Award – Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

everett baker award for lucille bullerwell

Lucille Receives Baker Award

September 12, 2022November 15, 2023 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

On Saturday, September 10, the Saskatchewan History and Folklore Society (SHFS) recognized Lucille Bullerwell’s longtime commitment to the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum by awarding her the 2022 Everett Baker Award for Saskatchewan Heritage.

Everett Baker, the SHFS’ first President, was a firm believer in promoting the past to build a better future, and worked tirelessly to preserve local history. In that spirit, the Baker Award recognizes individuals, groups, or organizations who have gone “above and beyond” to preserve and promote Saskatchewan heritage.

From the SHFS:

It is our very great pleasure to announce that the winner of the 2022 Everett Baker Award for Saskatchewan Heritage is Lucille Bullerwell!

Lucille has dedicated more than 25 years of her life to growing and maintaining the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum and Archives to preserve the history of the Cut Knife area.

After assisting Elizabeth McLain, the museum’s original Volunteer Curator, for approximately 8 years, Lucille took on the role of Volunteer Curator in 2003. Lucille held the position of Volunteer Curator from 2003 to 2013. At that time, she retired as Curator but stayed as a Board Trustee. In 2014, she left the Board and now continues to volunteer, oversee curatorial tasks, and mentor the CMMM’s seasonal Museum Manager (hired in 2016).

Lucille’s contributions to the success of the museum have been substantial. Her role included all aspects of collections management (development, storage, and preservation of artifacts and archival materials) and exhibit management (designing, budgeting, constructing, and staging exhibits).

She has ensured the preservation of the collections, displays, and exhibits by proactively developing policy and practices to incorporate and adhere to museum and archives industry standards. She established the CMMM Archives in 2009 under the guidance of the Saskatchewan Council of Archives and Archivists (SCAA), bringing all archival materials under one roof and one set of policies.

Lucille created a First Nations Elders Advisory Board to ensure proper care and handling of First Nations’ artifacts, and to facilitate the repatriation process of these artifacts, as requested.

She established the museum’s online presence with a website, expanded the website’s reach via social media, and made the website an online resource through digital exhibits. She has increased the museum’s exposure to new audiences through tourism initiatives, networking opportunities, and community partnerships.

Lucille’s long-time volunteer commitment to preserving and promoting heritage at the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum is truly “above and beyond.”

Congratulations, Lucille!
Saskatchewan History and Folklore Society

Lucille was honoured to receive the award. She insisted that “no one does this alone” and acknowledged all of the support, assistance and encouragement she’d received over the years from the Cut Knife community, the Town and R.M. of Cut Knife, CMMM staff and volunteers, Elder Advisors, Wendy Fitch and the Museum’s Association of Saskatchewan, and Sask Culture.

Lucille’s nomination package was submitted by the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum and Archives’ Board of Trustees.

~ Debbie M.

Archives, Board, Museum

Melvin Sawatzky, RWD 2021 Volunteer Award

April 27, 2021January 8, 2023 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

From the Rivers West District website:

“Spanning over five decades, Mel Sawatzky has had a long and distinguished record of service to the community and district of Cut Knife, Saskatchewan.
Rivers West District for Sport, Culture and Recreation

*Mayor Gwenn Kaye (left) presenting Mel Sawatzky (right) with the Over-All Volunteer of the Year Award*

In 1971, Mel became the first Chairman of the newly created Clayton McLain Memorial Museum. For several years prior to this, in the late 1960s, Mel, in his capacity as Noble Grand of the local Oddfellows Chapter, actively sought to assist Elizabeth McLain in establishing a Museum which would house artifacts of great historical significance to Canada, associated with the settlement of the northwest and the events surrounding the 1885 Northwest Resistance. Melvin Sawatzky holds the distinction of Life Member of the Board of Trustees of Clayton McLain Memorial Museum.

Mel’s achievements also include:

Volunteer firefighter for 24 years;
Councilor for the Town of Cut Knife for 8 years;
Decades of participation with the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, including the Hunter Safety Education program;
20+ volunteer years with the Cut Knife Colts hockey team in a variety of roles, and
Assistance with coordinating the 2005 RCMP Musical Ride in the Town of Cut Knife.

Congratulations Mel! Thank you for everything you do for us!

~ Debbie M.

