- Other Name
- ANTLER - PLAINS INDIGENOUS
- Date Range From
- 1900
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- DEER ANTLER
- Catalogue Number
- P19641181000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- ANTLER - PLAINS INDIGENOUS
- Date Range From
- 1900
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Materials
- DEER ANTLER
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 13.5
- Width
- 2.6
- Description
- INCISED GEOMETRIC DESIGN BELOW HANDLE. PAINTED BLACK. BROKEN TIP.
- Historical Association
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- PLAINS INDIGENOUS. PROBABLE USE AS LEATHER TOOL. *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
- P19641181000
- Acquisition Date
- 1964-07
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- 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
- Other Name
- BEADED BELT
- Date Range From
- 1900
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- GLASS, LEATHER, COTTON
- Catalogue Number
- P19651872000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- BEADED BELT
- Date Range From
- 1900
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Materials
- GLASS, LEATHER, COTTON
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 81.2
- Width
- 7.6
- Description
- GEOMETRIC BEADWORK DESIGN IN RED, BLUE, GREEN, WHITE AND PINK BEADS. BEADWORK DESIGN COVERS ONE FACE OF THE HARNESS LEATHER. BACK COVERED WITH WINE COTTON BELT ATTACHMENT CONSISTS OF TWO LEATHER THONGS AT EACH END OF BELT. CONSERVATION REPORT ON FILE.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- CLOTHING-ACCESSORY
- Historical Association
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- PERSONAL CARE
- History
- PLAINS INDIGENOUS.
- Catalogue Number
- P19651872000
- Acquisition Date
- 1965-07
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Other Name
- BEADED BELT (MAN'S)
- Date Range From
- 1900
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- BUCKSKIN, LINEN, GLASS BEADS
- Catalogue Number
- P19790236000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- BEADED BELT (MAN'S)
- Date Range From
- 1900
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Materials
- BUCKSKIN, LINEN, GLASS BEADS
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 94.0
- Width
- 8.0
- Description
- BELT CONSTRUCTED OF BUCKSKIN WITH LACE TIES AT THE ENDS, COMPLETELY FACED WITH GEOMETRIC BEADWORK DESIGNS SEWN ONTO A LINED FACE - IN TURN SEWN ONTO THE BUCKSKIN. BEADWORK FEATURES SQUARES, ARROWS & TRIANGLES IN BEADS THAT ARE BLUE, RED, WHITE, BLACK, GREEN, CLEAR, TRANSLUCENT PINK, TRANSLUCENT ORANGE, TRANSLUCENT GREEN, TRANSLUCENT BLUE, TRANSLUCENT RED. SOME BEADS ARE SMALL "PIPESTEM" TYPE. PIECES OF BEAD EDGING ARE MISSING. THREE DESIGNS ARE USED IN SEPARATE PANELS, EACH REPEATED ONCE.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- CLOTHING-ACCESSORY
- Historical Association
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- STONEY OR ASSINIBOINE. PURCHASED, OR RECEIVED AS A GIFT, BY DONOR FROM INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WORKING OR STOPPING AT THE RANCH. DECORATIVE "DRESS" BELT. RANCH IS LOCATED NEAR THE EDEN VALLEY STONEY RESERVE. *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
- P19790236000
- Acquisition Date
- 1974-05
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Other Name
- BLANKET STRIP
- Date Range From
- 1890
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- BUCKSKIN, BEADS, SINEW
- Catalogue Number
- P19739145000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- BLANKET STRIP
- Date Range From
- 1890
- Date Range To
- 1900
- Materials
- BUCKSKIN, BEADS, SINEW
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 106.7
- Width
- 8.9
- Description
- GEOMETRIC BEADWORK PATTERN WITH CROSS IN CIRCLE MOTIF REGULARLY SPACED. BACKED ON BUCKSKIN. ARTIFACT APPEARS COMPLETE. BEADS ARE RED, GREEN, WHITE, BLUE, YELLOW. BUCKSKIN BACKING SOILED, WORN. SEE CONSERVATION REPORT. *NOTE* LOOSE TASSELS
- Subjects
- BEDDING
- PERSONAL GEAR
- INDIGENOUS
- Historical Association
- DECORATIVE ARTS
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION METHOD INDICATE SIOUX ORIGINS. BLANKET STRIPS ORIGINAL USE TO JOIN A BUFFALO ROBE USED AS A BLANKET. WITH TRADE BLANKETS, STRIPS BECAME MORE DECORATIVE THAN FUNCTIONAL, OFTEN USED TO JOIN COURTING BLANKETS OF DIFFERENT COLORS. STRIPS OVER TIME BECAME LARGER IN WIDTH & FANCIER. MAY HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH SIOUX IN CANADA, OR TRADED/GIFT TO ALBERTA NATIVE.
