MOA News Page 3
First Nations Residency r^nd 3nn*js Dr.'Seatrice vlecficine to v'•
bv Rosa Ho, Cu^atoi of -\rt And a:.io;;r ;:'"' 'a-Vimf1"Lakota Elder and internationally-known
. Perhaps Dr. Medicine's most
Chiniki's wife wearing a feathered
anthropologist Dr. Beatrice Medicine spent
significant contribution to the museum
headdress, presenting a gift t o t h e then
a month at M O A this past fall under the
lies in her assessment oi a collection of
Governor-General Lord Tweedsmuir. This
auspices of the museum's First Nations
drawings, photographs and dolls
custom of a woman wearing a feathered
Endowment Fund. Dr. Medicine first spent
collected in the 1930s by Jean Telfer, a
headdress is also shown in one of the
time at UBC from 1957 - 1963 when her
school teacher at the Stoney Reserve in
ledger drawings, in the exhibit by
husband James Garner was
Assiniboine artist Hongeeyesa.
Acting Curator of M O A . During
The Assiniboine are Dakota
that time, Dr. Medicine taught
speakers, also linguistically
evening courses in anthropolrelated to the Lakota and Nakota. ogy through the Department of
Overall, Dr. Medicine gave
Anthropology and Sociology.
good marks to the museum's
At the invitation of M O A
collection and documentation of
director Dr. Michael M. Ames,
Plains materials, and encourage
Dr. Medicine returned to the
more work to be done on the
museum last November to
collection by people of Plains
examine MOA's Plains materibackground. The museum hopes
als. She also conducted her
to bring her back to do some
own research on beaded balls
teaching with students and others
(''medicine balls") about which
I on the diversity and specificity of
little has been recorded in the
!• the Plains materials in MOA's
literature.
| collections. Dr. Medicine feels
Dr. Medicine was able to .
that there will be continuing
Excerpt of Ledger Drawingr
Photo of Chief Chiniki from the
by Assiniboine artist
locate one beaded ball attached
j tension in Native and non-Native
Telfer collection.
Hongeeyesa.
to a beaded wand, labelled
I relations and that the museum
"war club," in the collection.
plays a significant role in public
This is in facta medicine ball used in female
Moreley, Alberta.'The Stoney being
education by involving people from
puberty rites which are presently being
Nakota speakers are linguistically
different cultures in the interpretations of
revitalized amongst the Lakota. Using
related to Medicine's own Lakota
their own histories, lives and traditions.
photographs of the ball; and with the
language, and the reserve and its
As staff liaison.for Dr. Medicine, I found
assistance of members of her community,
people are familiar to Dr. Medicine,
her to be a woman of purpose who holds
Dr. Medicine hopes to contribute more
who visited the area frequently in the
clear views of her dual role as an elder in the
information about this object.
early 1960's when she lived in Calgary.
her own community and as a senior scholar
After examining the Telfer collecand researcher in anthropology. I view her
During her stay, Dr. Medicine also
tion, Dr. Medicine suggested that .
practice of effecting social change from both
discovered film footage of one of the last
M O A may wish to exhibit the
within and across boundaries to be an
"medicine ball" makers in Wood Mountain,
drawings made by the children of the
inspirational path for all of us to follow.
Saskatchewan by Vancouver artist and video
Stoney Reserve alongside the exhibit •
producer Dana Claxton. This finding may
Reclaiming History which MOA is
lead to a collaborative project between
hosting this winter. One photo from
Claxton and'Medicine on use, continuity
the Telfer collection shows Chief Jacob
and change in this Lakota tradition.

Recent Acquisitions

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This fall, the museum received two important additions to its Asian collection. The first
donation was presented to the museum by the First Lady of the Republic of Korea,
Sohn Myoung-Soon, and consists of two exquisite porcelain vessels, one celadon and
one hand-painted on white porcelain. The white porcelain vessel was made by Lim
Hang Taik, a contemporary potter w h o produces wares in the traditional manner and fires them'in an old-style climbing kiln. His ability to successfully combine technical,
and artistic expertise has resulted in one of two superb works that add significantly to
the Korean collection. The museum is also grateful to the Korean Consul General
Johng-Won Kang for making the First Lady's visit possible.
The second donation came from the Sapporo Ainu Cultural. Society in Hokkaido,
Japan. Some of their members had visited M O A last year and noted how little Ainu
material there was in the collection. This year, a delegation came back with a gift of
several wooden objects made by Ainu craftsman Shigeo Toyakawa. These include two
vessels {hima), a woman's knife [menoko-makiri), a cup and saucer (tukf) and a libation
wand {iku-pasuy). These finely crafted pieces represent much needed and greatly
appreciated additions to the collection.
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