Turtle Mountain Tales : The Council Stones

By James A.M. Ritchie
Moncur Gallery : People of the Plains
(in cooperation with Boissevain Community Archives)
October 20, 2001

Ten thousand years ago Aboriginal hunters and toolmakers were already prowling the face of the retreating ice sheet around Turtle Mountain. Over the succeeding millennia trade grew and widened to produce a network of trails and highways. In the recent historical era, the “Mandan Trail” as it became known, was influenced by efforts among the First Nations at settling international disputes and encouraging trade. By 1800 AD these efforts were refined into the institution called by the Cree, “the Council of All Nations” and by the Dakota, “the Council of Seven Stones.”

Turtle Mountain Tales : The Council Stones was produced as a background report by the Moncur Gallery museum with the assistance of the Boissevain Community Archives. The report concentrates on the physical evidence of Aboriginal history in the Turtle Mountain region, both on the landscape and in museums. In over 300 pages with over 20 colour plates and nearly a hundred black-and-white illustrations, The Council Stones set outs the intricate and interwoven histories of the Algonquin, Siouan, Metis and finally European settlers.

Copies may be special ordered directly from the Moncur Gallery - Peoples of the Plains for $65.00 plus $10.00 postage CAD, or in PDF format on CD for $25.00 plus $5.00 postage at:

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P.O. Box 1241
Boissevain, MB  R0K 0E0
Canada

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