Latest news with #Blackfoot
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Sacred ribstones return to Siksika Nation after more than a century in an Ottawa museum
After being held in a museum in Ottawa for more than a century, two sacred cultural artifacts recently returned to Siksika Nation. Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park (BCHP), a museum on the Siksika First Nation, celebrated the repatriation of a pair of sacred ribstones, which hold deep significance to the Blackfoot people. The stones were used for meditation and prayer by previous generations, explained the historical park's CEO Shannon Bear Chief. The ribstones' return marked a homecoming of great spiritual and cultural importance, Bear Chief said. WATCH | Sacred ribstones returned to First Nation: "Just like everything else — language, culture — that was stripped from the Blackfoot people, [removing the ribstones] was also just another act to remove the meditation and the prayer," said Bear Chief. "Bringing home our objects is also a significant historical event because our spirits are coming home. And then we'll become whole as a Siksika Nation." The ribstones, which are centuries old, were originally removed from Blackfoot territory in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Earlier this year, a Blackfoot delegation travelled to the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa to identify the items and confirm that they belonged to the Siksika people, and to ensure their return. The repatriation was marked on Friday with traditional ceremony, storytelling, performances from local artists and community gathering at the BCHP's outdoor amphitheatre. BCHP board of directors chair Strater Crowfoot said in previous generations, people would go to the ribstones, make offerings and wait for buffalo to arrive. He said their return is significant as a way to establish a connection between current and future Blackfoot generations, and their ancestors. "We can tell our future generations what they were used for, and how they were helpful [to] maintain our life and exist on the prairies by being able to hunt the buffalo and live off the buffalo and live off the land," said Crowfoot. "For us to bring these home and recount the significance of them to our people and to our future, it's important that we have them here to be able to tell that story." Martin Heavy Head, a Kainai Nation elder who was part of the group that travelled to Ottawa to identify where the stones came from, notes the ribstones are just two of many items that were taken from the Blackfoot people or destroyed. He underlined the significance of continuing efforts to return artifacts like the ribstone to their origin. "Repatriation is a lot of things. It's not just repatriating objects, it's also repatriating knowledge, territory. It's repatriating our lives that have been taken away," Heavy Head said. The stones were returned as part of an ongoing program focused on preserving, reclaiming and sharing sacred Blackfoot artifacts. The Blackfoot First Nations Sacred Ceremonial Objects Repatriation Regulation was introduced in 2023, which set out a process to repatriate sacred ceremonial objects to the Siksika Nation, Blood Tribe and Piikani Nation. Several other important artifacts have been repatriated through this process in recent years. A different sacred rock was returned to Siksika Nation in 2023 to be displayed at BCHP, after it sat in a farmer's field in central Alberta since the early 1900s. And a year earlier, the regalia of a former Blackfoot chief was returned from the Royal Albert Museum in Exeter, England. Crowfoot said they're looking at repatriating more items from museums around North America and Europe.
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Sacred ribstones return to Siksika Nation after more than a century in an Ottawa museum
Social Sharing After being held in a museum in Ottawa for more than a century, two sacred cultural artifacts recently returned to Siksika Nation. Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park (BCHP), a museum on the Siksika First Nation, celebrated the repatriation of a pair of sacred ribstones, which hold deep significance to the Blackfoot people. The stones were used for meditation and prayer by previous generations, explained the historical park's CEO Shannon Bear Chief. The ribstones' return marked a homecoming of great spiritual and cultural importance, Bear Chief said. Sacred ribstones return to Siksika Nation from national museum after more than a century 5 hours ago Duration 2:22 "Just like everything else — language, culture — that was stripped from the Blackfoot people, [removing the ribstones] was also just another act to remove the meditation and the prayer," said Bear Chief. "Bringing home our objects is also a significant historical event because our spirits are coming home. And then we'll become whole as a Siksika Nation." The ribstones, which are centuries old, were originally removed from Blackfoot territory in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Earlier this year, a Blackfoot delegation travelled to the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa to identify the items and confirm that they belonged to the Siksika people, and to ensure their return. The repatriation was marked on Friday with traditional ceremony, storytelling, performances from local artists and community gathering at the BCHP's outdoor amphitheatre. BCHP board of directors chair Strater Crowfoot said in previous generations, people would go to the ribstones, make offerings and wait for buffalo