MUSEUM ACQUIRES LATE 1800'S CHILDREN'S CLOTHING

Released on May 21, 2003

The Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM) celebrated International Museum Day, May 18th, by announcing the recent acquisition of two unique children's clothing items that will provide information about children in First Nations culture of 100 years ago.

"Children's clothing is rare in Canadian museum collections," Culture, Youth and Recreation Minister Joanne Crofford said. "These items offer us an opportunity to expand our awareness of both continuity and change in First Nations artistic traditions and clothing styles at the end of the nineteenth century."

The Plains Cree child's dress and child's shirt will be given a full conservation treatment before being placed in the First Nations Ethnology collection at the RSM. The dress consists of a set of beaded panels applied to a hand-sewn cotton dress of European design. The shirt consists of a set of five beaded panels applied to a blue stroud (wool) jacket.

"The clothing is important in understanding the history of the Cree and Saulteaux in the late 1800's in Saskatchewan because we know little about traditional practices surrounding children's clothing," Curator of Aboriginal History Dr. Margaret Hanna said.

This acquisition was a great opportunity for the RSM to join with federal and provincial Heritage counterparts to bring an important part of our history to Saskatchewan. The clothing was acquired by the RSM in partnership with the Department of Canadian Heritage, and the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation.

The provincial government fully funds the RSM as part of its commitment to provide the people of Saskatchewan with opportunities for appreciation and understanding of our natural and cultural heritage.

-30-

For More Information, Contact:

Penny Pedersen Culture, Youth and Recreation - RSM Regina Phone: (306)787-2850 Email: ppedersen@cyr.gov.sk.ca