Chief Poundmaker’s pipe, saddle bag returning from Royal Ontario Museum to family
Artifacts belonging to a 19th-century Plains Cree chief who was known as a peacekeeper are expected to be returned to his descendants in a repatriation ceremony at the Royal Ontario Museum.
The Toronto-based museum is transferring a pipe and a saddle bag that belonged to Chief Poundmaker back to members of his family.
Pauline Poundmaker, or Brown Bear Woman, has been leading efforts to repatriate her great-great-grandfather’s belongings and sacred objects from collections held in Canada and internationally.
A number of the leader’s belongings were taken and housed in museums after the Northwest Rebellion in 1885 — the same year Poundmaker was found guilty of treason. He served seven months in prison before dying shortly after his release.