Jenna, Jamie, Shelby and Halle Warrior Animal Spirit, 2013 Photo collage and acrylic on canvas

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1 Jenna, Jamie, Shelby and Halle Warrior Animal Spirit, 2013 We chose the colour green because the hunter is from mother earth. The teal in our painting represents father sky. The cross shapes represent the four directions, the circles are the stars and the triangles are symbols for the mountains. The stars guide the hunter at night and the mountains guide the hunter by day. The shield shapes show the man s warrior spirit animal. His spirit animal is a wolf and the wolf also guides him. The wolf is a good hunter and so is the man. We chose bright colours because the hunter is happy and he is full of energy. He is young. He is happy because he has so much help in hunting. He sings his medicine song. He is a warrior because he is getting food for his family and for the old and the young people who cannot hunt on their own. Glenbow Museum Archive Photograph: NA John Hunter, Stoney, beside tipi, Morley, Alberta. (ca 1902) First Nations and Metis Students from Glenbow School, Cochrane, Alberta were inspired to create this painting by the ancestors, the generous earth and the artwork of First Nations Artists George Littlechild and Neepin Auger. All proceeds from the sale of these cards will benefit the Iyahrhe Nakoda Food Bank in Morley, Alberta.

2 Aiden, Matilda, Cashlee, Lynndi and Raycine Sacred Land, 2013 The family in this picture is sad. They are sad because they need to move away to a new place where they will find food. We have dark colours on our painting but they are colours of the sacred land. The black represents the solid mountains. The red and purple represents the berries that feed the family. The gold represents the flowers that give them medicine. The blue is the water and the brown is the wood of tree trunks. Trees give them fire and air. You can see some other symbols, too. The cross is for the four directions and the triangles are the mountains. There are shapes for the moon and stars. The horse has the colours of the earth but he is a spirit horse. He will carry their dreams and their belongings to a new home. Glenbow Museum Archive Photograph: NA Amos Big Stoney and his family from Stoney reserve, Alberta. (ca 1889)

3 Jacy, Linaya, Maya, Emily and Kyra H. Ancestors By Our Side, 2013 We have dark colours in our painting because the family is sad. The chief, their father, has passed away. The gold shows he was a chief and now he is a spirit. You will see circles and they represent the chief s spirit going up to the sky. The green lines on the purple sky represent the northern lights. Some people believe that when a person dies you can see their spirit in the northern lights. The triangles are the mountains because the chief lived near Morley, which is in the mountains. On our painting there is a beautiful blanket that the chief was wrapped in to help his journey to the spirit world. Even though the chief has died he will still help his people. He is now an ancestor. We learn how to lead good lives with our ancestors by our side. Glenbow Museum Archive Photograph: NA-768-9

4 JeraDee, Faithalyn and Tyr A Better Place, 2012 We chose blue and green because they are calm colours and they reminded us of the earth and the sky, our mother and father. The round circles represent the spirits of the people, the three kids and the mother. The spirits are moving with the people. The green and the orange spirit is the spirit of the horse. The flowers represent new beginnings. The dots show a map of where they are going to make their home. The family in this picture is very hungry. They need to find a new place to live. The place they are moving to has a big meadow and a big sky. They are hopeful. Glenbow Museum Archive Photograph: NA Stoney Children and Horse Travios. (ca. 1922)

5 Iris, Destiny, Faith, Isabella We Have A Future, 2012 In our painting the black paint represents the night and the purple represents the early morning. The grandmother and the granddaughter are moving from a hard time to a new day, a new dream. The handprints are in a frame. The grandmother and granddaughter are being held in their dream. You will also see gold and silver circles. They represent the earth spirits. The earth spirits are making the grandmother and granddaughter s spirits rise. They bring beauty to the world. They are helping the elders and the young people make a better change and a new beginning. They are moving to a new and easier dream. Glenbow Museum Archive Photograph: NA-7-51 Mrs. Dave Bearspaw (Stoney) with girl on back. (ca )

