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
- 1700
- Date Range To
- 1850
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- QUARTZITE, RAWHIDE, WOOD, CLOTH
- Catalogue Number
- P19641143000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1700
- Date Range To
- 1850
- Materials
- QUARTZITE, RAWHIDE, WOOD, CLOTH
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 3.7
- Length
- 33
- Width
- 11.5
- Description
- WORKING SURFACE OF MAUL IS COVERED WITH RED OCHRE STAINS. CONSERVATION REPORT ON FILE.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- Historical Association
- ARCHAEOLOGY
- History
- 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
- P19641143000
- Acquisition Date
- 1964-07
- Collection
- Museum
Images
POINT, PROJECTILE
https://collections.galtmuseum.com/en/permalink/artifact1937
- Other Name
- AGATE BASIN SPEARPOINT
- Date Range From
- 10500
- Date Range To
- 9900BP
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- CHALCEDONY
- Catalogue Number
- P19739205000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- AGATE BASIN SPEARPOINT
- Date Range From
- 10500
- Date Range To
- 9900BP
- Materials
- CHALCEDONY
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 0.5
- Length
- 5.5
- Width
- 1.6
- Description
- MOTTLED BROWN-GREY CHALCEDONY. OFFSET STRAIGHT BASE; FAIRLY POINTED TIP. ONE LATERAL EDGE CONVEX; ONE IS STRAIGHT. CONVEX CROSS SECTION. BIFACIAL FLAKING. 'LANCEOLATE' OR LEAF-SHAPED POINT.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- ARMAMENT-EDGED
- Historical Association
- ARCHAEOLOGY
- History
- NORTHERN PLAINS CULTURE. IN 2009, UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE PLAINS ARCHAEOLOGY STUDENT FALLON MAHAR SURVEYED THE GALT'S POINT AND STONE TOOL COLLECTION AND, USING A TEMPLATE DEVELOPED IN COORDINATION WITH PROF. BUBEL AND REFERENCE BOOK "ALBERTA IN STONE", PROVIDED FEEDBACK ON THE GALT'S COLLECTION. CONCEQUENTLY, THIS RECORD WAS REVISED TO NO LONGER DEFINE THE ARTIFACT'S 'OTHER NAME' AS ASYMETRICAL BIFACE, BUT AS A AGATE BASIN SPEARPOINT. FINALLY, SHE FELT THE PREVIOUS 1850-1900 DATE WAS INCORRECT, PROVIDED A NEW "EARLY PERIOD" DATE.
- Catalogue Number
- P19739205000
- Acquisition Date
- 1973-09
- Collection
- Museum
Images
POINT, PROJECTILE
https://collections.galtmuseum.com/en/permalink/artifact1941
- Other Name
- IRON TRADE POINT
- Date Range From
- 1750
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- IRON
- Catalogue Number
- P19683281000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- IRON TRADE POINT
- Date Range From
- 1750
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Materials
- IRON
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 31.4
- Width
- 6.3
- Description
- SOFT IRON, HAMMERED & CUT. T-BAR SHANK. HEAVILY CORRODED, SEE CONSERVATION REPORT.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- ARMAMENT-EDGED
- Historical Association
- ARCHAEOLOGY
- History
- HISTORIC FUR TRADE ITEM, FOUND BY DONOR IN FARROW CREEK, SOUTH OF PINCHER CREEK, AB. 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. “IRON TRADE POINT: ‘THESE ARE THE TRUE TRADE ITEMS HERE, BEFORE THEY WERE MADE INTO ANYTHING FASHIONABLE OR FITTED WITH HANDLES. A LOT OF ITEMS WERE TRADED TO THE BLACKFOOT PEOPLE, WHERE THEIR INTENT WAS FOR SOMETHING ELSE; BUT THE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE FOUND ANOTHER USE—TO DECORATE, OR WHATEVER. BRASS UPHOLSTERY TACKS WERE USED TO DECORATE HANDLES ON WHIPS OR SPEARS. HAWK BELLS OR FALCON BELLS WERE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER TO DECORATE DRESSES, ON THE BODICE; SOME OF THEM WOULD HAVE HAD BELLS OR THIMBLES. THEY WERE ALSO USED TO DECORATE OR ADORN SACRED ITEMS.’ – MO’TOKAANII’PO”
