Blackfoot Crossing to release new Siksika history book
By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Photo Courtesy of Nicole Munro, Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park
Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park is releasing a new book on the history of Siksika.
The book, titled Stories of the Siksika, tells a history of “who we are,” said Shannon Bear Chief, operations manager of Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park. The book contains information about family clans, traditions and culture, she said.
“It highlights our ancestors and leaders, and how things used to be done,” said Bear Chief. “It’s an effort to get the information out there and have people learn about our history.”
The soon-to-be-released book shows what visitors to Blackfoot Crossing can learn and experience.
“It’s bits and pieces of what we already interpret and teach from our existing museum exhibits,” she said, adding the project involved most of the staff of Blackfoot Crossing and parts of Siksika’s community.
“It involved a lot of the people that were already part of the storyline at the museum,” said Bear Chief. “It was a lot of elder and family consultation, and we even put notices out for anybody that might give us a little more information if we were unsure of a certain topic.”
The book will be provided free of charge and will be available at Siksika’s schools and libraries. It will also be provided to area schools that visit the site, as a resource to be added to their libraries. The organization is currently developing a directory of where the book may be distributed.
Strategic Designs put the book together and Emerson Clarke Printing published the book, said Bear Chief.
An ebook describing the concept and design of Blackfoot Crossing building was also created, called A Home For Our History. It describes the origins of the site, its architectural inspiration and traditions ongoing there today. It is now available on the organization’s website.
The projects were funded in-part by a grant from Canadian Heritage, said Bear Chief, who added more books are being planned.
“This is just phase one,” she said. “There’s going to be volumes of books that we are looking to publish.”