BACKGROUND
In 1971, the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum was established to house the collections that Clayton McLain had assembled during his lifetime. Both settler and Indigenous communities in the Cut Knife area fundraised together to create a museum that would uphold Clayton’s legacy of preservation and public accessibility to the historical items in his care. The Museum’s stewardship practices have always been evolving and, as a volunteer-run non-profit, we do our best to keep pace with museum industry standards.
The Museum was one of the first small museums in Saskatchewan to develop a Repatriation Policy. Now, in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #67, the Museum respectfully, and with much reflection, has updated its original Repatriation Policy. Over the years, First Nations and Métis individuals have worked and volunteered at the Museum. For approximately 20 years, up to the present-day, local Elders have handled the protocols for the cultural belongings in the Museum’s collections, and have acted as advisors regarding their proper care. The Museum will continue to build and strengthen these relationships to ensure the appropriate level of care is maintained.
The Museum looks forward to the repatriation process as an opportunity to continue to learn, and to move forward with better understanding of our Indigenous neighbours, in particular, the local communities of Little Pine First Nation, Poundmaker Cree Nation, Sweetgrass First Nation, and the Métis.
Download a copy of the Museum’s Repatriation Policy here, or request a copy of the policy here: cmmmcutknife@gmail.com
Clayton McLain Memorial Museum 