Elders explain copy of tipi-liner

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Elders from the Peigan and Sarcee reserves gathered together recently to unveil a tipi-liner and interpret its pictographical paintings for the benefit of the following generations.

The tipi-liner, a copy of a Sarcee tipi-liner made about 1910, consists of paintings in a story form. Many people have forgotten the original meanings of the paintings so the Elders from the two bands gathered together and recited the story.

The tipi-liner was made in Calgary's Glenbow museum last year and was exhibited in the Alberta Pavilion at Expo '86 in Vancouver. Now the detailed story is being returned to the Sarcee people for display at the Sarcee Museum says curator, Helen Meguinnis. "We are really happy to have the tipi-liner," says Meguinnis. "And we are so happy that Elders could come today and celebrate with us."

The meeting began with a prayer, then a pipe ceremony performed upon buffalo-skin rugs. Then the Elders gathered around the tipi-liner and discussed the meanings of the various pictures.

"The original tipi-liner is still in the Glenbow museum," says curator Liza Churchill, "but we have contributed many other artifacts to the Sarcee people and to other bands."

After the Elders' interpretation, Meguinnis explained the paintings to the gathering, painting that the pictograph depicts a war party and that the paintings drawn in black paint indicated the story took place at night.

"We will be doing further interpretations and hope to have a full meaning set down," added Meguinnis.