Chief Paskwa Pictograph Now On Exhibit at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum

Released on January 5, 2017

The Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM) has launched a new temporary exhibit entitled We Are All Treaty People.  This exhibit showcases the Chief Paskwa Pictograph, a two-panel graphite drawing that depicts the only known historical Indigenous perspective of Treaty Four.

The Chief Paskwa Pictograph appears to portray European and Aboriginal people engaged in treaty negotiations with a record of treaty promises and payments made between 1874 and 1883.  The We Are All Treaty People exhibit also features a reproduction of the original hand-written version of Treaty Four.

This temporary exhibit will eventually be replaced by a larger, permanent exhibit of the Chief Paskwa Pictograph.

“After working closely with the Pasqua First Nation, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum now displays an important and historic Indigenous depiction of Treaty Four,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said.  “The Chief Paskwa Pictograph is significant to all Saskatchewan people in gaining a further understanding of our province’s history.”

The Chief Paskwa Pictograph was previously located in the United Kingdom from 1883 until 2000 when it was sold at auction.  In 2007, it was repatriated by the Pasqua First Nation for more than $200,000 with funds contributed by the Pasqua First Nation, Government of Saskatchewan, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (through a grant from the Government of Canada), the United Church, and private donors.  School visits to the We Are All Treaty People exhibit will begin this month.

Further public programming will be shared on the museum website and social media, and will include events in February for Aboriginal Storytelling Month.

The RSM, located at 2445 Albert Street, is open daily from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.  Visit www.royalsaskmuseum.ca or call 306-787-2815.  Admission is by donation.

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For more information, contact:

Jill Sveinson
Parks, Culture and Sport
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5781
Email: jill.sveinson@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-527-8152