAUNTON (1867-1961) CAME AS FAR WEST AS MEDICINE HAT IN 1883 WITH HIS FATHER, F. H. LYNCH-STAUNTON, WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE SURVEY PARTY. RICHARD CAME WEST AGAIN, TO PINCHER CREEK, IN 1885 OR 1886. IN ABOUT 1900, HE ACQUIRED LAND NORTH OF LUNDBRECK, ON TODD CREEEK, WHICH BECAME THE ANTELOPE BUTTE RANCH. RICHARD AND A. H. WERE IN PARTNERSHIP FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IN CATTLE-RANCHING AND, ACCORDING TO THE DONOR, WITH THE BUTCHER SHOP. IN 1901, RICHARD MARRIED ISABELLE MARY WILSON (1868-1971), AND THEIR SON FRANK LYNCH-STAUNTON (1905-1990), ALBERTA’S 11TH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FROM 1979 TO 1985. LYNCH-STAUNTON DESCENDANTS CONTINUE TO RANCH IN THE LUNDBRECK/PINCHER CREEK AREA.” PLEASE SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR MORE INFORMATION, INCLUDING CORRESPONDENCE WITH DONOR AND PEOPLE CITED IN ABOVE HISTORY.
- Catalogue Number
- P20170002000
- Acquisition Date
- 2016-12
- Collection
- Museum
Images
HORN, FIRE PUNK
https://collections.galtmuseum.com/en/permalink/artifact1842
- Date Range From
- 1750
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- BUFFALO HORN, RAWHIDE, BUCKSKIN
- Catalogue Number
- P19641148000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1750
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Materials
- BUFFALO HORN, RAWHIDE, BUCKSKIN
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 38.0
- Diameter
- 8.9
- Description
- BUFFALO HORN CONTAINER WITH A RAWHIDE CAP AND BUCKSKIN THONG. CAP SEWN WITH SINEW. HOLES APPEAR MACHINE DRILLED. BASE OF HORN SHOWS CUT MARKS.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- Historical Association
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- NORTHERN PLAINS INDIGENOUS CULTURE *UPDATE* IN 2015 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON ASKED TWO FORMER MEMBERS OF THE LETHBRIDGE JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, PHIL EDMUNDSON AND PAUL RUSZNAK, ABOUT THE FIRST NATIONS ARTIFACTS THAT THE GROUP DONATED TO THE GALT MUSEUM IN 1964, 1969, AND 1973. NEITHER RECALLED HOW THE JAYCEES CAME INTO OWNERSHIP OF THE ARTIFACTS, AS THEIR ACQUISITION PREDATED BOTH EDMUNDSON AND RUSZNAK’S MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHAMBER. RESEARCH CONDUCTED INTO LETHBRIDGE’S GURNEY MUSEUM FOUND A CONNECTION BETWEEN ITS PROPRIETOR, WALTER GURNEY, AND THE JAYCEES, WHO ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE FROM THE APRIL 16, 1946 ISSUE OF THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD ADVOCATED ON GURNEY’S BEHALF FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE TO THE FORMER BOARD OF TRADE BUILDING WHERE THE MUSEUM WAS HOUSED. AN ARTICLE FROM THE JULY 13, 1948 ISSUE OF THE HERALD DESCRIBES SOME OF THE FIRST NATIONS ARTIFACTS ON DISPLAY IN THE MUSEUM: “TOMAHAWKS, ARROW HEADS, PEACE PIPES, BEAD AND LEATHER WORK, CLOTHING AND WOODCRAFT”. UPON THE CLOSURE OF THE MUSEUM AND SALE OF GURNEY’S COLLECTION TO BELMORE SCHULTZ OF THE ALTAMONT MUSEUM IN COUTTS, MENTION WAS MADE IN A HERALD ARTICLE FROM MAY 16, 1961 OF “HISTORICAL INDIAN RELICS THAT BELONG TO THE JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAVE BEEN RETAINED IN THE CITY AND WILL BE AVAILABLE WHEN PROPER DISPLAY FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE”. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE ARTIFACTS WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE JAYCEES BY GURNEY DURING THE DISSOLUTION OF HIS MUSEUM, BUT NO FURTHER CONFIRMATION WAS FOUND. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE GURNEY MUSEUM AND ITS COLLECTION, SEE RECORD P19890044001.
