Exhibit breaks down stereotypes

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A new exhibit at the Fort Museum, in Fort Macleod, about half an hour's drive west of Lethbridge, is a collaborative effort between members of the nearby Blood and Peigan tribes and the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

"With all our exhibits, we try to break the stereotypes, tell the accurate story. It's the same thing with 'Legends of Our Times - Native Cowboy Life'," said Ron Ulrich, executive director of the Fort Museum. "We're breaking the typical stereotypes with cowboys and Indians."

In the surrounding community, he pointed out, breaking the stereotype is not that difficult. There is a strong history and present-day culture of ranchers on the reserves and cowboys who ride the Indian Rodeo Circuit.

But for Europeans who visit the Fort, the exhibit, which opened March 10 and runs through to June 17, has been an eye opener. Many come to Canada still expecting to see the traditional head dress and buckskin dressed Native person.

The exhibit shows the importance of the horse to Aboriginal people, tracing the traditional ways of life prior to settlement on reserves and how that traditional life changed and grew to include rodeo and ranching.

Expanding the exhibit is an interactive school program, which has proven to be popular already. The guided tour of the exhibit includes hands-on activities for the children, which have been enhanced by Native participation.

"We started with a snack in a tipi," said Ulrich, "but have ended up with a whole feast."

Elders are there to take the children through prayers, teaching them the traditions and culture.

"It's so good to see that," said Ulrich. "The richness in the programming is there because of the people involved."