Native People in Calgary

Page 16

Calgary's City Hall unveils sculpture of Sarcee chief

For the Crowchild family of the Sarcee reserve near Calgary, Jan. 27 was a day for them to see their memories of ancestor Chief David Crowchild immortalized in sculpture.

And for Nelson Gutnik, it was a day to have his work with and for Native people honoured with the presentation of the Chief David Crowchild memorial award.

The dual ceremony took place at Calgary's City Hall with more than 150 spectators on hand to witness the unveiling of the sculpture and the presentation of the award.

"My father was a friend of all people and all ages," said Victoria Crowchild-Aberdeen, the only daughter of Chief Crowchild. "He based his life on four absolute values; honesty, purity, unselfishness and love."

The sculpture, by Robert Stowell, wraps its way up three story pillar in the city hall's foyer. Around the base of the pillar are four tipi reliefs, "two are plain, there are no paintings on them," explained, Crowchild-Aberdeen, who worked with Stowell in designing the sculpture.

"These represent honesty and purity. On the other two sides of the pillar are two tipis with designs of my father's tipi, the bee. These stand for the unselfishness and the love," she said.

All the doors are open signifying my father's love for everyone no matter what color their skin was."

Above the tipis is a relief design of the buckskin worn by Crowchild, also a beaded bridle representing Crowchild's involvement in the Calgary Stampede, a knife symbolizing the cutting of the ribbon opening Crowchild Trail Freeway, a glove representing a handshake and a pipe symbolizing his culture.

"At the very top of the pillar is an eagle," said Crowchild-Aberdeen. "On the day he died, high in the sky circled four eagles."

"This sculpture reminds us that the Indian culture is alive and vibrant," said award recipient, Nelson Gutnik. Of the award, Gutnik said he was "truly honoured" to receive it.

Gutnik was active in the Native community in Saskatchewan where he worked in social welfare in 1951 to 1961. Gutnik is a member of the Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee and is a also a member of the social studies faculty at the University of Calgary.

Mayor Ralph Klein offered greetings from the city and helped the Crowchild family in the unveiling of the relief sculpture.

"(Chief Crowchild) was a man who lived by a standard of principles," said Klein, "unselfishness and love."

This is the third year the award was presented. The award is presented to a member of the community who plays an active role in contributing to the community.

The award is named after Chief David Crowchild who was a great contributor to the Native and non-Native community alike.

Klein gave a chronology on Crowchild's contributions, including his early work with the Indian Association of Alberta, his activities with the Calgary Stampede and his involvement with the Moral Rearmament.

"In the years to come, this (the sculpture) will remain a part of the City of Calgary," said Crowchild-Aberdeen. "And that link between two cultures that bridge this gap will always remain."