- UPDATE 16 AUGUST 2017: ON 25 JULY 2017, MUSEUM CURATOR AIMEE BENOIT FOUND EVIDENCE TO CONNECT THE INDIGENOUS COLLECTION DONATED BY THE LETHBRIDGE JAYCEES (AKA. JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE) WITH FORMER LETHBRIDGE RESIDENTS THE LATE FRED BOTSFORD AND HIS LATE DAUGHTER DOROTHY CLARK. NOTES MADE BY AIMEE ON THE DISCOVERY AS WELL AS RELEVANT CLIPPINGS FROM THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD CAN BE FOUND ATTACHED TO THE PERMANENT FILE OF P19641140000.
- Catalogue Number
- P19641148000
- Acquisition Date
- 1964-07
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Date Range From
- 1800
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- BONE & STEEL
- Catalogue Number
- P19641173000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1800
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Materials
- BONE & STEEL
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 12.5
- Length
- 30.0
- Width
- 3.8
- Description
- ORIGINAL BLADE AND HANDLE. BINDING POSSIBLY RECENT. SCRAPING TOOL
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- Historical Association
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- NORTHERN PLAINS INDIGENOUS CULTURE. *UPDATE* IN 2015 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON ASKED TWO FORMER MEMBERS OF THE LETHBRIDGE JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, PHIL EDMUNDSON AND PAUL RUSZNAK, ABOUT THE FIRST NATIONS ARTIFACTS THAT THE GROUP DONATED TO THE GALT MUSEUM IN 1964, 1969, AND 1973. NEITHER RECALLED HOW THE JAYCEES CAME INTO OWNERSHIP OF THE ARTIFACTS, AS THEIR ACQUISITION PREDATED BOTH EDMUNDSON AND RUSZNAK’S MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHAMBER. RESEARCH CONDUCTED INTO LETHBRIDGE’S GURNEY MUSEUM FOUND A CONNECTION BETWEEN ITS PROPRIETOR, WALTER GURNEY, AND THE JAYCEES, WHO ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE FROM THE APRIL 16, 1946 ISSUE OF THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD ADVOCATED ON GURNEY’S BEHALF FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE TO THE FORMER BOARD OF TRADE BUILDING WHERE THE MUSEUM WAS HOUSED. AN ARTICLE FROM THE JULY 13, 1948 ISSUE OF THE HERALD DESCRIBES SOME OF THE FIRST NATIONS ARTIFACTS ON DISPLAY IN THE MUSEUM: “TOMAHAWKS, ARROW HEADS, PEACE PIPES, BEAD AND LEATHER WORK, CLOTHING AND WOODCRAFT”. UPON THE CLOSURE OF THE MUSEUM AND SALE OF GURNEY’S COLLECTION TO BELMORE SCHULTZ OF THE ALTAMONT MUSEUM IN COUTTS, MENTION WAS MADE IN A HERALD ARTICLE FROM MAY 16, 1961 OF “HISTORICAL INDIAN RELICS THAT BELONG TO THE JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAVE BEEN RETAINED IN THE CITY AND WILL BE AVAILABLE WHEN PROPER DISPLAY FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE”. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE ARTIFACTS WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE JAYCEES BY GURNEY DURING THE DISSOLUTION OF HIS MUSEUM, BUT NO FURTHER CONFIRMATION WAS FOUND. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE GURNEY MUSEUM AND ITS COLLECTION, SEE RECORD P19890044001.
