Tsuut’ina Nation Museum/Culture

1. Tsuut’ina Nation Museum/Culture Community Presentation – 5 Year Plan

2. MISSION STATEMENT Tsuut’ina Museum/Culture Department will: • Sustain its mandate of preserving and interpreting the Tsuut’ina culture, history and language and • Provide high quality exhibits and programs to the community, region and the country

3. Executive Summary The Tsuut’ina Culture and Museum Department Purpose: • To retain Tsuut’ina history, culture, and language • To offer Tsuut’ina culture, history, and language programs to all community members Background: • Established in 1977 by Chief and Council • To maintain a complete historical, and archival record of Tsuut’ina history, culture, and language

4. Accomplishments • Creation of a Tsuut’ina Nation Archives in 1988 • Repatriation and reclaiming of Tsuut’ina artifacts from private dealers and museums • Maintenance and Operation of Tsuut’ina Nation Museum • Operation of an active Culture Educational Program particularly for youth • Liaison with Tsuut'ina Nation Members, Government, Private and Public Sectors • Historical Research and Reports • Reburial of School Children Remains at Dunbow Industrial School • Completion of Historical and Archaeological Research Reports

5. Current New Facility Requirements • The department has been located in the Seven Chief Arena since 1977 • Limited funding and inadequate space prevent the department from developing to its fullest potential. • We intend to complete an environmental and feasibility study for a new museum facility over the next year • The department has a large collection of information gathered and archived within its premises • The department needs to showcase these resources in a professional facility to share the culture and research findings in a more meaningful way

6. Five Year Plan Thus far, the department has operated on a five year plan • Components of this five year plan are research, cultural educational programming, museum development and community outreach • Daily monitoring of the fiscal year’s budget is the current procedure used to ensure the department is on track • We intend to establish a Tsuut’ina Museum Board to assist in monitoring the new museum facility development • With the assistance of a Tsuut’ina Museum Board a detailed ongoing monthly evaluation process will be completed to ensure community accountability • This strategy can assist the Tsuut’ina Nation to establish a culturally rich and profitable museum sector, while maintaining the values of our heritage within our traditional territories

7. Tsuut’ina Museum/CultureOrganizational Chart - Present Day

8. Tsuut’ina Museum/CultureFuture – Organizational Chart

9. Tsuut’ina Culture/MuseumPresent Activity 2009-10 • Daily office procedures • Reporting to FNDF and DIA • Public communications • Arts/Crafts sales & purchasing procedures • Compiling archival material • Repatriation of Tsuut’ina artifacts • Restoration of Artifacts • Showcasing of artifacts to general public • Guided tours • Special community projects • Ceremonial events • Cultural centers annual meeting • Training, cultural constellation workshops • Computer input of Tsuut’ina language • Creating new website • Creating news letter • Youth cultural activity program • Employing Students

10. Tsuut’ina Museum/CultureFuture Activity • Environmental and feasibility study • Keep an open dialog with other museum • Compile Dene anthropology and archaeological site • Place monuments at historical and ceremonial sites • Tsuut’ina Elders (next generation) photo taking • Record Tsuut’ina family ancestry • Ceremonial protocol teachings • Museum training

11. Founders of Tsuut’ina Culture/Museum

12. Tsuut’ina Culture/Museum 2009 Preserving Tsuut’ina Past and Present Culture for Future Generations