- Catalogue Number
- P19683281000
- Acquisition Date
- 1968-06
- Collection
- Museum
Images
POINT, PROJECTILE
https://collections.galtmuseum.com/en/permalink/artifact1946
- Other Name
- UNIDENTIFIABLE
- Date Range From
- 1200
- Date Range To
- 1750
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- CHERT
- Catalogue Number
- P19738016000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- UNIDENTIFIABLE
- Date Range From
- 1200
- Date Range To
- 1750
- Materials
- CHERT
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 0.9
- Length
- 7.5
- Width
- 2.6
- Description
- MOTTLED PINK CHERT. SPALL REMOVED FROM ONE LATERAL EDGE OF BLADE, CONTRACTING STEM.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- ARMAMENT-EDGED
- Historical Association
- ARCHAEOLOGY
- History
- NORTHERN PLAINS. IN 2009, UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE PLAINS ARCHAEOLOGY STUDENT FALLON MAHAR SURVEYED THE GALT'S POINT AND STONE TOOL COLLECTION AND, USING A TEMPLATE DEVELOPED IN COORDINATION WITH PROF. BUBEL AND REFERENCE BOOK "ALBERTA IN STONE", PROVIDED FEEDBACK ON THE GALT'S COLLECTION. MAHAR PROPOSED THE POINT WAS "UNIDENTIFIABLE" AND QUESTIONED THE 1200 - 1750 DATE, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A NEW DATE IN ITS PLACE.
- Catalogue Number
- P19738016000
- Acquisition Date
- 1973-03
- Collection
- Museum
Images
POINT, PROJECTILE
https://collections.galtmuseum.com/en/permalink/artifact1947
- Other Name
- UNIDENTIFIABLE
- Date Range From
- 1200
- Date Range To
- 1750
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- CHERT
- Catalogue Number
- P19738018000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- UNIDENTIFIABLE
- Date Range From
- 1200
- Date Range To
- 1750
- Materials
- CHERT
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 1.1
- Length
- 5.1
- Width
- 3.3
- Description
- WHITE CHERT. BROKEN STEM.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- ARMAMENT-EDGED
- Historical Association
- ARCHAEOLOGY
- History
- NORTHERN PLAINS. IN 2009, UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE PLAINS ARCHAEOLOGY STUDENT FALLON MAHAR SURVEYED THE GALT'S POINT AND STONE TOOL COLLECTION AND, USING A TEMPLATE DEVELOPED IN COORDINATION WITH PROF. BUBEL AND REFERENCE BOOK "ALBERTA IN STONE", PROVIDED FEEDBACK ON THE GALT'S COLLECTION. MAHAR PROPOSED THE POINT WAS "UNIDENTIFIABLE".
- Catalogue Number
- P19738018000
- Acquisition Date
- 1973-03
- Collection
- Museum
Images
POINT, PROJECTILE
https://collections.galtmuseum.com/en/permalink/artifact1950
- Other Name
- UNIDENTIFIABLE
- Date Range From
- 1200
- Date Range To
- 1750
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- CHERT
- Catalogue Number
- P19738022000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- UNIDENTIFIABLE
- Date Range From
- 1200
- Date Range To
- 1750
- Materials
- CHERT
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 7.5
- Length
- 4.8
- Width
- 2.5
- Description
- PINK CHERT. BROKEN TIP. BROKEN STEM.
- Subjects
- ARMAMENT-EDGED
- INDIGENOUS
- Historical Association
- ARCHAEOLOGY
- History
- NORTHERN PLAINS, SCOTTSBLUFF. IN 2009, UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE PLAINS ARCHAEOLOGY STUDENT FALLON MAHAR SURVEYED THE GALT'S POINT AND STONE TOOL COLLECTION AND, USING A TEMPLATE DEVELOPED IN COORDINATION WITH PROF. BUBEL AND REFERENCE BOOK "ALBERTA IN STONE", PROVIDED FEEDBACK ON THE GALT'S COLLECTION. MAHAR PROPOSED THE POINT WAS "UNIDENTIFIABLE" AND QUESTIONED THE RECORDED DATE, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A DATE TO REPLACE IT WITH.