Board

Melvin Sawatzky, Award Recipient

April 13, 2021November 16, 2021 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

– content of post kindly shared from the Rivers West District Nomination form submitted by Bonnie S.

mel sawatsky receiving overall volunteer award of the year — *Mayor Gwenn Kaye (left) presenting Mel Sawatzky (right) with the Over-All Volunteer of the Year Award*

In 1971, Mel became the first Chairman of the newly created Clayton McLain Memorial Museum. For several years prior to this Mel, in his capacity as Noble Grand of the local Oddfellows Chapter, actively sought to assist Elizabeth McLain in establishing a Museum which would house artifacts of great historical significance to Canada, associated with the settlement of the northwest and the events surrounding the 1885 rebellion.

Mel’s record of achievements include:

24 years as a Volunteer Firefighter;
20+ years involvement with the Cut Knife Colts hockey team in a variety of roles;
8 years service as a Councilor, Town of Cut Knife;
Decades of involvement with the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, including the Hunter Safety Education program;
Coordination of the 2005 RCMP Musical Ride in the Town of Cut Knife;
Noble Grand of the local Oddfellows Lodge in the late 1960’s; and
More than five decades of continuous service including service on the Board of Trustees, Clayton McLain Memorial Museum. Melvin Sawatzky holds the distinction of Life Member of the Board of Trustees of Clayton McLain Memorial Museum.

“Spanning over five decades, Mel Sawatzky has had a long and distinguished record of service to the community and district of Cut Knife Saskatchewan… Mel’s service to Cut Knife has taken many forms. He has always been willing to help anyone who asks for assistance, and has shared his woodworking and maintenance skills freely.”

Congratulations to Mel Sawatzky, lifetime member of the CMMM Board of Trustees, on receiving the Rivers West District Volunteer Recognition Award for Over-All Volunteer of the Year!

Our Stories

2020 MAS Award of Merit

October 14, 2020July 16, 2023 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

Recipients of the 2020 Museums Association of Saskatchewan Award of Merit for ‘Institution projects over $50,000’ were Clayton McClain Memorial Museum, Little Pine First Nation & Lucky Man Cree Nation for Moving Forward with Reconciliation.

award of merit for cmmm, little pine first nation, lucky man cree nation for moving forward with reconciliation project — Moving Forward with Reconciliation event, 2020

~ from the Nomination:

“The Clayton McLain Memorial Museum is a small-town museum located in Cut Knife Saskatchewan. The Museum is located on Treaty 6 Territory and has a rich history of partnership with surrounding Indigenous communities.

The summer of 2019 was a very busy summer for the Clayton McClain Museum. Thanks to a generous grant from the National Indian Brotherhood Trust Fund the museum was able to partner with Little Pine First Nation and Lucky Man Cree Nation on a three-part project called “Moving Forward with Reconciliation” that was initiated by Chief Wayne Semagnuis and councilor Richard Checkiosis of Little Pine First Nation.

The first event was held on July 2, 2019 in Fort Walsh SK to recognize 140 years since Chief Minahequosis (Little Pine) and Chief Papaway (Lucky Man) were coerced into signing an adhesion to Treaty 6 because their people were suffering from forced starvation. This memorial event and was attended by over 550 people. It connected the attending members of Little Pine First Nation and Lucky Man Cree Nation to their ancestors and traditional territories by offering a feast and a mini pow wow in their honour. Jimmy O’Chiese of the Yellowhead Tribal College in Edmonton Alberta spoke and told the Cree Creation Story and how it is intimately linked to the Cypress Hills, as well as introducing the concept of land-based education for those in attendance.

The second part of the celebration took place in Cut Knife on July 5, 2019 and was attended by over 350 people. This event connected the local Indigenous people to the sacred artifacts that are held in trust in the collection of the Clayton McClain Memorial Museum. These items are normally kept separate from the rest of the collection in a secure area and are cared for by Elders through ceremony and protocol, but were brought out to be displayed for the day after the blessings and a smudging ceremony. This event also included a traditional feast and a much larger mini pow wow with dancers from Little Pine, Lucky Man, Sweetgrass and Saddle Lake. The feast and pow wow were used to honour the sacred items and the ancestors who used them in ceremonies. Another important part of the purpose of having the event in Cut Knife was also to educate people about the events that occurred 140 years ago.

The third part of the event took place on September 9, 2019 at Fort Pitt and was attended by approximately 150 people. This conclusion to the celebrations connected the Indigenous people in attendance to Treaty 6 territory and the lands they ultimately came to reside upon.

This three-part celebration heralded many firsts for many of the people involved. Overall, it was an event that should be remembered as a step towards ongoing reconciliation – a journey where there is still much more work to be done.”