- UPDATE 16 AUGUST 2017: ON 25 JULY 2017, MUSEUM CURATOR AIMEE BENOIT FOUND EVIDENCE TO CONNECT THE INDIGENOUS COLLECTION DONATED BY THE LETHBRIDGE JAYCEES (AKA. JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE) WITH FORMER LETHBRIDGE RESIDENTS THE LATE FRED BOTSFORD AND HIS LATE DAUGHTER DOROTHY CLARK. NOTES MADE BY AIMEE ON THE DISCOVERY AS WELL AS RELEVANT CLIPPINGS FROM THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD CAN BE FOUND ATTACHED TO THE PERMANENT FILE OF P19641140000. 22 OCTOBER 2021 UPDATE: THE LABEL TEXT QUOTED BELOW WAS DEVELOPED WITH KAINAI ELDERS FOR A SUB-THEME WITHIN THE EXHIBIT ‘MADE IN’, TITLED ‘NIITSITAPISSKSAHKOYI’ AND INSTALLED WITHIN THE GALT IN 2021. ELDERS WHO PROVIDED MUSEUM CURATOR AIMEE BENOIT WITH DIRECTION ON SUBTHEME’S CONTENT INCLUDED: AAGOHH GISS STSISTIIGIIAAKII (MANY OFFERINGS WOMAN, GRETA MANY BEARS), GUUYII STAA BAAMUUGHKAA (WALKING ON TOP, RAYMOND MANY BEARS), NIINAA PIIKSII (CHIEF BIRD, MIKE BRUISED HEAD), MO’TOKAANII’PO (WALKING WITH A SCALP, HARRISON RED CROW) AND MIINIIPOKA (SACRED BERRY CHILD, PETER WEASEL MOCCASIN). THE GALT APPRECIATED THE GENEROSITY OF THE ELDERS WHO SHARED THEIR KNOWLEDGE FOR THIS EXHIBIT PROJECT. “MATTSIKAAN (HIDE SCRAPER): ‘THERE WERE DIFFERENT STYLES OF SCRAPERS; AS YOU CAN SEE THIS ONE HAS A METAL BLADE, AND IT WAS USED TO SCRAPE THE MEAT OFF THE HIDE.’ – GUUYII STAA BAAMUUGHKAA ‘WITH THE ELK HORN FLESHER, IT’S KIND OF SHAPED LIKE TEETH BUT IT’S NOT VERY SHARP ON THE EDGES; THE CORNERS ARE ROUNDED JUST A BIT. THE BLADES WERE NOT TOO SHARP, OTHERWISE YOU WOULD CUT THE HIDE.’ – AAGOHH GISS STSISTIIGIIAAKII ‘IT’S GOT A METAL BLADE, SO NATURALLY THAT WOULD BE A TRADE ITEM.’ – MO’TOKAANII’PO”
- Catalogue Number
- P19641173000
- Acquisition Date
- 1964-07
- Collection
- Museum
Images
TOOL, FLESHING
https://collections.galtmuseum.com/en/permalink/artifact1845
- Date Range From
- 1880
- Date Range To
- 1890
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- HORN
- Catalogue Number
- P19651475000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1880
- Date Range To
- 1890
- Materials
- HORN
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 26.0
- Width
- 8.0
- Description
- METAL AXE MARKS ON ANTLER.
- Historical Association
- AGRICULTURE
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- PLAINS INDIGENOUS CULTURE *UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF ART OBJECTS, INCLUDING THE VARIOUS DONATIONS PERTAINING TO EDWARD FREDERICK HAGELL. SEE RECORD P19960053001 FOR AN EXTENDED BIOGRAPHY OF THE ARTIST; SEE PERMANENT FILES P19960053001, P20040009001, P20060027001, P20070008001, AND P20070012001 FOR NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS, DETAILS ON PAST GALT DIRECTOR/CURATOR WILMA WOOD'S BOOK ON THE ARTIST, AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE HAGELL FAMILY.
- Catalogue Number
- P19651475000
- Acquisition Date
- 1965-01
- Collection
- Museum
Images
TOOL, FLESHING
https://collections.galtmuseum.com/en/permalink/artifact1847
- Date Range From
- 1750
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- BONE, BUCKSKIN
- Catalogue Number
- P19738499000
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1750
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Materials
- BONE, BUCKSKIN
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 4.2
- Length
- 34.0
- Width
- 9.8
- Description
- BUCKSKIN STRAP. KNIFE MARKS ON ONE END. RED-BROWN COLOURATION. SCRAPING EDGE IS WORN.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- Historical Association
- ARCHAEOLOGY
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- PLAINS INDIGENOUS CULTURE.
- Catalogue Number
- P19738499000
- Acquisition Date
- 1973-01
- Collection
- Museum
- Date Range From
- 1800
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- HORN
- Catalogue Number
- P19739374000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1800
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Materials
- HORN
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 15.9
- Width
- 6.0
- Description
- EDGE OF SPOON BOWL EXTENSIVELY NICKED. STEAMED, FLATTENED & HAND CARVED FROM MOUNTAIN GOAT HORN. SEE CONSERVATION REPORT
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- FOOD SERVICE T&E
- Historical Association
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- PLATEAU INDIGENOUS CULTURE, PROBABLY TRADED INTO NORTHERN PLAINS.
