Kaahsinnooniksi
Ao'toksisawooyawa
Our ancestors have come to visit: Blackfoot Shirts
Made possible
with generous support from TransCanada
The Galt Museum & Archives is hosting
five extraordinary Blackfoot shirts which have resided in the Pitt
Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, England since 1893.
In 1841, Sir George Simpson, Governor
of the Hudson's Bay Company, acquired the shirts during his visit
to Fort Edmonton. Simpson's secretary Edward Hopkins eventually
took them to England and donated them to the Pitt Rivers Museum.
Written records tell us this much about
the shirts, but many unanswered questions surround them.
Were they
simply a gift to a travelling dignitary, or was it more?
Was this gift made to formalize
a business trade agreement?
Was it evidence of an alliance
between nations?
How were the Blackfoot people
involved in the fur trade?
What did the shirts mean to the
women who made them and the men who wore them?
What is the significance of the
shirts to Blackfoot people today?
In 2010, during their visit to Blackfoot
Territory, the shirts have been available for personal study by
members of the Blackfoot communities in southern Alberta and Montana
prior to going on public exhibit, as researchers from the PRM and
University of Aberdeen worked with Blackfoot Elders, ceremonial
leaders, teachers and students to gather their thoughts, stories
and knowledge to enhance and enrich existing information, and to
and provide Blackfoot perspectives about these five historic shirts
[read some of these thoughts on Museum
Beat].
The exhibition will allow Galt visitors
to appreciate their beauty, the skill of their makers, and the power
of the 170-year old objects.
Workshops and public exhibition of the Blackfoot
Shirts at Glenbow
Museum in Calgary from March 26 to May 16, 2010.
Click on the images below to open larger
versions in a new window.
special
programs
Sat JUN 05
| 10:00 - 4:00
Free admission all day celebrating the opening
of the new exhibit!
11:00 Exhibit Grand Opening
11:30 Aboriginal Dancing Viewing Gallery
1:00-4:00 Travois Making Demo/Workshop Mari King leads this workshop in the construction, use,
and history of the Blackfoot travois Servus Credit Union Learning Studio
ALL DAY "Days of the Blackfeet"
film screening Friends of the Galt Board Room
ALL DAY children’s crafts/games Lethbridge Iron Works Classroom
National
Aboriginal Day
Mon JUN 21 | 10:00
am - 5:00 pm | free admission all day
Celebrate the day by visiting the Blackfoot
Shirts exhibit and take in the opening and blessing of the
Medicine Wheel garden at the Galt; lunch included [11am-1pm].
A partnership event with Aboriginal Council
of Lethbridge.
Blood Tribe Economic Development presents Blackfoot
history on this journey hosted by Blackfoot Elders to a medicine
wheel and residential school. Experience modern Blackfoot
culture at Kainai Indian Days, and learn about current initiatives
and governance on the reserve. Lunch will feature traditional
Blackfoot foods.
family
programs
Fri JUN 25 | 2:00 - 3:00 pm Napi Plays produced
and directed by Dorreen Williams-Freeman
Napi was put on Mother Earth from the Creator Sun as a disciple
to teach good examples for the people to live by. He
was given certain powers that were almost equal to creator
sun. He started using them for his own benefit instead of
doing good for the people. Dorreen will present three plays:
Napi and the Gophers 20 min; Napi and the Two Ladies 10 min;
Napi and the Rock 15 min.
Sat JUL 10 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm Puppet Making with
Tanya Harnett
Tanya Harnett, a University of Lethbridge Professor from
the Department of Art and the Department of Native American
Studies, will be on hand to help you create your own hand-made
puppet to preform your own Napi story puppet show. All supplies
provided, and volunteers will be on hand to help you. No sewing
experience required!
Sat AUG 11 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm Métis Jigging
with Roy Pogorzelski and Elder Rod McLeod
The Red River Jig is often danced at parties and community
gatherings, and has become a true symbol of Métis identity.
Roy Pogorzelski, a Métis Citizen of Saskatchewan, will
demonstrate the Red River Jig. Participants will be taught
basic and fancy steps to perform to the music. It’s great
exercise and extremely entertaining! Volunteers will be called
up to participate in a demonstration of the group dance: the
“rabbit dance”. Métis Elder Rod McLeod will
also be in attendance for a brief discussion on Métis
culture and history, and both will be available to answer
any questions about Métis culture, history or dancing.
The first concert of
the 2010 Fort Macleod International Festival(formerly
Windy Mountain Music Festival), with music director
Rivka Golani, is presented at the Galt in a partnership
inspired by the Blackfoot Shirts exhibit.
Benjamin Ellin's new
work takes inspiration from Blackfoot culture and music.
The evening begins with Preludes (pre-concert talks):
P R O G R A M
6:45 Prelude
1: "Our Ancestors
have come to visit: Blackfoot Shirts", with
Curator Wendy Aitkens
7:15 Prelude
2: The music, composers
and the musicians of the evening, with professor
Brian Black
8:00 Concert Op. 55 No. 1 in G violins,
viola and cello Boccherini Siksika - World Premiere viola
and chamber ensemble Ellin Brahms - Quartet op. 60 violin,
viola, cello and piano Brahms
Enjoy a spectacular view of the Oldman
River while enjoying the most exquisite music featuring
world renowned performers, including Anton Kuerti on piano!