to arrive. He said their return is significant as a way to establish a connection between current and future Blackfoot generations, and their ancestors. "We can tell our future generations what they were used for, and how they were helpful [to] maintain our life and exist on the prairies by being able to hunt the buffalo and live off the buffalo and live off the land," said Crowfoot. "For us to bring these home and recount the significance of them to our people and to our future, it's important that we have them here to be able to tell that story." Martin Heavy Head, a Kainai Nation elder who was part of the group that travelled to Ottawa to identify where the stones came from, notes the ribstones are just two of many items that were taken from the Blackfoot people or destroyed. He underlined the significance of continuing efforts to return artifacts like the ribstone to their origin. "Repatriation is a lot of things. It's not just repatriating objects, it's also repatriating knowledge, territory. It's repatriating our lives that have been taken away," Heavy Head said. The stones were returned as part of an ongoing program focused on preserving, reclaiming and sharing sacred Blackfoot artifacts. The Blackfoot First Nations Sacred Ceremonial Objects Repatriation Regulation was introduced in 2023, which set out a process to repatriate sacred ceremonial objects to the Siksika Nation, Blood Tribe and Piikani Nation. Several other important artifacts have been repatriated through this process in recent years. A different sacred rock was returned to Siksika Nation in 2023 to be displayed at BCHP, after it sat in a farmer's field in central Alberta since the early 1900s. And a year earlier, the regalia of a former Blackfoot chief was returned from the Royal Albert Museum in Exeter, England. Crowfoot said they're looking at repatriating more items from museums around North America and Europe.
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Sacred ribstones return to Siksika Nation from national museum after more than a century
Siksika Nation celebrated the repatriation of a pair of important spiritual and cultural artifacts from the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa to the Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park.
Cision Canada
3 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Prime Minister Carney announces Canada's G7 priorities ahead of the Leaders' Summit Français
OTTAWA, ON, June 7, 2025 /CNW/ - Fifty years ago, in the face of upheaval and geopolitical tensions, a small group of advanced economies formed what is now the G7 – a forum for co-operation, stability, and shared prosperity. In 2025, as global challenges intensify, the G7 must meet this moment with purpose and with force. Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, announced the priorities that will guide Canada's 2025 G7 Leaders' Summit, to be held in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17, 2025. Anchored in building stronger economies, Canada will seek agreements and co-ordinated action on three core missions: Protecting our communities and the world – strengthening peace and security, countering foreign interference and transnational crime, and improving joint responses to wildfires. Building energy security and accelerating the digital transition – fortifying critical mineral supply chains and using artificial intelligence and quantum to unleash economic growth. Securing the partnerships of the future – catalyzing enormous private investment to build stronger infrastructure, create higher-paying jobs, and open dynamic markets where businesses can compete and succeed. Other discussions will include a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and other areas of conflict around the world, and a forward-looking agenda that engages partners beyond the G7, recognizing that our long-term security and prosperity will depend on building coalitions with reliable partners and common values. Quote "Canada has what the world wants and the values to which others aspire. The G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis is a moment for Canada to work with reliable partners to meet challenges with unity, purpose, and force. Canada is ready to lead." — The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada Quick Facts This is the seventh time that Canada has held the Presidency of the G7. This year's Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, will take place on the traditional territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy Nations of the Kainai, Piikani, and Siksika, and the Stoney Nakoda Nations comprised of the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney First Nations, and the Tsuut'ina First Nation. We also acknowledge the Otipemisiwak Métis People and Government who reside on this territory and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta. This document is also available at SOURCE Prime Minister's Office
Global News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Global News
Giant human spiderweb at Calgary school hopes to strengthen community
Hundreds of students gathered with staff and Indigenous elders at Foothills Acadamy Friday, joining hands in a symbolic gesture of community strength. Ani to pisi (spiderweb) is a Blackfoot creation story local students are now bringing to life — in a big way. Beginning with drumming and a round dance, participants say the giant spiderweb symbolizes interconnectedness. It's hoped the event will be followed by other community-building events, expanding Canadians shared journey through reconciliation.