- Catalogue Number
- P19739374000
- Acquisition Date
- 1964-07
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Other Name
- INDIGENOUS RIFLE CASE
- Date Range From
- 1850
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- BUCKSKIN, FLANNEL, BEADWORK
- Catalogue Number
- P19738051000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- INDIGENOUS RIFLE CASE
- Date Range From
- 1850
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Materials
- BUCKSKIN, FLANNEL, BEADWORK
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 73.6
- Width
- 15.2
- Description
- TRIMMED WITH RED FLANNEL. GEOMETRIC BEADWORK DESIGNS IN RED, GREEN, YELLOW, BLACK, BLUE AT TOP & TOE OF CASE. CASE EMBRITTLED. CONSERVATION REPORT ON FILE.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- ARMAMENT-ACCESSORY
- Historical Association
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- DONOR ROBERT “BOB” GARDNER OF SALMON ARM, BC INFORMED MUSEUM TECHNICIAN KEVIN MACLEAN OF A FEW RIFLE CASE-RELATED MEMORIES BY PHONE ON 22 JUNE 2011. AT THE TIME OF THE CALL, MR. GARDNER WAS 84 YEARS OLD. MR. GARDNER CLAIMED THE RIFLE CASE WAS A GIFT FROM FAMILY FRIEND MS. JESSIE CONN. CONN WAS GARDNER’S MIDDLE-SCHOOL LCI TYPING TEACHER IN GRADES 9 & 10 (1937). HIS BEST GUESS WAS THAT THE CASE WAS RECEIVED FROM HER IN THE LATE 40S. WHEN ASKED HOW CONN CAME TO POSSESS THE CASE, GARDNER’S REPLY WAS TO SUPPOSE IT WAS FROM A “PIONEER”. AS HIS FAMILY’S FRIEND, CONN WAS AWARE OF HIS OWNERSHIP OF A .22 RIFLE AND GAVE IT TO HIM IN ORDER TO COVER IT. GARDNER NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT THE COVER “NEVER FIT PROPERLY” ON ACCOUNT THAT “THE REAR SIGHT WAS TOO HIGH”. REAL AND POTENTIAL DAMAGE POSED TO THE CASE, THEREFORE, MOVED GARDNER TO DONATE IT TO THE GALT MUSEUM. THE RIFLE WAS GIVEN IN RECENT DECADES (EARLY 90S) TO HIS DAUGHTER DAWN. PLEASE SEE PERMANENT FILE P19651425000 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JESSIE CONN.
- Catalogue Number
- P19738051000
- Acquisition Date
- 1970-02
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Date Range From
- 1870
- Date Range To
- 1885
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- BISON HIDE & HORN, BEAR HIDE, HAWK & GOOSE FEATHERS
- Catalogue Number
- P19641147000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1870
- Date Range To
- 1885
- Materials
- BISON HIDE & HORN, BEAR HIDE, HAWK & GOOSE FEATHERS
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Description
- BUFFALO HORNS SEWN TO CAP LINED WITH COTTON, BEAR HIDE/CW HAIR BETWEEN HORNS SEWN TO BISON HIDE TRAILER. HAWK & GOOSE FEATHERS TIED WITH BUCKSKIN LEATHERS TO CAP.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- PERSONAL SYMBOL
- CLOTHING-HEADWEAR
- Historical Association
- PERSONAL CARE
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- NORTHERN PLAINS INDIGENOUS CULTURE, LIKELY OF BLACKFOOT ORIGIN *UPDATE* IN 2015 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON ASKED TWO FORMER MEMBERS OF THE LETHBRIDGE JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, PHIL EDMUNDSON AND PAUL RUSZNAK, ABOUT THE FIRST NATIONS ARTIFACTS THAT THE GROUP DONATED TO THE GALT MUSEUM IN 1964, 1969, AND 1973. NEITHER RECALLED HOW THE JAYCEES CAME INTO OWNERSHIP OF THE ARTIFACTS, AS THEIR ACQUISITION PREDATED BOTH EDMUNDSON AND RUSZNAK’S MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHAMBER. RESEARCH CONDUCTED INTO LETHBRIDGE’S GURNEY MUSEUM FOUND A CONNECTION BETWEEN ITS PROPRIETOR, WALTER GURNEY, AND THE JAYCEES, WHO ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE FROM THE APRIL 16, 1946 ISSUE OF THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD ADVOCATED ON GURNEY’S BEHALF FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE TO THE FORMER BOARD OF TRADE BUILDING WHERE THE MUSEUM WAS HOUSED. AN ARTICLE FROM THE JULY 13, 1948 ISSUE OF THE HERALD DESCRIBES SOME OF THE FIRST NATIONS ARTIFACTS ON DISPLAY IN THE MUSEUM: “TOMAHAWKS, ARROW HEADS, PEACE PIPES, BEAD AND LEATHER WORK, CLOTHING AND WOODCRAFT”. UPON THE CLOSURE OF THE MUSEUM AND SALE OF GURNEY’S COLLECTION TO BELMORE SCHULTZ OF THE ALTAMONT MUSEUM IN COUTTS, MENTION WAS MADE IN A HERALD ARTICLE FROM MAY 16, 1961 OF “HISTORICAL INDIAN RELICS THAT BELONG TO THE JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAVE BEEN RETAINED IN THE CITY AND WILL BE AVAILABLE WHEN PROPER DISPLAY FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE”. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE ARTIFACTS WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE JAYCEES BY GURNEY DURING THE DISSOLUTION OF HIS MUSEUM, BUT NO FURTHER CONFIRMATION WAS FOUND. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE GURNEY MUSEUM AND ITS COLLECTION, SEE RECORD P19890044001.
