Items once belonging to Chief Poundmaker find their way home

“Because his name is attached and because he’s honourable, he does things right and a lot of people have been contacting him and repatriating a lot of things that belong to Poundmaker.”

In 1885, his community was starving. According to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau statement of exoneration, “he was wrongfully accused of looting” after he was seeking food for his community before being wrongfully convicted for treason and imprisoned.

Floyd Favel stands by a wall featuring his family history at the Poundmaker Museum and Gallery. (Julia LovettSquires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“When the revival of the exoneration first came to our thoughts – the revival in 2016-17 winter – it seemed like an impossible task,” he said of the monumental process that took a community working as one to complete.

The nation had festivals around the summer of 2017-18 yet they were unsuccessful in getting funds. Two years later, however, in a ceremony on the very site where the battle took place, Poundmaker’s name was cleared.

“That’s like miracle, it happened pretty quick – two years – and I think that was the result of timing,” he said.

Favel said they had nothing to do with the North-West Resistance but rather the chief saved lives by telling the warriors not to attack troops.

“We had wanted to correct history and we did correct history,” he said.

According to Poundmaker Billesberger, the nation has turned out doctors, lawyers and other successful people on the reserve.

“If he had not done what he did, who knows how many would have survived, you know, if he…had not looked in the future,” she said.

“He was a peacemaker.”

As there aren’t many direct decedents of the chief in the nation, Poundmaker Billesberger feels a responsibility to honour her ancestor.

“I don’t want to ever bring shame or reproach to the name of Poundmaker,” she said.

Since that exoneration, both the chief’s great-granddaughter and Favel see the positive strides being made in their community as connected to their leader’s spirit being at peace. It hasn’t always been.

The 130-year-old pipe bag at the Poundmaker Museum and Gallery. (Julia LovettSquires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“Also, because of what happened in the 1880s…our reserve was actually treated more harshly than most because of that,” she said.

“There was an attempt at genocide because Poundmaker, they felt he committed treason.”

Among the items that have made their way home include a staff and another bag since the slate was wiped clean. Repatriation, however, needed to happen organically, said Favel.

“Chief Poundmaker also met many people, he was already well known, and he gave away a lot of his things as gifts,” he said.

“That’s what Cree people do. They were nomadic.”

Favel, a writer, historian, filmmaker, performer and recipient of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, explained that because he gifted the items, the nation had no jurisdiction in trying to repatriate.

“All of these that returned, I didn’t ask for them so, in the Indian way – Cree way – we can’t be asking for things,” he said.

“If it’s meant to be, they will come on their own.”

Poundmaker, Favel explained was a “very spiritual man.”

“Can’t be going around asking for them, you have to wait.”

To repatriate items, one must consider how items were accessed, is there a relation to the person, and if so, how? Favel said that in Cree tradition, items – depending on what they are – were either passed down from father to son or mother to daughter.

“The personal male warrior things –the staffs, pipes, objects, saddles – but nowadays because of [the] Indian Act, and band memberships, that’s not always possible nowadays because now maybe that one side went to other reserves,” he said.

“It doesn’t coincide with band membership now so, now it’s… in a grey area now of who can actually repatriate.”

Meanwhile, for Poundmaker Billesberger, that stain that once washed over the nation and reserve has now been removed.

A staff at the Poundmaker Museum and Gallery. (Julia LovettSquires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“It’s like our leader, our chief – our first chief – has been set free,” she said, noting that it wasn’t the community that felt shame but rather the world imposed that shame.

“It wasn’t shame on our part but now it’s up to people to read your history…the current updating of history.”

Poundmaker Billesberger credits her adopted brother with having the determination to create a community space where people can come and learn.

“He’s working to make the community whole…to work in unity and to be proud to be from Poundmaker,” she said.

As for the items that are trickling back, she said it’s a positive thing.

“It’s healing.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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by Julia Lovett-Squires

Items once belonging to Chief Poundmaker find their way home

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