Galt museum unveils last part of Indigenous trilogy

By Alexandra Noad - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on August 10, 2024.

Herald photo by Alexandra Noad Mike Bruised Head (Ninna Piiksii), co-curator speaks to reporters on the importance of Blackfoot voices in their territory, on Friday at the Galt.

The Galt Museum and Archives unveiled Nitsitapiisksakoo: Nitsitapii Landscapes Part 3 on Friday. It is the final part of the trilogy of exhibits which focuses on spiritual and culturally significant sites within traditional Blackfoot Territory.

Through this exhibit, Blackfoot and non-Blackfoot can learn about the history and the traditional Blackfoot names of these significant places.

Elder Mike Bruised Head (Ninna Piiksii), co-curator of the exhibit, says the Blackfoot people called their territory home for thousands of years and need to be recognized for their history.

“We’ve been here for thousands of years, and that acknowledgment seems to be shortened every day or disrespected. Nobody has ever really come to the Blackfoot people to ask permission if they can be acknowledged… Treaty Seven Treaty was a Blackfoot treaty, according to our elders. It’s educating and correcting history, curriculum, the academia, the people at this province, other nations that we have names for, all these places, they’ve been, you know, we’ve been here, you know, and each area and they had some great significance where a ceremony has been performed there, a prayer, a hunting area, a camping area, all of the above,” said Bruised Head

Along with pictures of these sacred sites sourced from local photographers, there is narration in the Blackfoot Language about the sites.

There is large emphasis on encouraging people to visit Blackfoot Elders if they would like to learn more about these places and if they choose to visit them, to treat them with respect by not littering or removing items which were used in ceremonies. Placing tobacco as an offering is acceptable in Blackfoot Culture.

The exhibit will be running until February 9, 2025 and will become a travelling exhibit once it concludes at the Galt.

A digital version of all three exhibits is available on the Galt Museums website.

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