- UPDATE 16 AUGUST 2017: ON 25 JULY 2017, MUSEUM CURATOR AIMEE BENOIT FOUND EVIDENCE TO CONNECT THE INDIGENOUS COLLECTION DONATED BY THE LETHBRIDGE JAYCEES (AKA. JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE) WITH FORMER LETHBRIDGE RESIDENTS THE LATE FRED BOTSFORD AND HIS LATE DAUGHTER DOROTHY CLARK. NOTES MADE BY AIMEE ON THE DISCOVERY AS WELL AS RELEVANT CLIPPINGS FROM THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD CAN BE FOUND ATTACHED TO THE PERMANENT FILE OF P19641140000.
- Catalogue Number
- P19641147000
- Acquisition Date
- 1964-07
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Date Range From
- 1880
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- FEATHERS, GLASS BEADS, FUR, FLANNEL
- Catalogue Number
- P19790237000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1880
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Materials
- FEATHERS, GLASS BEADS, FUR, FLANNEL
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 29.2
- Length
- 41.0
- Description
- SIZE 6 1/2. CROWN CONSTRUCTED OF BROWN VELVET AND LINEN STITCHED WITH SMALL "PIPESTEM" BEADS. DYED OSTRICH PLUMES AND EAGLE BREAST FEATHERS ATTACHED TO TOP OF CROW- EAGLE FEATHERS (21 OF THEM) ARE ATTACHED TO THE CROWN RIM IN A STRAIGHT-UP STYLE. EACH FEATHER IS WRAPPED AT THE BASE IN RED FLANNEL WITH WHITE CORD WRAPPINGS. EACH FEATHER TIP HAS A TASSEL OF WHITE HORSE TAIL HAIR GLUED ON. TASSELS ARE MISSING FROM 7 FEATHERS. A BUCKSKIN LACE IS THREADED THROUGH THE FEATHERS AT MID HEIGHT TO MAINTAIN THEM IN THE "STRAIGHT-UP" POSITION.-SIDE TASSELS HANG DOWN FROM EITHER SIDE OF THE CROWN, CONSISTING OF BROWN & WHITE FUR, PLUMES AND A BEADED BRASS CHAIN. A HEART-SHAPED TASSEL IN RED, BLUE, YELLOW GLASS SEED BEADS HANGS FROM THE RIGHT SIDE. SOME BEADS ARE MISSING. THE FOREHEAD OR FRONT OF THE CROWN IS TRIMMED WITH GREY RABBIT FUR.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- PERSONAL SYMBOL
- CLOTHING-HEADWEAR
- Historical Association
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- BLACKFOOT, KAINAI OR PIIKANI. PURCHASED, OR RECEIVED AS A GIFT, BY DONOR FROM INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WORKING OR STOPPING AT THE RANCH. THE HEADDRESS IS OF THE MORE TRADITIONAL, OLDER BLACKFOOT STYLE. "STRAIGHT-UP" EAGLE FEATHER HEADDRESS. *UPDATE* IN 2015 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, INCLUDING A DRUM DONATED BY DOROTHY BLADES, ALSO THE DONOR OF THIS OBJECT. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ABOUT THE DONOR AND HER FAMILY'S RANCH, THE ROCKING P, WAS FOUND IN LETHBRIDGE HERALD ARTICLES FROM 1931 AND 1953, THE BOOK 'COWBOYS, RANCHERS AND THE CATTLE BUSINESS: CROSS-BORDER PERSPECTIVES ON RANCHING HISTORY' BY SIMON M. EVANS, AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED ON AMERICASHORSEDAILY.COM, AND THE GLENBOW ARCHIVES. RODERICK RIDDLE MACLEAY WAS BORN IN 1878 IN DANVILLE, QUEBEC. IN 1898 HE CAME TO ALBERTA AND BEGAN RANCING A SMALL HERD OF CATTLE ON LAND WEST OF