National park system honors Blackfoot heritage

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About 40 people, including several Peigan Elders, gathered at the Maskinonge Wetlands area of Waterton Lakes National Park Aug. 14 to unveil a new display focusing on the area's Native heritage.

The central of the three plaques which make up the exhibit offers a brief text in Blackfoot, as well as English and French.

Acknowledging the long Aboriginal history of the area, Park Superintendent Merv Syroteuk said it was fitting the $30,000 project, done in honor of the park's 100th birthday, should have part of the story told in Blackfoot.

"This was a very special and sacred place to our Native brethren," he said.

"It's a diverse, unique and beautiful landscape."

Peigan Elders Elsie Crowshoe, Doris Many Guns and Margaret Plain Eagle performed a blessing ceremony for the new exhibit, including the smoking of an historic beaded women's peace pipe, passed down to Many Guns from her grandmother.

The pipe, filled with a mixture of tobacco and kinnickinnick, was passed from the Elders to the superintendent and other dignitaries, who made an excellent effort.

In a long prayer in Blackfoot, Elsie Crowshoe called upon the spirit helpers of the Four Directions to bless the park officials, visitors, media and members of her tribe gathered there.

The text of the central plaque in the display reads:

"Long ago, in an ancient ceremony near here, wetland creatures shared their power with the Blackfoot. Their gifts are preserved in a sacred collection called the Beaver Bundle. Each spring's rebirth of the wetlands is celebrated with ritual and song as the bundle is reopened . The wetland's riches still lie before you."