Educating people about Native culture a way of life

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Pointing out the positive aspects of traditional lifesyles has been more than a job for Helen Meguinis who has been curator of the Sarcee Peoples Museum near Calgary for the past ten years.

She has a personal "code of ethics" that requires her to continue educating people about Natives despite retiring from the job on Oct. 31.

After ten years, her final days of sharing her knowledge and expertise at the museum on an official basis has ended. But a lifetime of working for and with people won't end so abruptly, she insists.

She says she' going to keep coming to the museum to volunteer her skills.

Meguinis, 66, says it's been difficult at times to show her people there is a difference between traditional and contemporary lifestyles of the Tsuu T'ina people.

She believes Native groups have placed too much of an emphasis on politics and have forgotten about their roots.

And Meguinis says she's going to fight to maintain the teachings of the Indian traditions because "our leaders are losing their focus.

"They are in charge, but they can still learn from me," she says.

"We want our young people to get educated, but we don't want them to forget their traditions."

It is her compassion for the younger generation that gives Meguinis her incentive to share her wisdom and knowledge.

She still belongs to elders' groups that go to Alberta prisons to offer spiritual healing for Native inmates.

Meguinis feels it's her job to comfort Indian people and remind them of their ancient history.

"My heart cries out for my people. They need to remember (their heritage)," she adds.

The Sarcee Peoples Museum, located in the reserve's sports arena on the southwest corner of Calgary, has been an attraction for visitors from around the world.

"Especially during the (1988) Olympics. We had about 200 people come here," said Meguinis.

"The Europeans were really interested. We even had the Russians in here."

Meguinis says her most prized accomplishment while museum curator has been to show the young people from Calgary about the Tsuu T'ina people from the Sarcee Nation.

"Sometimes we would get 100 students. It felt good to share this with them," she beamed.

The museum includes vivid displays of traditional and ceremonial Native dress. There are ancient hunting tools, weapons and authentic teepees.