- Catalogue Number
- P19739145000
- Acquisition Date
- 1973-
- 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
- PLATFORM STONE PIPE
- Date Range From
- 1900
- Date Range To
- 1920
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- STONE, WOOD
- Catalogue Number
- P19641174000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- PLATFORM STONE PIPE
- Date Range From
- 1900
- Date Range To
- 1920
- Materials
- STONE, WOOD
- No. Pieces
- 2
- Height
- 7.0
- Length
- 50.2
- Diameter
- 1.6
- Description
- CROSS INCISED ON ALL 3 FACES OF PIPE PLATFORM. WILLOW STEM, BLACK PIPE STONE. CONSERVATION REPORT ON FILE.
- Subjects
- CEREMONIAL ARTIFACT
- PERSONAL GEAR
- INDIGENOUS
- Historical Association
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- NORTHERN PLAINS CULTURE. 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. 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. “AAHKOINNIMAAN (PIPE BOWL AND STEM): THIS STONE HERE, YOU GET IT DOWN IN THE COULEES… YOU COULD TAKE YOUR KNIFE AND CARVE IT. YOU CAN PROBABLY GET IT ALL THE WAY FROM ST. MARY DAM, ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE COULEES. YOU CAN GET THIS ANYWHERE ALONG HERE, BUT YOU HAVE TO DIG FOR IT. PEOPLE HAD TO DO A LOT OF EXPERIMENTING BEFORE THEY GOT THE CORRECT STONE THAT WORKED THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO WORK, FOR CEREMONIES OR FOR PERSONAL USE.’ – MIINIIPOKA ‘I MAKE THESE BOWLS AND PIPES. THERE’S HIDDEN CRACKS WITHIN THE STONE ITSELF. WHEN YOU CHIP AWAY AT IT, ONCE IT STOPS YOU TAKE THAT PIECE AND START SHAPING IT INTO THE BOWL. IT DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE STYLE WHAT THEY WOULD SHAPE THE STONE INTO; BUT A LOT OF THE BLACK STONE WAS SHAPED INTO OUR IDENTITY OF WHO WE ARE AS WELL AS THE LAND. THE SURROUNDING TRIBES THROUGHOUT THE CONTINENT, THEY WOULD SEE THE KIND OF DESIGN AND THE STONE ITSELF AND THEY WOULD AUTOMATICALLY KNOW THIS STONE IS FROM APAITSITAPI—THE WEASEL TRIBE, OR THE KAINAI.’ – GUUYII STAA BAAMUUGHKAA ‘THEY WOULD HAVE USED BUCK BRUSH TO BLACKEN IT. YOU SET IT ON FIRE, AND THE HEAVY SMOKE STICKS TO THE STONE. AND THEN YOU OIL IT WITH NATURAL OIL, TO GET IT NICE AND SHINY.’ – MO’TOKAANII’PO ‘THE STEM IS MADE FROM WOLF WILLOW. IT’S KIND OF A SILVER PLANT WITH SILVERY-LOOKING BERRIES, AND WHEN YOU OPEN THEM IT’S VERY POWDERY INSIDE. FOR SOME WOOD TO MAKE PIPES, THEY WOULD TRAVEL TO THE CROW TERRITORY TO OBTAIN THIS VERY SPECIFIC GRAIN—KAAPOKSI (ASH).’ – MO’TOKAANII’PO”
- Catalogue Number
- P19641174000
- 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
- Other Name
- UMBILICAL CORD
- Date Range From
- 1900
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- BEADS, BUCKSKIN
- Catalogue Number
- P19641186000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- UMBILICAL CORD
- Date Range From
- 1900
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Materials
- BEADS, BUCKSKIN
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 2.9
- Length
- 14.0
- Width
- 7.3
- Description
- DORSAL SURFACE BUCKSKIN COVERED WITH GEOMETRIC BEADWORK DESIGN IN BLACK AND WHITE BEADS. VENTRAL SURFACE BUCKSKIN. HANDMADE. CONSERVATION REPORT ON FILE.
