- Other Name
- PLAINS INDIGENOUS, SET OF 2
- Date Range From
- 1800
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- WILLOW STICKS, COTTON FLANNEL, BEADWORK, PAINT
- Catalogue Number
- P19738058000
2 images
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- PLAINS INDIGENOUS, SET OF 2
- Date Range From
- 1800
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Materials
- WILLOW STICKS, COTTON FLANNEL, BEADWORK, PAINT
- No. Pieces
- 2
- Description
- .1 28 CM WTH. (TOP) 87.7 CM (BASE) X 127 CM LTH. TRIANGULAR BACK REST CONSTRUCTED OF WILLOW STICKS LASHED WITH SINEW. BACKREST IS EDGED WITH SEWN COTTON STRIPS AND GREEN FLANNEL TAPE DOWN SIDE. HEAD PIECE IS CONSTRUCTED OF BLACK FLANNEL EDGED WITH RED FLANNEL, INSET WITH RED FLANNEL GEOMETRIC DESIGNS ARE OUTLINED IN BROWN AND WHITE BEADS. PICTOGRAPH STORY OUTLINING A BATTLE IS PAINTED IN BLACK ON THE BACK REST SURFACE. .2 25.4 CM WTH. (TOP) 83.8 CM (BASE) X 130.8 CM LTH. TRIANGULAR BACK REST CONSTRUCTED OF WILLOW STICKS LASHED WITH SINEW. BACKREST IS EDGED WITH SEWN COTTON STRIPS AND GREEN FLANNEL TAPE DOWN SIDES. HEAD PIECE IS MADE OF RED FLANNEL EDGED WITH BLACK COTTON AND WHITE BEADS GEOMETRIC DESIGN BROWN EDGED WITH BLUE & BLUE EDGED WITH BROWN PICTOGRAPH STORY OUTLINING A BATTLE AND RAID IS PAINTED IN BLACK PAINT ON THE BACKREST SURFACE. CONSERVATION REPORT ON FILE.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- FURNITURE
- Historical Association
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- PLAINS INDIGENOUS.
- Catalogue Number
- P19738058000
- Acquisition Date
- 1973-07
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Date Range From
- 1800
- Date Range To
- 1850
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- BUCKSKIN, BEADS, QUILL
- Catalogue Number
- P19738050000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1800
- Date Range To
- 1850
- Materials
- BUCKSKIN, BEADS, QUILL
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 90.2
- Width
- 19.1
- Description
- PINK, PURPLE, WHITE DYED PORCUPINE QUILL WORK (QUILLS FLATTENED & WRAPPED AROUND BUCKSKIN FRINGE. GLASS BEADS: RED, YELLOW, BLUE, GREEN, BROWN & WHITE ALL GEOMETRIC DESIGNS. SOME BEADS & QUILLWORK IS MISSING. SEE CONSERVATION REPORT.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- PERSONAL GEAR
- Historical Association
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- NORTHERN PLAINS INDIGENOUS CULTURE. USED TO STORE PIPES. 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. “SOYAAHKOINNIMAAN (PIPE BAG): THIS PIPE BAG IS DECORATED USING BOTH BEADS AND PORCUPINE QUILLS. ‘WHEN MY DAD WAS STILL ALIVE, HE MADE TWO FORKED STICKS AND HE HAD A BLANKET. AND IF WE EVER SAW A PORCUPINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, WE STOPPED. AND THEN MY BROTHER OR MY NEPHEW WOULD PUT ONE STICK ON THE PORCUPINE’S HEAD AND ONE ON THE BACK. MY DAD WOULD THROW THE BLANKET OVER THE PORCUPINE AND THEN ALL THE QUILLS WOULD GO INTO THE BLANKET. THE HAIR WAS ALSO USED TO MAKE ROACHES. THE ANIMAL WAS SET FREE AGAIN AFTER THAT.’ – AAGOHH GISS STSISTIIGIIAAKII ‘THE MOUNTAIN DESIGN, THE DIAMOND DESIGN, THESE ARE TYPICAL BLACKFOOT ORIGIN, BUT THIS PIECE MAY HAVE BEEN A GIFT FROM DIFFERENT TRIBES. QUILLWORK WAS USED AMONG ALL TRIBES; ALL TRIBES DID USE THIS TECHNIQUE, BUT THE PATTERN LOOKS MORE CHEYENNE. THIS WAS PIECED FROM SOMETHING ELSE; YOU CAN TELL THERE WAS A POCKET. EVERYTHING WAS PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS RECYCLED.’ – MO’TOKAANII’PO”
- Catalogue Number
- P19738050000
- Acquisition Date
- 1973-07
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Other Name
- BONE & SHELL (SET)
- Date Range From
- 1800
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- GLASS BEADS, SHELLS, BONE, BUCKSKIN
- Catalogue Number
- P19738052000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- BONE & SHELL (SET)
- Date Range From
- 1800
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Materials
- GLASS BEADS, SHELLS, BONE, BUCKSKIN
- No. Pieces
- 2
- Diameter
- 20.3
- Description
- MADE OF WHITE GLASS BEADS (CYLINDRICAL TYPE), FLAT BONE BEADS, COWERY SHELLS STRUNG ON BUCKSKIN. CONSERVATION REPORT ON FILE.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- ADORNMENT
- Historical Association
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- NORTHERN PLAINS CULTURE. SHELLS PROBABLY TRADED FROM WEST COAST. TRADE NETWORKS FROM THE COAST TO THE INTERIOR ALREADY WELL ESTABLISHED BY TIME OF WHITE CONTACT. DENTALIUM & COWRY SHELLS WERE HIGHLY PRIZED TRADE ITEMS & WERE CONSIDERED BY SOME RESEARCHERS TO HAVE BEEN A FORM OF CURRENCY.
