.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.
NORTHERN PLAINS INDIGENOUS, PROBABLY OF BLACKFOOT ORIGIN. USED FOR STORAGE.
*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.
NORTHERN PLAINS ATTRIBUTED TO BLACKFOOT. PARFLECHES ARE MADE FROM RAWHIDE, WHICH IS SOAKED IN WATER TO REMOVE HAIR. USED FOR STORAGE.
*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.
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.
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”
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.
.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.
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.
TRIMMED WITH RED FLANNEL. GEOMETRIC BEADWORK DESIGNS IN RED, GREEN, YELLOW, BLACK, BLUE AT TOP & TOE OF CASE. CASE EMBRITTLED. CONSERVATION REPORT ON FILE.
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.
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.