The University of Alberta Press co-published War Paintings of the Tsu
u T’ina Nation with University of Nebraska Press in March 2015. This beautiful book showcases a unique set of little known hide paintings that offer valuable insights into one of the lesser-studied Plains Indian societies. It has received attention from book lovers as well as those interested in native history and art.
Here is author and illustrator Arni Brownstone’s blog post about a visit from the Tsuu T’ina Jr. Sr. High School:
It came as a surprise the other day when Marie Williams wrote that she had brought her grade nine class from Tsuu T’ina Jr. Sr. High School all the way to Toronto and would like me to meet with them at the ROM the next day. Today I had the pleasure of meeting these warm and well-mannered students.
Surely the highlight of their visit to the First Peoples Gallery was viewing the buffalo robe painted in 1908 by Two Guns with the war exploits of Bull Head, the esteemed Head Chief of the Tsuu T’ina (formerly the Sarcee). In 1877 he negotiated the treaty on behalf of that tribe and established their reserve about 14 kilometers from the center of Calgary.
The visit was serendipitous as my book, War Paintings of the Tsuu T’ina Nation, has just been published so I was able to give a copy to school library. It warmed my heart to note how interested and thankful the students were for the book. The students asked for a photograph to be taken and they carefully posed themselves with Bull Head’s robe showcase in the foreground and in the background the Chief’s photograph, still a strong presence in the Tsuu T’ina community.
It’s great to see a book “in action”!