- Catalogue Number
- P19738052000
- Acquisition Date
- 1973-07
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Date Range From
- 1850
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- HORSE HAIRS, BUCKSKIN, CANCELLOUS BONE
- Catalogue Number
- P19641165000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1850
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Materials
- HORSE HAIRS, BUCKSKIN, CANCELLOUS BONE
- No. Pieces
- 4
- Description
- .1 PAINT BRUSH. 3 CM LTH X 18.1 CM DIA.. HORSE HAIR BRITTLE ENCASED IN BUCKSKIN. .2 PAINT BRUSH. 1.3 CM HT. X 3.8 CM WTH. X 5.1 CM LTH. CANCELLOUS BONE WEDGE ENCASED IN BUCKSKIN. YELLOW PAINT ADHERING TO BONE .3 PAINT BRUSH. 1.9 CM HT. X 3.5 CM WTH. X 8.2 CM LTH. GREEN PAINT. .4 PAINT BRUSH. 1.9 CM HT. X 3.8 CM WTH. X 8.9 CM LTH. .RED PAINT ADHERING TO BONE. CANCELLOUS BONE WEDGE ENCASED IN BUCKSKIN.CONSERVATION REPORT ON FILE.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- Historical Association
- DECORATIVE ARTS
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- NORTHERN PLAINS INDIGENOUS. *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
- P19641165000
- 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
- 1000
- Date Range To
- 1750
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- CHERT?
- Catalogue Number
- P19860130000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1000
- Date Range To
- 1750
- Materials
- CHERT?
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 15.0
- Length
- 11.3
- Diameter
- 26.1
- Description
- BROWN. FLAKED ON 2/3 OF EDGE. SOME INCISING HOLLOW CENTRAL PORTION WITH BEVELLED EDGE MAY HAVE BEEN WORKED. POSSIBLE USE AS A FIRE DRILL STONE? CENTRAL PORTION COULD ALSO BE THE RESULT OF EROSION.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- Historical Association
- ARCHAEOLOGY
- History
- FOUND ON A FARM (SURFACE COLLECTION 1955) N.E. 11-8-9 W OF 3RD M. PROBABLY NORTHERN PLAINS CULTURE ORIGIN, LATE PREHISTORIC PERIOD.
- Catalogue Number
- P19860130000
- Acquisition Date
- 1986-08
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Date Range From
- 1000
- Date Range To
- 1750
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- SANDSTONE MATERIAL
- Catalogue Number
- P19860128000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1000
- Date Range To
- 1750
- Materials
- SANDSTONE MATERIAL
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 13.6
- Length
- 8.7
- Diameter
- 22.8
- Description
- FORMATION RINGS ON ONE END. SOME RED PAINT FLECKS. ABRASION MARKS. ROUNDED ONE END. NEAR FLAT OPPOSITE END.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- Historical Association
- ARCHAEOLOGY
- History
- FOUND ON FARM IN S.W. SASKATCHEWAN. SURFACE COLLECTED 1955. N.E. 11-8-9 W OF 3RD M. PROBABLY NORTHERN PLAINS CULTURE OF LATE PREHISTORIC PERIOD.
- Catalogue Number
- P19860128000
- Acquisition Date
- 1986-08
- Collection
- Museum
Images
HATCHET, TRADE
https://collections.galtmuseum.com/en/permalink/artifact2022
- Date Range From
- 1800
- Date Range To
- 1860
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- WOOD, BRASS
- Catalogue Number
- P19641141000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1800
- Date Range To
- 1860
- Materials
- WOOD, BRASS
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 23.5(BLADE)
- Width
- 7.3(BLADE)
- Description
- 51.4 CM (HANDLE) X 1.6 CM X 2.5 CM DIA. (PIPE BOWL). WOOD HANDLE, BRASS HATCHET HEAD. HANDLE IS DIAMOND CUT WITH INCISED RED DIAMOND MARKINGS.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- WOODWORKING T&E
- Historical Association
- ARCHAEOLOGY
- History
- UNKNOWN MAKE. ASSOCIATED WITH CANADIAN FUR TRADE. CEREMONIAL TRADE HATCHET.
- Catalogue Number
- P19641141000
- Acquisition Date
- 1964-07
- 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
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
