A four-foot bronze sculpture commemorating the Aseniwuche Winewak people was erected in the garden outside of the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives, Sept. 15.
Affectionately called, 鈥淜okum,鈥澛爓hich means grandmother in Cree, the sculpture is part of a permanent exhibit inside the museum showcasing the contribution the Aseniwuche Winewak people made to the region as well as their traditional ways of life.
The Aseniwuche Winewak, or Rocky Mountain People, currently reside in the Grande Cache area, however more than a century ago, they lived in Jasper, hunting, gathering and homesteading in what is now Jasper National Park.
That all changed in 1907 when the federal government evicted the Aseniwuche Winewak, as well as other Aboriginal groups, in order to create the park.
Andy Klimach, former manager of the museum, and Julie-Anne Weaver, a former Parks Canada Aboriginal liaison, worked in collaboration with the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation on the project since 2014.
Alberta artist Crystal C. Mossing, who is best known for her sculptures for the Calgary Stampede, created the sculpture.
With files from Nicole Veerman
Paul Clarke
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