HIGH RIVER. IN 1904, MACLEAY PURCHASED THE 40,000 ACRE BROOKS RANCH, AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR MARRIED LAURA STURTEVANT. THEY HAD TWO DAUGHTERS, DOROTHY AND MAXINE. DURING THE SEVERE WINTER OF 1906/07, MACLEAY LOST 90% OF HIS HERD , AND A FLAGGING CATTLE MARKET DEVASTATED HIS PROFITS. ONLY TWO YEARS LATER HOWEVER, MACLEAY ENTERED INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH ROCKING P RANCH OWNER GEORGE EMERSON, AND IN 1914 MACLEAY BOUGHT OUT EMERSON WITH THE AGREEMENT TO MAINTAIN THE ROCKING P BRAND. OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS MACLEAY EXAPANDED Y ACQUIRING THE ADJACENT WILLOW CREEK, BAR S, AND LIVINGSTONE RANCHES. IN THE 1930S, MACLEAY HIRED ERNEST BLADES AS A COWBOY, AND BLADES MARRIED DOROTHY MACLEAY IN 1940. ROD MACLEAY DIED IN OCTOBER 1953, AND HIS LAND WAS LEFT TO HIS DAUGHTERS. DOROTHY AND ERNEST BLADES ASSUMED OPERATION OF THE ROCKING P, MANAGING IT ALONG WITH THEIR OWN RANCH, THE 3VS. THEIR SON, MAC BLADES, BEGAN WORKING FULL TIME ON THE RANCHES IN 1965 WHEN HE FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL, AND BY 1973 WAS RANCH MANAGER. IN 1996 THE PROPERTY WAS DIVIDED AMONG DOROTHY AND ERNEST'S FIVE CHILDREN, AND AT THE TIME OF THIS SURVEY, MAC BLADES OWNS AND OPERATES THE ROCKING P RANCH. OF PARTICULAR NOTE TO THE FIRST NATIONS ARTIFACTS DONATED BY DOROTHY BLADES TO THE GALT MUSEUM IS THIS SHORT EXCERPT FROM ROD MACLEAY'S LETHBRIDGE HERALD OBITUARY FROM OCTOBER 30, 1953: "[AN] INTEREST WHICH ENGROSSED [MACLEAY] WAS THE CAUSE OF THE STONEY INDIANS LIVING A NOMADIC LIFE AWAY FROM THE MORLEY RESERVATION. HE HAD MUCH TO DO WITH IMPRESSING SUCCESSFULLY ON THE GOVERNMENT THE NEED FOR A SUB-RESERVE." THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ABOUT THE NAKODA (FORMERLY CALLED STONEY) FIRST NATION AND THE EDEN VALLEY RESERVE WAS SOURCED FROM ROCKYMOUNTAINNAKODA.COM. THE NAKODA "MOUNTAIN PEOPLE" HISTORICALLY TRAVERSED THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS IN SMALL, NOMADIC GROUPS, WITH EACH GROUP BEING LED BY A HEAD CHIEF. IN 1877 AT THE SIGNING OF TREATY 7, THE NAKODA WERE REPRESENTED BY THREE HEAD CHIEFS, WHO WERE ASSURED THAT THE NAKODA WOULD RETAIN THREE LARGE TRACTS OF TRADITIONAL HOMELAND, ONE FOR EACH NOMADIC GROUP. HOWEVER, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALLOTED THE NAKODA ONLY ONE LAND ENTITLEMENT, NOW KNOWN AS THE MORLEY RESERVE, LOCATED WEST OF CALGARY. THE LAND ALLOTMENT WAS FENCED IN BARBED WIRE, PREVENTING THE NAKODA FROM THEIR NOMADIC MOVEMENTS. DURING THE 20TH CENTURY, TWO SMALLER SATELLITE RESERVES WERE ESTABLISHED FOR THE NAKODA FIRST NATION: THE BIG HORN RESERVE (KISKA WAPTADN "BIG HORN RIVER"), 265KM NORTHWEST OF MORLEY, AND THE EDEN VALLEY RESERVE (GA-HNA "ALONG THE FOOTHILLS"), 120KM SOUTH OF MORLEY. SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR HARDCOPIES OF SOURCE MATERIALS.
- Catalogue Number
- P19790237000
- Acquisition Date
- 1974-05
- Collection
- Museum
Images
