ABORIGINAL ARTIFACTS STOLEN

Released on September 26, 2001

The Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM) and the Fort Qu'Appelle RCMP are asking

for the public's assistance in finding historical artifacts stolen from the

Treaty Four Archival Centre in Fort Qu'Appelle on September 13th. The

artifacts were on loan to the Archival Centre from the RSM.



Three pairs of beaded moccasins and a beaded belt with a knife sheath and

awl case were stolen from sealed display cases. Two pairs of the moccasins

have dark blue, light blue and yellow geometric patterns on a white beaded

background. The third has dark red and white patterns on a blue beaded

background. The belt and sheath set has white, black and yellow beadwork.



The artifacts are one-of-a kind and high quality examples of beading

employed on First Nations clothing during the early 1900s. One pair of

moccasins were of Assiniboin origin and were probably used for ceremonial

purposes. Another pair belonged to Chief James Blackman of Little Pine

Cree First Nation. Blackman was chief of Little Pine from the 1930s to

1957. This is a tragic loss to the Aboriginal community, the Royal

Saskatchewan Museum and the province.



More detailed descriptions of the artifacts can be found at the RSM website

at: http://www.royalsaskmuseum.ca/



Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these items is asked to call

the Fort Qu'Appelle RCMP at (306) 332-2222 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-

8477.



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For more information, contact:



Heather Russell Patrick Hall

Media Relations Municipal Affairs and Housing

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Regina

Phone: (306) 780-6178 Phone: (306) 787-0689