- Catalogue Number
- P19738022000
- Acquisition Date
- 1973-03
- Collection
- Museum
Images
POINT, PROJECTILE
https://collections.galtmuseum.com/en/permalink/artifact1993
- Other Name
- AGATE BASIN SPEARPOINT
- Date Range From
- 10500
- Date Range To
- 9000 BP
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- CHALCEDONY
- Catalogue Number
- P19739212000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- AGATE BASIN SPEARPOINT
- Date Range From
- 10500
- Date Range To
- 9000 BP
- Materials
- CHALCEDONY
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 0.4
- Length
- 4.4
- Width
- 1.6
- Description
- MOTTLED BROWN CHALCEDONY, LANCEOLATE TYPE OF POINT WITH A STRAIGHT BASE WHICH IS BIFACIALLY THINNED. NO BASAL GRINDING. CONVEX CROSS SECTION & LATERAL EDGES. BIFACIALLY FLAKED. LANCEOLATE SHAPE
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- ARMAMENT-EDGED
- Historical Association
- ARCHAEOLOGY
- History
- NORTHERN PLAINS INDIGENOUS CULTURE. IN 2009, UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE PLAINS ARCHAEOLOGY STUDENT FALLON MAHAR SURVEYED THE GALT'S POINT AND STONE TOOL COLLECTION AND, USING A TEMPLATE DEVELOPED IN COORDINATION WITH PROF. BUBEL AND REFERENCE BOOK "ALBERTA IN STONE", PROVIDED FEEDBACK ON THE GALT'S COLLECTION. CONCEQUENTLY, SHE FELT THE POINT MAY BE AN "AGATE BASIN SPEARPOINT", BUT NOTED THE POINT IS "A LITTLE SMALLER THEN AVERAGE". ADDITIONALLY, MAHAR QUESTIONED THE RECORD'S ORIGINAL 1700 DATE , PROPOSING IT'S CLOSER TO 10500 - 9900 BP (EARLY PERIOD). IN 2009, UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE PLAINS ARCHAEOLOGY STUDENT FALLON MAHAR SURVEYED THE GALT'S POINT AND STONE TOOL COLLECTION AND, USING A TEMPLATE DEVELOPED IN COORDINATION WITH PROF. BUBEL AND REFERENCE BOOK "ALBERTA IN STONE", PROVIDED FEEDBACK ON THE GALT'S COLLECTION. CONCEQUENTLY, THIS RECORD WAS REVISED TO NO LONGER DEFINE THE ARTIFACT'S 'OTHER NAME' AS ASYMETRICAL BIFACE, BUT AS A AGATE BASIN SPEARPOINT. FINALLY, SHE FELT THE PREVIOUS 1850-1900 DATE WAS INCORRECT, PROVIDED A NEW "EARLY PERIOD" DATE.
- Catalogue Number
- P19739212000
- Acquisition Date
- 1973-06
- Collection
- Museum
Images
POINT, PROJECTILE
https://collections.galtmuseum.com/en/permalink/artifact2000
- Date Range From
- 1600
- Date Range To
- 1875
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- IRON OR STEEL
- Catalogue Number
- P19800120000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1600
- Date Range To
- 1875
- Materials
- IRON OR STEEL
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 0.15
- Length
- 5.3
- Width
- 2.3
- Description
- STAMPED OR CUT FROM SHEET IRON. CUT MARKS VISIBLE ON STEM. EDGES GROUND TO SHARPNESS. COVERED WITH SURFACE RUST & PATINATION. SEE CONSERVATION REPORT.
- Subjects
- ARMAMENT-EDGED
- INDIGENOUS
- Historical Association
- ARCHAEOLOGY
- History
- A TRADE POINT, PROBABLY ORIGINATING FROM THE AMERICAN TRADERS ALONG THE UPPER MISSOURI RIVER. THE CUT-OUT SHEET IRON STYLE WAS COMMON ON THE MISSOURI RIVER. THE H.B. CO. PRODUCED FORGED POINTS IN CANADA, WHICH DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY IN APPEARANCE TO THE U.S. STYLE BLADE. FOUND BY DONOR IIN HOME LOCATED IN LETHBRIDGE. THE HOME HAD SEVERAL PREVIOUS OWNERS, & DONOR DOES NOT KNOW HOW POINT CAME TO BE IN THE HOUSE OR ITS PROVENANCE. IN 2009, UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE PLAINS ARCHAEOLOGY STUDENT FALLON MAHAR SURVEYED THE GALT'S POINT AND STONE TOOL COLLECTION AND, USING A TEMPLATE DEVELOPED IN COORDINATION WITH PROF. BUBEL AND REFERENCE BOOK "ALBERTA IN STONE", PROVIDED FEEDBACK ON THE GALT'S COLLECTION. CONCEQUENTLY, MAHAR QUESTIONED THE RECORD'S ORIGINAL 1830 - 1875 DATE, PROPOSING IT MAY BE AS EARLY AS THE 1600'S (POST EUROPEAN CONTACT).
