Dear Editor
When I was a child, I was lucky to have around me people whom I could admire. My far-away heroes and heroine were King George and Queen Elizabeth and Chief Poundmaker. Now why would I as a child be informed much about Chief Poundmaker? Well, our neighbour just down the road, a former schoolteacher, was a student of Western history; she knew the grandson of Chief Poundmaker. My mother, too, was interested in our history. She would relate tales of the Cree in our area and of the family of black people (from England!) who had homesteaded across the creek from her parents. And for several years we had a schoolteacher who was also a person who cared about our history.
And then there was, to me, and also to others in the school, the classes known as Art Appreciation, Grades 1 to 6, which were a joy. I have the textbook and it covers famous artists from all over the world! In the Grade 4 section, one of the paintings featured is Paul Kane’s Indian Warrior. The commentator, EVK Grayson, carefully gave the subject’s full name: KEE-A-KEE-KA-SAA-KA-WOW, and used such descriptive words as regal, courage, power, to point out his character. He also told us to admire the detail of the intricately made costume.
Then there is the Saskatchewan painter, Henderson, whose paintings of Chief Weasel Calf is featured. Here Grayson used the words stalwart, nobility, to describe the subject. (He also used the word cunning!) He went on to talk about sundances, powwows, story-telling and so on.
He certainly displayed to the students a sympathetic style towards the Sioux and Cree people.
I do not see the point in saying we should tear down statues! Instead why not commission statues of such noteworthy Cree as Poundmaker, Big Bear, Mas-ke-pe-toon, or Jerry Potts for the Métis.
Christine Pike
Waseca
