Clayton McLain Memorial Museum, Little Pine and Lucky Man First Nations collaborated on the project that took place in the summer of 2019. (submitted photo/Clayton McLain Memorial Museum)

By Angela Brown

Remembering history

First Nations project among MAS 2020 award recipients

Nov 8, 2020 | 5:08 PM

Battlefords area First Nations are among those honoured in the Museums Association of Saskatchewan (MAS) 2020 awards recently presented in an online event. They were among several recognized from the local area.

A total of six MAS awards were bestowed to recipients across Saskatchewan in the following categories: Award of Merit – Institutional, Award of Merit – Individual, and the Young Professionals Award.

The Clayton McLain Memorial Museum, Little Pine Cree Nation, and Lucky Man Cree Nation received the Award of Merit – Institution, for projects over $50,000 for the “Moving Forward with Reconciliation” project that took place in the summer of 2019.

This award recognizes outstanding projects and achievements of institutional MAS members.

The Clayton McLain Memorial Museum in Cut Knife received a grant from the National Indian Brotherhood Trust Fund to partner with Little Pine and Lucky Man on the three-part project, initiated by Little Pine Chief Wayne Semaganis and councillor Richard Checkosis.

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The aim of the project was to remember the signing of the amendment to Treaty 6, 140 years ago, when Lucky Man and Little Pine signed on, part of a difficult and painful history for the First Nations people.

The first event was held July 2, 2019, in Fort Walsh, SK., in the Maple Creek area, to recognize 140 years since Chief Minahequosis (Little Pine) and Chief Papaway (Lucky Man) were coerced into signing an adhesion to Treaty 6 because their people were suffering from forced starvation. About 550 people attended this memorial event that connected Little Pine First Nation and Lucky Man Cree Nation to their ancestors and traditional territories by offering a feast and mini powwow in their honour.

“A lot of people from these groups had never been down to these places before, and these are places that would have been very important to their heritage,” Clayton McLain Memorial Museum board’s president Colton Stapley said.

The second gathering was held July 5, 2019 in Cut Knife with 350 people taking part. This event connected the local Indigenous people to the sacred artifacts held in trust in the collection of the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum. The items are usually kept separate from the rest of the collection in a secure area and cared for by Elders through ceremony and protocol, but were displayed for the event following blessings and a smudging ceremony. This event also included a traditional feast and powwow.

The third event took place Sept. 9, 2019 at Fort Pitt, with 150 people attending. This event helped connect the Indigenous people to Treaty 6 territory, and the lands they ultimately reside on.

“We have a challenge ahead of us to try and keep this momentum going, to get the information out to our people,” Little Pine Elder Jacob Pete said of the project, and the importance of making sure First Nations people know their history.

Lucky Man Cree Nation Chief Crystal Okemow said: “It was a good project; I am proud of it. And, I am proud that Lucky Man was part of it.”

Awards of Merit

MAS also presented three distinguished honourees with the Award of Merit – Individual category, to recognize lasting and significant contributions by an individual or group of individuals at the local level.

Among the award recipients was Fred Light Museum manager Bernadette Leslie.

While the Fred Light Museum board nominated her for the Lifetime Achievement Award and anticipated she would be honoured in this category, the MAS awards jury ultimately found the Award of Merit – Individual to be more suitable to meet the award criteria.

Leslie devoted more than 40 years working with the Fred Light Museum, including spending 35 years as manager. Over the years, she has promoted the museum sector by working with various groups in Battleford, being a valuable historical resource for their projects.

“Bernadette’s hard work and dedication over the years has ensured that the Fred Light Museum, with the help of a long line of 40 years of summer students and museum volunteers and board members, has become one of the best locally-run museums in the province,” Em Ironstar, MAS community engagement coordinator, said in presenting the award.

Leslie said she is “honoured and humbled” to accept the award. She said she has had “the pleasure of showcasing a wide variety of artifacts to the public both locally and from all over the world,” and appreciates the opportunity to preserve local history.

Other area award recipients include Valerie Finley, 92, a founding member of the Luseland Museum, who received the Award of Merit – Individual for her contributions to documenting and preserving the area’s history over the past 40 years.

In 1983 she was one of the core groups involved in publishing the book Luseland Hub and Spokes, a history of the community and surrounding area. Then, after years of planning, the Luseland Museum opened in 1992, with Finley as president. Today, she remains a dedicated and active member of the Luseland Museum board.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW