Pauline Poundmaker, Brown Bear Woman, (Poundmaker Cree Nation) right, accepts Chief Poundmaker's sacred staff from Genevieve Jones on behalf of Parks Canada in Wednesday's historic ceremony. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Repatriation ceremony

Chief Poundmaker’s sacred staff comes home

May 4, 2022 | 6:10 PM

Parks Canada formally transferred ownership of the sacred staff belonging to Chief Poundmaker to his descendents in an historical ceremony Wednesday.

During the event at Fort Battleford National Historic Site representatives from Parks Canada officially handed over the staff to the Poundmaker family.

Chief Poundmaker Museum curator Floyd Favel said the repatriation of this item is a first step in bringing back Chief Poundmaker’s artifacts to the First Nation.

“We need to infuse our leadership with the values of the past and the spiritual power that our leaders once had,” he added. “I feel this will help our people as a whole.”

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Pauline Poundmaker, known as Brown Bear Woman, said during her presentation it was in April 1967 when her mother Alma Poundmaker, the great granddaughter of Chief Poundmaker represented the direct descendants of the Poundmaker family when they brought him home to his final resting place.

“It’s an honour to represent the Poundmaker family on this day when Chief Poundmaker’s staff is being repatriated to our family,” she said.

Brown Bear Woman thanked Parks Canada for their decision to “do the right thing” and return the symbolic artifact.

Elder Theresa Sapp, seated, shown during the ceremony. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

Favel said the artifact being repatriated is a leadership staff that symbolizes Chief Poundmaker “leading his people onward.”

“By taking away the staff, what the Canadian government did was basically make us symbolically leaderless,” he said. “That’s the spiritual significance of a staff.”

Chief Poundmaker Museum curator Floyd Favel speaks during the ceremony. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

Favel said having the staff come home, represents a “closing of one circle.”

He said eventually the family has the right to ask for all of Chief Poundmaker’s items, wherever they are located, because the artifacts are “rightfully theirs.”

Milton Tootoosis speaks during Wednesday’s event. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

Milton Tootoosis, former band councillor from the Poundmaker Cree Nation, said the Poundmaker community was aware of other First Nations working to repatriate their cultural artifacts, and wanted to do the same.

“We heard growing up that past leaders had tried to do this and were denied. We thought, we should try again. Don’t ever give up,” he said. “So here we are today at this momentous occasion to witness the transfer of an item to be the first [repatriated]. I think it will be a start. Hopefully, more items will be coming home.”

Genevieve Jones on behalf of Parks Canada said the agency is honoured to be part of the repatriation ceremony with the Poundmaker family.

“I’m privileged to be on this journey, …. and a very beautiful and profound experience,” she said.

Jones said as an agency, Parks Canada is working in the spirit of reconciliation and focused on building relationships with Indigenous peoples.

She describes the road ahead as still “a learning journey” for the agency, as it aims to discern its role and place in the process of reconciliation.

“This is very much a journey that we’re on,” Jones said.

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW