1
00:00:03,500 --> 00:00:05,700
nothing
happened by accident.

2
00:00:07,170 --> 00:00:08,770
This was orchestrated.

3
00:00:10,210 --> 00:00:12,970
this is
a story about power.

4
00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:16,310
our people
weren't allowed to leave.

5
00:00:17,350 --> 00:00:19,850
the power, to take...

6
00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:21,380
everything is
disappearing,

7
00:00:21,380 --> 00:00:23,650
So the calamity is
still happening.

8
00:00:25,290 --> 00:00:27,150
the spirit
of the warriors

9
00:00:27,190 --> 00:00:29,590
Are waiting for
those things to come back.

10
00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:35,030
and the power
to take something back.

11
00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,200
if items were taken,
if items were given,

12
00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:39,470
I don't know.

13
00:00:39,500 --> 00:00:40,870
My concern is,
how can we get them

14
00:00:40,940 --> 00:00:42,070
Back to their proper home?

15
00:00:44,810 --> 00:00:46,910
in the days
of the british empire,

16
00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:48,340
Things were taken.

17
00:00:48,480 --> 00:00:50,880
They usually ended up
in museums and galleries

18
00:00:51,010 --> 00:00:52,280
With polite plaques.

19
00:00:53,220 --> 00:00:55,020
My name is marc fennell,

20
00:00:55,150 --> 00:00:57,680
And this is
the not-so-polite story

21
00:00:57,690 --> 00:00:59,590
Of how they really got there.

22
00:01:06,230 --> 00:01:07,290
hello.

23
00:01:07,330 --> 00:01:09,430
-Oh, hi there.
-How are you?

24
00:01:09,500 --> 00:01:11,360
-I'm not too bad. Yourself?
-Nice to meet you, I'm marc.

25
00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:12,630
Hi, marc. Jani.

26
00:01:12,770 --> 00:01:14,170
Welcome to our camp.

27
00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:15,770
This is amazing,
I've never seen one before.

28
00:01:15,900 --> 00:01:17,340
You've never seen
a tipi before?

29
00:01:17,470 --> 00:01:18,770
No.

30
00:01:18,810 --> 00:01:21,310
jani red gun
is from siksika,

31
00:01:21,310 --> 00:01:23,110
One of the nations
of the blackfoot people,

32
00:01:23,150 --> 00:01:26,050
Who have lived in this part
of canada for centuries.

33
00:01:26,050 --> 00:01:27,920
But it was really only
in the last few years

34
00:01:28,050 --> 00:01:30,780
That jani and his family
decided to build this.

35
00:01:33,260 --> 00:01:35,560
I was actually raised
in the downtown area,

36
00:01:35,620 --> 00:01:37,190
Inner core of the city.

37
00:01:37,230 --> 00:01:38,890
But ultimately,
when I was a kid,

38
00:01:38,960 --> 00:01:40,930
I've always been
more connected to my family,

39
00:01:40,930 --> 00:01:43,530
My grandparents,
my ancestral roots.

40
00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:45,270
Especially this culture

41
00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:47,400
-That is disappearing.
-Yeah.

42
00:01:47,540 --> 00:01:49,500
There's very few people
who'll do it.

43
00:01:50,940 --> 00:01:53,410
camps like jani's
used to be everywhere here.

44
00:01:53,540 --> 00:01:55,070
The lands of
the blackfoot people

45
00:01:55,110 --> 00:01:58,080
Once spanned across
a huge area of western canada,

46
00:01:58,210 --> 00:02:00,150
And down into
the united states.

47
00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:02,620
They moved seasonally,
following herds of

48
00:02:02,620 --> 00:02:05,420
Their most important resource,
the buffalo.

49
00:02:05,550 --> 00:02:07,490
Speaking of which...

50
00:02:07,620 --> 00:02:09,420
Go ahead and stretch it out
anyway you wish.

51
00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:10,820
The fur's going to be
on the outside,

52
00:02:10,890 --> 00:02:12,160
Or at the bottom,
the bottom, sorry.

53
00:02:12,290 --> 00:02:13,690
-You want fur on the bottom?
-Yeah.

54
00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:15,700
Jani has decided
to put me to work.

55
00:02:15,830 --> 00:02:17,970
He is teaching me
how to tan a hide.

56
00:02:19,300 --> 00:02:21,770
Traditionally, the hide was
also used for clothing.

57
00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:24,440
Some of that clothing
would be used for ceremonies,

58
00:02:24,570 --> 00:02:26,840
In which case, it
would be called "regalia,"

59
00:02:26,980 --> 00:02:29,180
And that is why I'm here.

60
00:02:29,210 --> 00:02:31,710
The regalia of one of
the most important leaders

61
00:02:31,710 --> 00:02:33,780
Of the blackfoot people,

62
00:02:33,780 --> 00:02:35,580
Chief crowfoot.

63
00:02:36,620 --> 00:02:40,850
Um, I wanted to ask you
about crowfoot.

64
00:02:40,860 --> 00:02:44,860
He was a very special chief.

65
00:02:44,890 --> 00:02:46,490
Chief crowfoot was

66
00:02:46,530 --> 00:02:48,660
A really great leader
to the people.

67
00:02:48,730 --> 00:02:51,200
He helped us at
a very special

68
00:02:51,330 --> 00:02:52,830
And unique time
in our history.

69
00:02:53,870 --> 00:02:55,400
but, when it comes to

70
00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:57,470
The regalia of chief crowfoot,

71
00:02:57,510 --> 00:02:59,140
There is a problem.

72
00:02:59,210 --> 00:03:01,470
Some say it was stolen.

73
00:03:01,540 --> 00:03:03,080
all I know

74
00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,080
Is chief crowfoot's regalia

75
00:03:05,110 --> 00:03:07,010
Is in a place
it does not belong.

76
00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:09,950
that place is here.

77
00:03:09,950 --> 00:03:11,950
For almost 150 years,

78
00:03:11,990 --> 00:03:14,350
Chief crowfoot's regalia
has been held

79
00:03:14,490 --> 00:03:16,420
By the royal albert
memorial museum

80
00:03:16,460 --> 00:03:17,360
In exeter.

81
00:03:17,490 --> 00:03:19,290
His bow, a blade,

82
00:03:19,330 --> 00:03:20,690
A sacred war shirt,

83
00:03:20,700 --> 00:03:22,160
Somehow ended up

84
00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:23,730
Thousands of kilometres away

85
00:03:23,730 --> 00:03:25,430
From blackfoot lands.

86
00:03:25,570 --> 00:03:28,700
And their journey is
shrouded in mystery.

87
00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:32,240
So who actually was crowfoot?

88
00:03:32,270 --> 00:03:34,370
Why is he considered
so important?

89
00:03:34,380 --> 00:03:36,240
And most importantly,

90
00:03:36,380 --> 00:03:38,450
Why would somebody
want his stuff?

91
00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:43,050
I'm on my way to meet someone

92
00:03:43,090 --> 00:03:44,650
Who has dedicated his life

93
00:03:44,790 --> 00:03:47,190
To blackfoot history
and knowledge.

94
00:03:47,260 --> 00:03:48,590
I'm marc, by the way.
It's nice to meet you.

95
00:03:48,590 --> 00:03:50,090
-Marc. Kent.
-Kent.

96
00:03:51,230 --> 00:03:53,390
kent ayoungman
sits on the council

97
00:03:53,430 --> 00:03:55,330
Of siksika nation.

98
00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:57,060
One of the reasons why
I wanted to talk to you is,

99
00:03:57,070 --> 00:04:00,800
I'm trying to understand
who crowfoot was.

100
00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,270
He was the leader
of the moccasin clan.

101
00:04:04,270 --> 00:04:07,940
There was a whole governance
system amongst each clan

102
00:04:07,980 --> 00:04:09,610
Amongst the blackfoot people,

103
00:04:09,610 --> 00:04:11,480
And people were put there

104
00:04:11,610 --> 00:04:16,750
On how they had the ability
to protect their people

105
00:04:16,890 --> 00:04:20,950
And to bring fortune,
to bring good things.

106
00:04:20,990 --> 00:04:23,460
Crowfoot isapo-muxika,

107
00:04:23,530 --> 00:04:26,360
He had a relationship
with the newcomers,

108
00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:28,030
The early white people.

109
00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,300
And due to that
relationship,

110
00:04:30,330 --> 00:04:32,300
They trusted him to be,

111
00:04:32,330 --> 00:04:35,970
Kind of that main spokesman
for the blackfoot people.

112
00:04:37,510 --> 00:04:39,470
so, crowfoot is
a leader, is a diplomat,

113
00:04:39,470 --> 00:04:41,040
And has some kind of
relationship

114
00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:42,310
With the white settlers.

115
00:04:43,650 --> 00:04:45,980
But would he give them
something like a war shirt?

116
00:04:47,150 --> 00:04:49,950
Just how important were
these items to crowfoot?

117
00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:53,250
- hello.
- oh, hello.

118
00:04:53,260 --> 00:04:55,720
-How are you?
-Yeah, good to see you.

119
00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:58,060
that is why I'm here.

120
00:04:58,130 --> 00:04:59,990
Siksika elder
clarence wolfleg

121
00:05:00,130 --> 00:05:01,160
Believes that
there is something

122
00:05:01,300 --> 00:05:02,760
About crowfoot's clothing

123
00:05:02,900 --> 00:05:04,430
That's been overlooked.

124
00:05:05,870 --> 00:05:08,770
You have to attain the respect

125
00:05:08,900 --> 00:05:11,340
And qualify to wear
a shirt like that.

126
00:05:11,370 --> 00:05:13,940
When warriors go into battle,

127
00:05:13,980 --> 00:05:17,680
When people do honourable
and brave things,

128
00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:20,110
It's, you really equate it
to the military.

129
00:05:21,150 --> 00:05:24,680
The military gets
a very plain uniform,

130
00:05:24,690 --> 00:05:25,820
And as they go on,

131
00:05:25,850 --> 00:05:27,220
They started to put

132
00:05:27,290 --> 00:05:29,690
Citations and medals,

133
00:05:29,830 --> 00:05:31,830
Insignias, and ranks.

134
00:05:32,930 --> 00:05:34,760
clarence was
a warrior himself

135
00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:37,330
Who served with
the canadian army and the un.

136
00:05:39,770 --> 00:05:42,970
And he's brought me here
to siksika's own museum

137
00:05:42,970 --> 00:05:46,310
To show me that
each regalia is unique,

138
00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:48,710
And it's loaded with meaning.

139
00:05:48,780 --> 00:05:50,980
so the basic
warrior shirt

140
00:05:50,980 --> 00:05:54,050
Has hair fringes,
special designs,

141
00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:57,220
Some of the powers
of the thunder, the sun,

142
00:05:57,290 --> 00:05:59,990
They carry all those
into battle.

143
00:06:00,060 --> 00:06:02,590
So, for example,
on crowfoot's regalia

144
00:06:02,590 --> 00:06:04,590
Is actually the tail
of a weasel.

145
00:06:04,730 --> 00:06:07,960
So the weasel is
a very cunning

146
00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:09,930
And courageous animal.

147
00:06:09,970 --> 00:06:12,030
So they use the weasel tail

148
00:06:12,030 --> 00:06:14,530
To take the spirit
of the animal

149
00:06:14,670 --> 00:06:18,070
To the battlefield
to have courage.

150
00:06:18,110 --> 00:06:21,040
So that's why that shirt's
very important.

151
00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:25,080
so for years,
the museum in britain

152
00:06:25,210 --> 00:06:27,450
Refused to return
crowfoot's regalia.

153
00:06:27,580 --> 00:06:30,280
But, they did invite
a blackfoot delegation

154
00:06:30,290 --> 00:06:33,350
To view
chief crowfoot's belongings,

155
00:06:33,390 --> 00:06:35,020
And kent ayoungman was there.

156
00:06:36,330 --> 00:06:39,030
So, they had everything ready
for the group to view,

157
00:06:39,090 --> 00:06:43,430
And they had that cloth
over those items.

158
00:06:43,470 --> 00:06:45,700
So when we all walked in,

159
00:06:45,830 --> 00:06:47,370
We stood there,
and then...

160
00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:49,500
It was quiet.

161
00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,840
And when they unrolled
that cloth,

162
00:06:55,610 --> 00:06:57,640
There was emotion.

163
00:06:57,710 --> 00:06:59,910
Some of the older folks,
they got emotional.

164
00:06:59,980 --> 00:07:02,920
And to think about these items

165
00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:06,290
Being worn by crowfoot
at one point in time.

166
00:07:06,420 --> 00:07:09,420
I kind of start to get
goose bumps, eh?

167
00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:12,930
I felt honoured, really.

168
00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,730
How did crowfoot's items,
his war shirt,

169
00:07:15,860 --> 00:07:18,500
How did they get over
to the uk?

170
00:07:18,630 --> 00:07:21,730
Well, as far as I know,

171
00:07:21,740 --> 00:07:23,470
Nobody really knows.

172
00:07:24,540 --> 00:07:26,470
Would he have given up
something so sacred?

173
00:07:26,510 --> 00:07:29,340
I don't think so.
I don't think so.

174
00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:37,820
crowfoot's
regalia somehow

175
00:07:37,820 --> 00:07:39,690
Made its way
from here in canada

176
00:07:39,690 --> 00:07:42,060
All the way
to a museum in the uk.

177
00:07:42,060 --> 00:07:44,360
But that museum itself
does offer some clues

178
00:07:44,490 --> 00:07:45,690
As to how this all happened.

179
00:07:45,690 --> 00:07:47,230
When you go
into the records

180
00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:48,900
Of the royal albert
memorial museum,

181
00:07:48,930 --> 00:07:50,430
The place which has housed
crowfoot's regalia

182
00:07:50,500 --> 00:07:51,830
For well over a hundred years,

183
00:07:51,830 --> 00:07:53,770
There's actually a report
back from 1878

184
00:07:53,900 --> 00:07:55,170
Of a woman loaning them

185
00:07:55,300 --> 00:07:57,370
What we now know to be
crowfoot's regalia.

186
00:07:57,370 --> 00:07:59,040
But the interesting part
is this.

187
00:07:59,110 --> 00:08:00,640
She reckons it came
from her brother.

188
00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:02,780
A guy who has
a very interesting history

189
00:08:02,910 --> 00:08:03,980
Here in canada.

190
00:08:04,050 --> 00:08:06,450
A guy by the name
of cecil denny.

191
00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:11,220
So, who was this cecil denny
guy, and how did he end up

192
00:08:11,250 --> 00:08:13,920
In what is now
modern-day alberta, canada?

193
00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:15,860
Well, to find out,
I've come to fort calgary,

194
00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:17,590
Not far from siksika,

195
00:08:17,590 --> 00:08:19,130
To meet allison graham.

196
00:08:19,190 --> 00:08:20,790
Hey, welcome to fort calgary.

197
00:08:20,830 --> 00:08:22,090
-Thank you for having me.
-Yeah.

198
00:08:23,370 --> 00:08:25,730
allison is a historian
and programme manager

199
00:08:25,770 --> 00:08:27,600
Here at fort calgary.

200
00:08:27,740 --> 00:08:30,840
Fort calgary is
a museum right now.

201
00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:32,200
But historically,

202
00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:35,070
It was north-west
mounted police fort,

203
00:08:35,140 --> 00:08:37,940
Founded in 1875 on this site.

204
00:08:39,110 --> 00:08:40,680
and the
north-west mounted police

205
00:08:40,680 --> 00:08:42,680
Are instrumental to this story.

206
00:08:42,680 --> 00:08:43,750
So at this point,

207
00:08:43,790 --> 00:08:45,350
Canada was a dominion,

208
00:08:45,490 --> 00:08:46,820
This jigsaw piece

209
00:08:46,890 --> 00:08:49,020
Within the global
british empire.

210
00:08:49,090 --> 00:08:51,890
But it's also
a huge jigsaw piece,

211
00:08:51,890 --> 00:08:53,360
Millions of kilometres.

212
00:08:54,830 --> 00:08:56,560
The north-west mounted police
were sent by the government

213
00:08:56,700 --> 00:08:59,170
To establish law and order
for the new settlers.

214
00:09:00,340 --> 00:09:03,300
And that is where
cecil denny comes in.

215
00:09:03,310 --> 00:09:04,440
he was born
in England,

216
00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:05,640
And once he was here,

217
00:09:05,670 --> 00:09:08,240
He was a fairly
high-level person

218
00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:09,780
For the
north-west mounted police.

219
00:09:10,710 --> 00:09:12,010
he came on
the March west

220
00:09:12,050 --> 00:09:14,180
Where the government
started doing treaties

221
00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,120
With the indigenous people
for access to land,

222
00:09:17,190 --> 00:09:20,520
And in blackfoot territory
it was called treaty no. 7.

223
00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:24,590
Now, that document
features signatures

224
00:09:24,730 --> 00:09:27,730
Of both cecil denny
and chief crowfoot.

225
00:09:27,860 --> 00:09:29,200
So could it be

226
00:09:29,230 --> 00:09:31,460
That crowfoot somehow
gave his regalia

227
00:09:31,530 --> 00:09:33,800
To cecil denny at this point?

228
00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:36,070
it is
a bit of a mystery.

229
00:09:36,140 --> 00:09:37,740
I don't have
such a clear understanding,

230
00:09:37,810 --> 00:09:40,740
But it's possible that
he received crowfoot's regalia

231
00:09:40,740 --> 00:09:43,880
At the signing of the treaty
or shortly thereafter.

232
00:09:43,950 --> 00:09:46,610
There's ideas that
crowfoot and denny

233
00:09:46,620 --> 00:09:47,610
Were best friends.

234
00:09:47,750 --> 00:09:48,750
You know, really close.

235
00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:50,750
Where do
we get that idea from?

236
00:09:50,820 --> 00:09:52,090
We get that idea from

237
00:09:52,150 --> 00:09:53,820
The north-west mounted
police themselves.

238
00:09:53,890 --> 00:09:55,590
-Right. Okay.

239
00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:59,560
Cecil denny himself
wrote a lot about himself.

240
00:09:59,630 --> 00:10:03,430
And so his memoirs share
a lot of information,

241
00:10:03,570 --> 00:10:06,370
But we have to take that
with some caution, right?

242
00:10:06,370 --> 00:10:08,100
They were diplomats,

243
00:10:08,140 --> 00:10:10,770
They were negotiating
different sides.

244
00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:14,170
So, it could have been
technically a "gift,"

245
00:10:14,180 --> 00:10:15,840
But it's hard to know
what that gift

246
00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,780
Actually would've meant
to crowfoot and to denny.

247
00:10:20,650 --> 00:10:22,580
so we know that
the regalia gets to the uk

248
00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:24,050
Via this guy named cecil denny.

249
00:10:24,090 --> 00:10:25,390
The question is how?

250
00:10:25,450 --> 00:10:26,720
Well, it seems like it happens
in the midst

251
00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:28,120
Of a major event,

252
00:10:28,190 --> 00:10:31,460
An event that has drastically
reshaped this land.

253
00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,200
So, where are we?

254
00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:42,070
Well, we're overlooking
the area

255
00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:45,610
Where the blackfoot people
signed treaty 7.

256
00:10:45,740 --> 00:10:47,310
dr gabrielle lindstrom

257
00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,280
Is a researcher and member
of the kainaiwa nation,

258
00:10:50,310 --> 00:10:52,950
Which is another of
the blackfoot nations.

259
00:10:54,020 --> 00:10:56,020
so imagine,
we've got camps

260
00:10:56,050 --> 00:10:58,080
Of hundreds of people,

261
00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:01,090
And so there was lots of
ceremony that was happening.

262
00:11:01,220 --> 00:11:02,990
Lots of praying.

263
00:11:02,990 --> 00:11:04,620
You know, lots of dialogue.

264
00:11:06,060 --> 00:11:07,690
This is serious business.

265
00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:09,500
Very sacred times.

266
00:11:09,630 --> 00:11:13,570
Because the future
of our people was at stake.

267
00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:15,600
What was leading up to
the signing of that treaty?

268
00:11:15,740 --> 00:11:17,640
What were the circumstances
that led to it?

269
00:11:18,870 --> 00:11:21,370
The events leading up to
the signing of the treaty

270
00:11:21,410 --> 00:11:23,780
Really coincide with,

271
00:11:23,850 --> 00:11:25,650
With the opening up
of the west.

272
00:11:26,780 --> 00:11:30,050
New settlers are
encroaching more and more

273
00:11:30,050 --> 00:11:31,580
On these territories,

274
00:11:31,650 --> 00:11:34,520
And contact initially
brought disease,

275
00:11:34,560 --> 00:11:36,660
Particularly smallpox.

276
00:11:36,790 --> 00:11:39,160
The dead were so numerous

277
00:11:39,190 --> 00:11:41,530
That people didn't even
have time to mourn.

278
00:11:42,460 --> 00:11:43,930
Another thing that hit us hard

279
00:11:43,970 --> 00:11:46,600
Was the intentional
slaughter of buffalo

280
00:11:46,670 --> 00:11:50,000
To ensure that first nations
didn't have access to food.

281
00:11:50,070 --> 00:11:52,070
It's literally impossible

282
00:11:52,140 --> 00:11:55,540
To carry on
the previous way of life.

283
00:11:55,680 --> 00:11:56,980
Like, you can't.

284
00:11:58,310 --> 00:12:00,410
this was the situation
facing chief crowfoot

285
00:12:00,550 --> 00:12:02,350
And all the other
indigenous leaders

286
00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:03,550
Here in this valley

287
00:12:03,690 --> 00:12:05,090
As they weighed up the prospect

288
00:12:05,220 --> 00:12:07,320
Of a treaty with the crown.

289
00:12:08,290 --> 00:12:10,090
when our people
were camped here

290
00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:11,690
Along this valley,

291
00:12:11,690 --> 00:12:15,160
The government had
their military

292
00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:16,100
Camped up on the hill,

293
00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:17,360
And they had cannons,

294
00:12:17,500 --> 00:12:20,300
And they were
shooting off those cannons

295
00:12:20,370 --> 00:12:21,370
Every so often

296
00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:22,900
Just to kind of demonstrate

297
00:12:22,900 --> 00:12:25,840
Their military might to,
to our people, I guess.

298
00:12:25,870 --> 00:12:30,510
You have our leaders
who are wanting to ensure

299
00:12:30,580 --> 00:12:32,250
The survival of our people.

300
00:12:32,380 --> 00:12:35,720
And so you enter into a treaty
with the canadian government,

301
00:12:35,780 --> 00:12:37,920
Or our people continue to die.

302
00:12:37,990 --> 00:12:40,390
So that was what was happening

303
00:12:40,390 --> 00:12:42,860
At the time of
the signing of treaty 7.

304
00:12:44,430 --> 00:12:47,460
sign, and the blackfoot
become british subjects,

305
00:12:47,460 --> 00:12:49,000
With the queen, no less,

306
00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:51,600
Promising annual payments
and education.

307
00:12:52,930 --> 00:12:54,530
No one knows exactly how

308
00:12:54,570 --> 00:12:56,670
Crowfoot's regalia
is handed over,

309
00:12:56,810 --> 00:12:59,870
But less than a year after
this treaty 7 is signed,

310
00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:01,340
It is in the uk.

311
00:13:02,310 --> 00:13:04,010
And it's possible that denny

312
00:13:04,010 --> 00:13:05,210
Purchased it from crowfoot,

313
00:13:05,210 --> 00:13:06,480
But really,

314
00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:08,850
It's kind of a matter
of opinion here.

315
00:13:10,150 --> 00:13:12,720
Well, from my understanding
of the history,

316
00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:14,520
Sir cecil denny,

317
00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:17,490
He was gifted it
by crowfoot himself.

318
00:13:17,560 --> 00:13:20,890
I guess I got to just take
that one with a grain of salt.

319
00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:22,500
You know, we don't really know,

320
00:13:22,630 --> 00:13:24,900
But that's just according
to their records,

321
00:13:24,900 --> 00:13:25,970
That's what they say.

322
00:13:26,030 --> 00:13:28,100
My reaction to that is,

323
00:13:28,100 --> 00:13:30,440
That's just an absolute
load of horse shit.

324
00:13:30,570 --> 00:13:31,900
That's my reaction.

325
00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:33,770
That just completely
angers me.

326
00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:35,980
But that's the settler
colonial narrative.

327
00:13:36,010 --> 00:13:38,980
But, the thing
about our people,

328
00:13:39,010 --> 00:13:40,910
-We're generous.
-Mm.

329
00:13:40,950 --> 00:13:43,920
If people admire something
that somebody's wearing,

330
00:13:43,950 --> 00:13:46,650
Well, they'll take it off them
and give it to that person

331
00:13:46,690 --> 00:13:47,990
Who admires these.

332
00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:49,790
To call that a gift is,

333
00:13:49,830 --> 00:13:51,660
It's infuriating to me

334
00:13:51,790 --> 00:13:53,960
Because that belongs
to the blackfoot people.

335
00:13:54,100 --> 00:13:55,860
That belongs to siksika.

336
00:13:55,860 --> 00:13:58,260
That belongs in the community.

337
00:14:02,740 --> 00:14:04,470
so,
at the core of this

338
00:14:04,540 --> 00:14:06,540
-Is a question for me, right?
-Mm.

339
00:14:06,670 --> 00:14:07,810
We have crowfoot's regalia

340
00:14:07,940 --> 00:14:10,610
That at the very moment
sits in the uk,

341
00:14:10,610 --> 00:14:12,010
And there's at least three

342
00:14:12,150 --> 00:14:13,680
Different possibilities
that are put to me.

343
00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:14,610
One is that it's a gift.

344
00:14:14,750 --> 00:14:16,650
One is that it was stolen.

345
00:14:16,650 --> 00:14:18,350
And the other,
that it was purchased.

346
00:14:18,420 --> 00:14:20,090
What's the most
plausible to you?

347
00:14:21,090 --> 00:14:22,090
Can it be a combination
of all three?

348
00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:23,160
Yeah, I mean, I guess so.

349
00:14:23,230 --> 00:14:24,590
I mean, I think even if we go

350
00:14:24,730 --> 00:14:25,690
With the gift theory,

351
00:14:25,830 --> 00:14:27,590
It was a gift
to seal something

352
00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:29,200
That ended up being dishonest

353
00:14:29,260 --> 00:14:31,700
On the part of
the canadian government.

354
00:14:31,730 --> 00:14:34,100
So, even if it was a gift,

355
00:14:34,100 --> 00:14:36,340
There's that coercive element
there as well.

356
00:14:37,340 --> 00:14:38,470
and that's
really the thing.

357
00:14:38,540 --> 00:14:40,510
Whatever happened
with the exchange

358
00:14:40,510 --> 00:14:41,840
Of crowfoot's regalia,

359
00:14:41,910 --> 00:14:43,240
It sits in the shadow

360
00:14:43,310 --> 00:14:45,780
Of a far darker handover.

361
00:14:45,780 --> 00:14:49,520
For blackfoot people,
treaty 7 was not what it seemed.

362
00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:50,780
in terms of
what the british,

363
00:14:50,820 --> 00:14:52,790
What the canadian government
are trying to do,

364
00:14:52,850 --> 00:14:55,190
Is it's basically for them

365
00:14:55,190 --> 00:14:57,520
Wanting to get
indigenous people

366
00:14:57,590 --> 00:14:58,860
To surrender their land.

367
00:14:58,890 --> 00:15:01,060
It was all about
negotiating a treaty

368
00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:03,100
That was not meant
to really benefit

369
00:15:03,130 --> 00:15:04,660
Indigenous people at all.

370
00:15:04,670 --> 00:15:06,370
And cecil denny and the
north-west mounted police

371
00:15:06,500 --> 00:15:07,400
Would've known that.

372
00:15:09,700 --> 00:15:11,740
when you're
standing here on this ground,

373
00:15:11,810 --> 00:15:13,740
It's impossible
not to put yourselves

374
00:15:13,780 --> 00:15:16,140
In the shoes of the people
that were here.

375
00:15:16,140 --> 00:15:17,380
When they signed that treaty,

376
00:15:17,450 --> 00:15:18,910
Could they possibly have known

377
00:15:19,050 --> 00:15:22,080
Everything that would flow
from this moment?

378
00:15:23,950 --> 00:15:27,750
With agreements like treaty 7
and other government policies,

379
00:15:27,890 --> 00:15:31,220
What flows is a profound
and devastating shift

380
00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:32,490
In blackfoot lives.

381
00:15:35,930 --> 00:15:37,900
shortly after
the signing of that treaty,

382
00:15:38,030 --> 00:15:40,430
Our people were
pretty much corralled

383
00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:42,100
On this strip of land here.

384
00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:44,300
Our people weren't
allowed to leave.

385
00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:46,910
Indigenous people
didn't drive themselves

386
00:15:46,940 --> 00:15:50,710
Into states of poverty
that we find ourselves now in.

387
00:15:50,850 --> 00:15:52,710
You know,
this was orchestrated,

388
00:15:52,710 --> 00:15:55,720
The orchestrated destruction
of a culture,

389
00:15:55,850 --> 00:15:58,520
Beginning with the disease

390
00:15:58,550 --> 00:16:01,250
And culminating in
the treaties

391
00:16:01,390 --> 00:16:02,860
And then the implementation

392
00:16:02,990 --> 00:16:04,920
Of the indian
residential schools

393
00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:07,260
And those policies
of genocide.

394
00:16:07,260 --> 00:16:10,530
And that is something
that is still ongoing today.

395
00:16:13,170 --> 00:16:15,740
residential schools
for indigenous children

396
00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:19,140
Have left incredible scars
on this land.

397
00:16:20,210 --> 00:16:22,540
I was put
in a residential school

398
00:16:22,540 --> 00:16:24,340
When I was three years old.

399
00:16:25,380 --> 00:16:26,850
we talked about
physical abuse,

400
00:16:26,850 --> 00:16:27,980
Psychological abuse,

401
00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:30,080
Of course, sexual abuse.

402
00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:32,150
we have hit

403
00:16:32,150 --> 00:16:36,220
751 unmarked graves.

404
00:16:37,290 --> 00:16:40,560
Too many children
did not make it home.

405
00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:46,300
Today, answers
still are needed.

406
00:16:48,540 --> 00:16:50,500
Some of the buildings
where this took place

407
00:16:50,540 --> 00:16:52,140
Still stand today.

408
00:16:53,510 --> 00:16:56,380
this is the old sun
indian residential school.

409
00:16:56,410 --> 00:16:58,840
Today, it's the old sun
community college.

410
00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:02,650
My mother went to this school.

411
00:17:02,780 --> 00:17:04,050
My aunties and uncles

412
00:17:04,190 --> 00:17:05,850
All went to this place here.

413
00:17:07,050 --> 00:17:08,520
They were taken
from their homes

414
00:17:08,660 --> 00:17:11,390
And put into
these types of places

415
00:17:12,090 --> 00:17:15,800
To "educate" our people.

416
00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:18,860
my grandparents,

417
00:17:18,930 --> 00:17:21,170
They went through
residential school.

418
00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:25,610
They were abused severely
and oppressed

419
00:17:25,740 --> 00:17:28,240
Where their culture
was viewed down upon.

420
00:17:28,980 --> 00:17:30,240
it stopped

421
00:17:30,310 --> 00:17:33,480
Our ceremonial way of life,
our language,

422
00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:36,920
Everything what it is
to be a blackfoot indian.

423
00:17:36,950 --> 00:17:39,820
'cause they were trying
to assimilate our people.

424
00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:43,690
they literally
went against

425
00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:45,220
Everything that we identified,

426
00:17:45,260 --> 00:17:46,760
Everything that
we belonged to.

427
00:17:46,890 --> 00:17:48,890
Because of that,
I think a lot of the elders

428
00:17:48,930 --> 00:17:50,430
And a lot of the people
are ashamed

429
00:17:50,570 --> 00:17:52,500
And kind of shunned
away from it.

430
00:17:52,630 --> 00:17:54,430
That's why I'm trying my best

431
00:17:54,500 --> 00:17:55,840
To preserve that culture

432
00:17:55,900 --> 00:17:57,170
Because it is disappearing.

433
00:17:59,510 --> 00:18:00,640
we're still healing.

434
00:18:01,910 --> 00:18:05,510
There's been slow recoveries,
but there's...

435
00:18:05,510 --> 00:18:08,050
I think we still have
a long ways to go.

436
00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:09,280
Mm.

437
00:18:09,420 --> 00:18:12,180
The way I look at it is,

438
00:18:12,250 --> 00:18:16,460
Any ceremonial items
we bring back to our community,

439
00:18:16,460 --> 00:18:19,530
We're bringing more
of who we are

440
00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:22,030
Back to the siksika people.

441
00:18:26,030 --> 00:18:28,470
when so much
has been taken,

442
00:18:28,470 --> 00:18:30,140
The fight to get
crowfoot's regalia

443
00:18:30,170 --> 00:18:32,140
Back to siksika

444
00:18:32,140 --> 00:18:34,940
Is part of a healing process
for a community.

445
00:18:38,210 --> 00:18:40,950
well, marc,
welcome to siksika nation.

446
00:18:41,020 --> 00:18:43,280
This is our council chambers.

447
00:18:44,890 --> 00:18:47,490
If items were stolen,
if items were taken,

448
00:18:47,620 --> 00:18:50,520
If items were given,
if items were sold,

449
00:18:50,590 --> 00:18:51,720
I don't know.

450
00:18:51,790 --> 00:18:54,090
I don't know
how they got over there.

451
00:18:54,100 --> 00:18:56,430
I'm not concerned
how they got over there.

452
00:18:56,500 --> 00:18:58,100
My concern is,
how can we get them back

453
00:18:58,230 --> 00:18:59,300
To their proper home?

454
00:19:00,740 --> 00:19:02,700
ever since he took up
the position of blackfoot chief,

455
00:19:02,770 --> 00:19:05,300
Ouray crowfoot has made
the return of the regalia

456
00:19:05,310 --> 00:19:06,510
One of his goals.

457
00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:10,010
I sit in this
chief's chair right here,

458
00:19:10,140 --> 00:19:12,650
And right behind me is,
over my left shoulder,

459
00:19:12,780 --> 00:19:14,580
Is my
great-great-great grandfather,

460
00:19:14,580 --> 00:19:17,150
Issapoomahksika, which is
crow indian bigfoot,

461
00:19:17,220 --> 00:19:18,620
Translates to crowfoot.

462
00:19:18,620 --> 00:19:20,520
We're here because
of the decisions

463
00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:22,460
That were made from our
previous chiefs,

464
00:19:22,590 --> 00:19:24,120
Our previous leaders,

465
00:19:24,190 --> 00:19:25,520
And we got to
keep that in mind

466
00:19:25,530 --> 00:19:27,190
For the future generations.

467
00:19:27,230 --> 00:19:28,460
So when we make
these decisions,

468
00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:31,200
How does it not just
impact siksika today,

469
00:19:31,330 --> 00:19:32,800
But how's it going to
impact siksika

470
00:19:32,930 --> 00:19:34,000
For generations to come?

471
00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:36,170
when he
took the role,

472
00:19:36,170 --> 00:19:37,940
Years of negotiations

473
00:19:37,940 --> 00:19:39,270
Between that uk museum

474
00:19:39,410 --> 00:19:40,870
And people here in siksika

475
00:19:41,010 --> 00:19:42,440
Had ground to a halt.

476
00:19:42,580 --> 00:19:43,680
But then...

477
00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:45,540
I had a phone call with exeter.

478
00:19:45,550 --> 00:19:47,350
And I told them,
"give it back to siksika.

479
00:19:47,420 --> 00:19:49,050
It's our items. You know,

480
00:19:49,180 --> 00:19:51,820
That's my great-great-great
grandfather's items.

481
00:19:51,820 --> 00:19:53,450
We need those things
back at siksika."

482
00:19:57,390 --> 00:20:00,690
Negotiations culminated in
a historic moment today

483
00:20:00,700 --> 00:20:02,830
When an exeter museum
handed back

484
00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:04,360
Parts of its collection

485
00:20:04,370 --> 00:20:06,030
To a delegation from canada.

486
00:20:06,100 --> 00:20:07,830
After ouray's call,

487
00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:10,440
Exeter city council,
who own the uk museum,

488
00:20:10,510 --> 00:20:11,770
Actually had to vote

489
00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:13,570
On whether to return
the items.

490
00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:15,310
After a unanimous
vote, chaired,

491
00:20:15,310 --> 00:20:17,180
And the resolution
has been carried.

492
00:20:17,310 --> 00:20:18,680
and today,

493
00:20:18,750 --> 00:20:22,650
For the first time
in over 140 years,

494
00:20:22,650 --> 00:20:26,050
Crowfoot's regalia
is coming home.

495
00:20:29,260 --> 00:20:31,790
what does it mean,
to have those gifts back here?

496
00:20:33,190 --> 00:20:35,130
I believe, you know,
the spirit of the warriors,

497
00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:37,730
The spirit of
the gifts that came,

498
00:20:37,730 --> 00:20:42,200
Even though their home
has been placed someplace,

499
00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:45,400
The spirits are waiting for
those things to come back.

500
00:20:46,470 --> 00:20:47,610
now, it's up to us

501
00:20:47,740 --> 00:20:50,780
To bring this way back
to our family,

502
00:20:50,850 --> 00:20:52,510
Our way of life.

503
00:20:52,510 --> 00:20:55,150
To raise our children with...
.

504
00:20:55,150 --> 00:20:57,750
Our songs, our sun dance,

505
00:20:57,750 --> 00:20:59,620
And our ceremonies
throughout the year.

506
00:21:18,170 --> 00:21:19,610
what makes you proud?

507
00:21:19,610 --> 00:21:21,740
Being blackfoot
makes me proud.

508
00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:23,510
And the fact that
we're still here.

509
00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:27,180
These regalia, these items,

510
00:21:27,220 --> 00:21:31,150
They're so deeply connected
to blackfoot identity.

511
00:21:33,150 --> 00:21:34,590
They need to be back

512
00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:38,460
Because they give our people
our strength,

513
00:21:38,460 --> 00:21:41,160
And they allow us
to be connected

514
00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:45,930
With those long-time
knowledges and protocols

515
00:21:45,930 --> 00:21:50,800
That shape who we are today
as niitsitapi people.

516
00:21:53,310 --> 00:21:55,570
Being blackfoot,
it's an honour,

517
00:21:55,580 --> 00:21:57,940
An absolute honour,
and a gift.