- Subjects
- INDIGENOUS
- ADORNMENT
- Historical Association
- ETHNOGRAPHIC
- History
- DONOR CLAIMS MADE BY SIOUX & TRADED OR GIVEN TO BLOODS. THIS TYPEOF TURTLE UMBILICAL CHARM WORN BY FEMALE CHILDREN (SNAKE CHARMS WORN BY BOYS) UMBILICAL CORDS OF NEW-BORN WERE PLACED IN A BEADED CASE & WORN BY CHILD UNTIL ADOLESCENCE AS PROTECTIVE CHARM. *UPDATE* IN 2014 LOUISE-MARIE CROP EARED WOLF, A MEMBER OF THE KAINAI NATION, AND A FOURTH YEAR NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES MAJOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE COMPLETED AN APPLIED STUDIES PROJECT WITH THE COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT AT THE GALT MUSEUM. SHE PHOTOGRAPHED ETHNOGRAPHIC ARTIFACTS ASSOCIATED WITH FIRST NATIONS CULTURES IN SOUTHERN ALBERTA AND WROTE THE FOLLOWING TEXT TO PRESENT HER FOCUSED RESEARCH ON FOUR SPECIFIC ARTIFACTS (P19641186000, P19780209000, P19780208000, AND P19790235000): “I WANT TO DISPLAY THE KAINAI WOMEN BEADED ITEMS FROM THE GALT MUSEUM COLLECTIONS FOR THEIR ARTISTIC MERIT AND NOT JUST FOR THEIR ETHNOLOGICAL VALUE. THE FOUR ARTIFACTS SELECTED ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF FOUR GENERATIONS OF BEADERS: GRANDMOTHERS, MOTHERS, SISTER, AND DAUGHTERS. THE COLOURS ARE MEANINGFUL AND THE TRADITIONAL SYMBOLS ARE USED THROUGHOUT. THE ADHERENCE TO THE TRADITION, HOWEVER, DOES NOT SUPPRESS ARTISTIC EXPRESSION; THE BEADERS USE A FAIR DEGREE OF CREATIVITY IN THEIR CHOICE OF MATERIALS, SYMBOLS AND COLORS. THE ART OF BEADING IS NOT A “DYING ART” – IT IS THE ARTISTS, ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND IT IS A “LIVING ART”. FOR GENERATIONS, KAINAI WOMEN BEADERS AND CLOTHING DESIGNERS HAVE BEEN MAKING CLOTHING FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THE BEADED CLOTHING HONOURS THE FAMILY FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT IN A CONTINUOUS CIRCLE OF HONOURING. THE BEADED CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES SUCH AS MOCCASINS, LEGGINGS, AND BELTS, COMMUNICATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY AND ILLUSTRATE HOW TRADITIONS ARE PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS. THE BEADED WORK CONNECTS A BEADING ARTIST TO HER ANCESTORS. EVERY MOTIF, DESIGN, COLOUR OF SEED BEADS, STANDS FOR SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO THE ARTIST’S FAMILY, REFLECTING THE ARTIST’S SURROUNDINGS AND REINFORCING HER CULTURAL VALUES. LEARNING BY OBSERVATION, AN ARTIST PAYS RESPECT TO THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE KAINAI WOMEN BEADERS. THIS IS A PROTECTIVE SYMBOL OF THE TURTLE THAT IS WORN BY CHILDREN INTO THEIR ADOLESCENCE. THE GRANDMOTHER ENCASES THE UMBILICAL CORD IN ELK HIDE THAT IS CUT IN THE SHAPE OF TURTLE FOR GIRLS AND LIZARDS FOR BOYS; BOTH HAVE APPLICATION COLOURED SEED BEADS. THE DESIGN USES CONTRASTING BLACK AND WHITE BEADS TO EMULATE THE SHAPE AND TEXTURE OF THE ANIMAL. THE ITEM IS WORN ON THE BACK OF A DRESS ATTACHED NEAR THE NECK. THE ITEM INSURES THE SAFETY AND PROTECTION FROM INFANCY INTO ADULTHOOD." *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
- P19641186000
- Acquisition Date
- 1964-07
- Collection
- Museum
Images
