POINT, PROJECTILE

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Description: SOFT IRON, HAMMERED & CUT. T-BAR SHANK. HEAVILY CORRODED, SEE CONSERVATION REPORT.

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”