- Catalogue Number
- P19800120000
- Acquisition Date
- 1979-08
- Collection
- Museum
Images
HATCHET, TRADE
https://collections.galtmuseum.com/en/permalink/artifact2024
- Date Range From
- 1670
- Date Range To
- 1770
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- IRON
- Catalogue Number
- P19738042000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1670
- Date Range To
- 1770
- Materials
- IRON
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 19.7(BLADE)
- Width
- 11.2
- Diameter
- 2.5
- Description
- SOFT FORGED IRON. HEART SHAPED HOLE STAMPED IN BLADE. HAND FORGED. LEATHER HANDLE. CONSERVATION REPORT ON FILE.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- WOODWORKING T&E
- Historical Association
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- HUDSON BAY COMPANY. REF: SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO. "BEATEN OUT OF SOFT IRON, THE AXE SHAPED HEAD PLAINLY SHOWS THE IMPRESSIONS OF THE FORGE AND HAS CUT THROUGH THE METAL A HEART SHAPED PATTERN, AND THIS MARK IDENTIFIES THE WEAPON AS BEING OVER 200 YEARS OLD, ACCORDING TO THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, WHICH WAS CONSULTED BY THE OWNER OF THE RELIC, FRED BOTSFORD OF LETHBRIDGE, WELL-KNOWN STUDENT OF INDIAN LORE. THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY EXPLAINS THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE HUDSON BAY COMPANY HAD BEEN FORMED IN 1670, ITS OFFICIALS SHIPPED SUPPLIES OF WEAPONS SUITABLE FOR THE USE OF INDIANS TO BE TRADED FOR THE BEAVER SKINS. AMONG THESE WAS A LOT OF TOMAHAWKS - THE FIRST OF MANY OTHER SHIPMENTS. EACH SHIPMENT BORE ITS OWN DISTINCTIVE MARK, AND THE BLADES WERE INCISED WITH THIS FEATURE. EARLIEST OF ALL WAS THE HEART SHAPED HOLE, FOLLOWED BY A SEQUENCE CONSISTING OF DIAMONDS, CLUBS AND SPADES, TO PLEASE THE GAMBLING INSTINCTS OF ALL TRADERS. AS THE TOMAHAWK IN THE POSSESSION OF MR. BOTSFORD CARRIES THE HEART BRAND, IT IS BELIEVED TO BELONG TO THE INITIAL SHIPMENT OF THESE WEAPONS TO ARRIVE IN CANADA, AND TO BE AT LEAST 200 YEARS OLD". 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. “KAKSAAKIN (HAND-FORGED TRADE HATCHET): ‘THESE ARE THE TRUE TRADE ITEMS HERE, BEFORE THEY WERE MADE INTO ANYTHING FASHIONABLE OR FITTED WITH HANDLES. A LOT OF ITEMS WERE TRADED TO THE BLACKFOOT PEOPLE, WHERE THEIR INTENT WAS FOR SOMETHING ELSE; BUT THE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE FOUND ANOTHER USE—TO DECORATE, OR WHATEVER. BRASS UPHOLSTERY TACKS WERE USED TO DECORATE HANDLES ON WHIPS OR SPEARS. HAWK BELLS OR FALCON BELLS WERE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER TO DECORATE DRESSES, ON THE BODICE; SOME OF THEM WOULD HAVE HAD BELLS OR THIMBLES. THEY WERE ALSO USED TO DECORATE OR ADORN SACRED ITEMS.’ – MO’TOKAANII’PO”
- Catalogue Number
- P19738042000
- Acquisition Date
- 1973-07
- Collection
- Museum
Images
