Blackfoot Stories: Chief Mountain and First Marriages

June is Indigenous Peoples’ Month, a time to honour the heritage and culture of First Peoples in Canada. June 21 also marks the annual National Indigenous Peoples Day. Here in Alberta , there are events happening around the province to celebrate the unique histories, cultures and contributions from First Nations, Métis and Inuit heritages.

Indigenous people have for thousands of years relied on the tradition of oral storytelling to pass down their history to future generations.

A few years ago, the Siksika Consultation Office received an Alberta Historical Resources Foundation grant and produced these two beautifully-shot vignettes featuring two significant stories from Blackfoot culture.

The first tells the story of Crowsnest Mountain and the birth of seasons. The second tells the story of the first marriages, based around Women’s Buffalo Jump south of present-day Cayley, Alberta.

Thanks to the Siksika Consultation Office for letting us share these important stories.

 

 

The 2016 Alberta Historical Resources Foundation Heritage Awards

Alberta Historical Resources Foundation 2016 Heritage Award Recipients.
Alberta Historical Resources Foundation 2016 Heritage Award Recipients.

The night of October 14 was filled with pride and honour as award recipients, guests, staff and board members celebrated the biennial Heritage Awards at the historic McDougall Centre in Calgary.

The Alberta Historical Resources Foundation presented the awards in four categories to 14 deserving individuals and organizations in recognition of their accomplishments and contribution to the preservation and promotion of Alberta’s heritage.

Outstanding Achievement

  • Don Hepburn (Red Deer)
  • Howard Fredeen (Lacombe)
  • Jean Johnstone (Lethbridge)
  • Nancy Millar (Calgary)
  • Honourable mention – Elizabeth and Bill Bullick (Coronation)

Heritage Conservation

  • Glen Leslie Church Preservation Group (County of Grande Prairie), Glen Leslie Church restoration
  • Empress and District Historical Society (Empress), Canadian Pacific Railway Station restoration

Heritage Awareness

  • Crowsnest Heritage Initiative, “Discover Crowsnest Heritage” signage program
  • Haying in the 30’s Cancer Support Society, “Haying in the 30’s” event
  • Honourable mention – Bear Lake Canuck Historical Society, “Canuck Classic: The Story of a Treasured One-Room School”
  • Honourable mention – Milo Library Archives, “Milo Library Archives On-Line Access Project”

Municipal Heritage Preservation

  • Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8
  • Yellowhead County
  • Honourable mention – Town of Raymond

Additional information is available on the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation webpage at http://culture.alberta.ca/heritage-and-museums/grants-and-recognition/heritage-awards/.

Congratulations and thank you to all Heritage Award Recipients!

Call for nominations to the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation’s Heritage Awards 2014

Deadline for nominations is July 15

The Alberta Historical Resources Foundation is seeking nominations to the Heritage Awards to honour individuals, organizations and municipalities who have demonstrated outstanding contributions in heritage preservation.

Awards are presented in four categories: Heritage Conservation, Heritage Awareness, Municipal Heritage Preservation and Outstanding Achievement. The Heritage Conservation category has been expanded to include nominations for projects involving the conservation and interpretation of palaeontological and archaeological resources. Self-nominations are also now accepted.

The awards will be presented to awardees on October 16 in Red Deer to be held in conjunction with Alberta Culture’s Municipal Heritage Forum reception.

For a copy of the guidelines and nomination form, click here or contact Carina Naranjilla, Program Coordinator at 780-431-2305.

Written by: Carina Naranjilla, AHRF Grant Program Coordinator

Hertitage Awards Ad