6 Anton, Tyler, William, Cade I Am The River, 2012 We decided to make our painting with the colours of water. We wanted the water to look restful and calm. Just like the Bow River is sometimes and sometimes the river moves very fast and has whirlpools. The spiral is the same as a whirlpool or the sun. It also means the circle of life. The circles with the dots represent the spirits of the water. They are good spirits because water helps all living things. The handprints are on there to show that people are connected to the water. People have water inside of them and the water comes from the river. The people on the raft are trying to cross the Bow River. They have all the important things they need to live well: horses, wood and each other. Glenbow Museum Archive Photograph: NA , Stoney men on ferry over Bow River, Alberta, Morley Reserve. (ca )

7 Daisynae, Laura, Amaris, Kyra The Circles Of Life, 2012 The red and orange on the canvas represent a lot of energy. All of creation is moving all of the time. There is a time when you are a child. There is a time when you are a teenager. There is a time when you are an adult. There is a time when you are old. The spirals on the painting show the circle of life. The flowers represent the cycle of life too. Some flowers are old and some are just new. The circles with the dots show the spirits of life. The spirits are protecting the girls and the women in the picture. The girls in this picture look like they are going to a ceremony. They are going to celebrate a newborn baby. They are going to give the baby a name. Glenbow Museum Archive Photograph: NA Stoney Women, Kootenay Plains, Alberta. (1904) L-R back row: Annie House; Gussie Nimrod; Emma House. L-R front row: Cora Bigstoney, baby; Mary Jane Patrick; unknown child; unknown child.

8 Coalton, Manny, Denver, Tyson Survival, 2012 This painting shows how hard it was to survive on the land, sometimes. The black represents the night. It is cold at night. Sometimes it is hard to have good thoughts at night. The silver represents the invisible help of the spirits. The circles also show spirits; they have the creator in them. The spiral is the sun; the sun is still there in the night. It is just on the other side of the world and you can t see it. The spiral also represents the circle of life. Even in hard times, we must remember it will come around to be better. The handprints represent help. The spirits help us and we help one another. Glenbow Museum Archive Photograph: NA , Stoney tipi on Bar U Ranch, Alberta. (ca. 1890s)

9 Taylor, Brandais, Nicholas, Christopher Strong Together, 2012 The colours yellow and red make us feel happy and alive. The children in this photograph feel happy. The round circles represent spirits, like the northern lights. These spirits are the spirits of ancestors and each kid has a spirit looking over them. The handprints represent this lifetime and there is one for each child. The children have to stick together to be strong. They help each other and they are happy. Glenbow Museum Archive Photograph: NA , Group of Stoney Children At Tipi, Morley area, Alberta. (ca. late 1890s)

10 Jaycine, Trey, Serenity Riding On Beauty, 2012 This painting shows a lot of peace. The colours purple and yellow are early morning colours when the sun is just coming up. The circles are the spirits of the people. The horse hoofs are the spirits of the horse. They are beside the spirits of the people because they are connected. The people are up early to get ready to go hunting. The horse will help them hunt. When they ride on their horse they feel and see how beautiful the land is. They feel free. Glenbow Museum Archive Photograph: NC Stoney Camp At Shaganappi Point, Calgary. (September 1901)

11 Madison, Kalli, Rain, Sirley The Bright Path, 2012 The warriors are going hunting for their tribe. They are brave. The gold on our painting shows their dignity. The teal represents the big sky and possibility. The circles are symbols of the spirit of eagle. The eagle spirit helps the warriors from doubting and not giving up. The eagle spirit brightens the path of the warriors. The hands show how the warriors work together for the tribe. The medicine wheel has the four directions. The medicine wheel helps the warriors remember where they are in their lives and helps them stay on the bright path. Glenbow Museum Archive Photograph: NA , Two Stoney men on horses, southern Alberta. (1900) L-R: John House, Philip House, on horses in winter.

12 LJ, Johnathan, Shayden, Korin We Are Free, 2012 We chose the colours orange and red to show lots of energy and a lot of passion. The circles are the spirits of prairie chickens. The tracks are of prairie chickens. The men in the picture are going to a Pow Wow. They are feeling proud. They have their best regalia on. They are going to dance the Prairie Chicken Dance. When they dance they also feel proud. They feel like they are flying. They feel free. They feel like they have turned into a prairie chicken. Glenbow Museum Archive Photograph: PA , Two Stoney Men, Alberta (ca. 1890s)