Experience Guide | Tourism Medicine Hat

PLAINS CREE WAY OF LIFE Interpretation and Painting by Nona Foster. In the center of this design is a late fall or early winter

THE PLAINS INDIANS Interpretation

THE MÉTIS OF THE PLAINS

Interpretation and Painting by Nona Foster. The Métis people came from a meeting of two powerful

and Painting by Manybears. The relationship between man and nature’s

campsite, The trees are bare and it has snowed, the people are going about their business and preparing for colder days to come. Most of the tools and activities shown are traditional and time-honoured. Around the bottom half of the border are traditional outfits. The top half of the border shows some of the animals that my ancestors shared the land with and used for food,clothing and shelter. Tobacco was used in many ceremonies and rituals. PLAINS CREE CEREMONIES

survival. The symbol of the buffalo was our main source of providing man with food, shelter, clothing and tools, As you see in the painting, the buffalo has no eyes. He surrendered his being to the Plains Indians. The eagle is our spiritual direction and symbolizes our creator. The eagle sees that man is aware of his values and surroundings. The circle represents the creation of the universe and unity. Our creator made man and woman to carry on our native culture and traditional way of life. The Tepee is our shelter and our birthplace to continue the generations of life. ARRIVAL OF THE EUROPEANS Interpretation human settlers of the Americas welcomed these new people with open arms. Within these arms held trust, kindness and wonder. Little did native people know that these explorers would initiate a transformation that revolutionized the First People‘s civilization. No more was there the spirit of freedom that man belonged to the land. TREATY #7 crossing between the Blackfoot and the Queen‘s government. The five Chiefs depicted in the picture are: Chief Crowfoot (Siksika Tribe), Chief Red Crow (Blood Tribe), Chief Bears Paw (Stony Tribe), Chief Eagle Tail (Peigan Tribe), and Chief Bull Head (Tsuu Tina tribe). Sharing the Pipe Ceremony represents peace between two parties. The promises in the treaty were that the Blackfoot would be ensured of their survival and a continued way of life for as long as the sun shines, grasses grow and the rivers flow. and Painting by Marilyn Fraser King. The original Interpretation and Painting by Henry Standingalone. In the fall of 1877, Treaty #7 was signed at the Blackfoot

human cultures and the emergence of a new and distinct people; this is shown by the native woman and the pale skin man. The Métis sash originated in Quebec and was worn by the French Voyagers. The thistle represents the Scots, and the yarrow shows that these people still need plants in their medicines. The “North West Half Breed Commission'' paper is shown because the signing of the scrip gave the native people a small amount of cash and took away their treaty rights. FIRST PEOPLES TODAY

Interpretation and Painting by Robert Anderson. This painting represents some of the many ceremonies in our Cree culture. The four ribbons are representative of the

Interpretation and Painting by Marilyn Fraser—King. Even though there is a passing of our Native culture from the old world into the new, we

have kept our songs and sang them. To this day we still pass on the feather, we still sing, we still hear the stories, we still listen to the wind, and we still feel the power of the Northern Lights. It is a time to walk a path of treasure and enlightenment. This painting depicts the acceptance of both worlds and their challenges. CIRCLE OF UNITY – MULTICULTURALISM

four directions. The sweet lodge can be used to ask for guidance from the spirit powers, for a time of prayer, or as part of a ritualistic cleansing prior to any ceremony such as the Sundance. In Cree culture, the peace pipe plays a very important role. A pipe is lit to call upon the spirit powers. The smoking of the peace pipe also symbolizes peace and friendship. The stone border has engraved Cree symbolic lettering, which says “Plains Cree Ceremonies.” The rock is strong and by having the title engraved in it shows that the strength of our culture will never be destroyed and is permanent in its ways.

Interpretation and Painting by Nona Foster. This is set on a dark and stormy sky, but there are breaks in the clouds

and the life giving sun is shining through. Pointing

The Saamis Tepee has a foundation weight of 800 metric tons, and the dead load of the structure is 200 metric tons. The main masts of the Tepee measure 215 feet (equivalent to a 20 story building!) and 960 bolts hold it all together.

towards the sun and bright light, the native warrior holds his peace pipe invoking the wisdom of the Great Spirit. The pipe represents the unity of all people and all things in the universe. The crossed circle is one of the very earliest forms inscribed by humans to express the cosmos, life has no beginning or end, and it is a symbol of unity. The cross pieces represent the directions. The different races of people are portrayed here by different coloured hands.

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