Bloods break with tradition

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The opening last month of a Beaver Bundle off the Blood reserve is the first time the tribe has permitted that.

"This is one of the first ceremonies to be done outside of our reservation," Rob First Charger, a member of the Blood band council, told an audience of dignitaries on the lawn of the Galt Museum and Archives in Lethbridge.

"I approved this being done to bring our way of life to the people (of Lethbridge). To make them understand, to bring good relationships between the races, so we can live in harmony," said Art Calling Last, who three years ago transferred the rights of the bundle to his son Orlando.

The Beaver Bundle has not always been in Calling Last's family, although his grandfather held the rights.

George Calling Last transferred the bundle to a man who took it to the Provincial Museum in Edmonton in 1968. It was repatriated from the museum three years ago.

"This is a rare and unique day," said Gene Zwozdesky, minister of community development. "It's a day of celebrating messages of peace and harmony."

It is not the repatriation of the bundle that is significant alone, said Orlando Calling Last, it is the fact that the opening of the most sacred of belongings of the Blackfoot Nation is taking place off- reserve.

"With this respect maybe the rest of Alberta will look at us and say they're living in harmony, why can't we?" said Orlando Calling Last.

"The Galt Museum is honored to be able to host this ceremony," said Devin Cahoon, special events co-ordinator. "The ceremony is to create better harmony and unity between the Blood reserve and the community of Lethbridge."

The five-hour ceremony was led by Allan Pard of the Peigan Nation, and Carol Melting Tallow, who also had the bundle transferred to her along with the younger Calling Last. Almost every animal is represented in the ceremony by either pelts or dance.