Stone is a symbol of determination and marks move for repatriation

A vision, support from Alberta First Nations, and blueprints for a ceremonial lodge are all reasons why it is time for the Manitou Stone to be repatriated.

“Somebody had a vision last winter and they asked me if they could go for it and I said yes, sure … take another run at getting the rock out of that museum,” said Vincent Steinhauer, president of the Blue Quills First Nation College.

Next spring, the college will begin construction of Turtle Lodge, says Steinhauer, which could house the meteorite, which fell to the earth centuries ago near Iron Creek, in eastern Alberta.

The sacred rock, also known as Old Man Buffalo because ribstones on the rock resemble the horned head of a buffalo, has been on display at the Royal Alberta Museum, in Edmonton, since 2001. It is Canada’s second largest iron meteorite.

 “We just want it out of (the museum) so it’s open 24/7, for people to do ceremony,” said Steinhauer, who performs ceremony.

Steinhauer’s cousin Stewart Steinhauer led the charge in 2002 to repatriate the rock. Stewart, a rock carver, has an “intimate relationship with the Rock Spirit,” says Steinhauer, who adds that his cousin’s attempts were thwarted by the government, claiming there was no secured premise to house the rock and that the First Nations in Alberta were not all in agreement.

That has changed, says Steinhauer, noting that there are letters of consent from both the Blackfoot and Cree supporting the repatriation of the Manitou Stone.

According to lore,  the rock fell and marked the peace between the two warring Nations of the Blackfoot and the Cree.

“The rock is sacred because it came from the Creator. It was a signal to the people that the Creator was watching. Whenever that rock was there, our livelihoods would be protected and watched over,” said Steinhauer. “And ever since they took it away, we’ve been experiencing hunger and death, disease, wars. Everything that was prophesied to happen if it got taken would happen and it’s happened.”

The rock was taken by Methodist minister Rev. George McDougall to Pakan Mission near Smoky Lake before being moved to Lac Ste. Anne. In 1886, it was sent east to the Victoria University in Cobourg, Ont. From there it went to the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. The rock came back west when the Royal Alberta Museum’s new Aboriginal gallery was opened.

“Having that rock back in ceremony would be a good thing. Just about every ceremony has got the rock in it …as a symbol of determination,” said Steinhauer.

He admits he is not optimistic about the success of repatriating the rock.

“They’re probably looking over their shoulders thinking, ‘No, no, these guys want a rock back, now what? First it’s a rock, then it’s all their land,’” said Steinhauer.

No formal request for repatriation of the Manitou Stone has been received yet, said John Tuckwell, spokesperson for Alberta Culture.