5 oz. Pure Silver Coloured Coin – Wanduta: Portrait of a Chief –
Mintage: 1,200 (2016)
Commemorates Wanduta's courage and beliefs
in a beautiful design! Order today!
Condition - NEW.
A brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item in
its original packaging (where packaging is applicable). Packaging should be the
same as what is found in a retail store, unless the item is handmade or was
packaged by the manufacturer in non-retail packaging, such as an unprinted box
or plastic bag. See the seller's listing for full details.
Commemorates
Wanduta's courage and beliefs in a beautiful design!
As a spiritual healer, Wanduta was a leading defender of traditional
Indigenous practices. He travelled to Ottawa to protest the federal
government's restrictive policies; but upon his return, Wanduta was arrested
for “hosting” the dance in Rapid City and was convicted for this violation of
the giveaway ban. On January 26, 1903, he was sentenced to four months of hard
labour and imprisonment at the Brandon Jail. Attempts to secure clemency proved
futile as Wanduta served his entire sentence, but he remained undeterred. He
continued his spiritual practices after his release; in doing so, Wanduta
cemented his reputation as a heyoka, a respected member of sacred Dakota
societies,who was revered for his abilities to help his people, and is
remembered today for his efforts to keep tradition alive.
Your coin commemorates one person's courage and dedication to
preserving the cultural traditions of his community. Order your coin today!
Special features:
BEAUTIFUL COLOUR AND ENGRAVING! The full application of colour over the engraving captures the
beautiful complexities of Wanduta's traditional regalia, circa 1913.
LOW MINTAGE: Only 1,200 coins will
be made worldwide.
KING GEORGE III MEDAL WORN AROUND HIS NECK! Around the spiritual healer's neck is a King George
III medal—a symbolic display of a Dakota leader's peaceful intentions and a
reminder of the historic alliances with the British.
FIVE OUNCES OF 99.99% PURE SILVER! Your coin is GST/HST exempt!
About the Design:
Designed by Canadian artist Darlene Gait, your coin features a
full-face portrait of Wanduta (Red Arrow), a Sioux Valley Dakota Chief who
defended the community's ceremonial dance rites when such activities were
prohibited under the Indian Act. The full application of colour over the
engraving captures the beautiful complexities of Wanduta's traditional regalia,
circa 1913. Finely detailed engraving adds texture to the eagle feathers that
adorn the full headdress, as well as the beautifully coloured beads that are
woven in a geometric design on the headband above Wanduta's brow.
Did you know…
In 1902, organizers of the annual summer fair in Rapid City, Manitoba,
had arranged for a presentation of a ceremonial dance by the Sioux Valley
Dakota Nation of the Oak River area. Known as a Grass Dance or a Give-Away
Dance, a portion of the ritual included an exchange of gifts such as blankets
or horses—a violation of the 1895 amendment to the Indian Act, which
specifically prohibited ceremonial practices that gave away money or
merchandise. But by banning these ceremonial rites, the amendment had
criminalized some of the basic traditions of Canada's First Nations peoples,
and pushed music and dance to the forefront of efforts to resist assimilation.
Ceremonial dances are time-honoured traditions that reinforce and
strengthen kinship and social ties, and spiritual well-being among communities.
The Indian Act was first introduced in 1876 by the federal government
to consolidate previous ordinances. Its scope has evolved in time to cover a
wide range of issues, from defining a legal identity to managing land use and
establishing local governance.
By 2002, over 20 major amendments had been made to the original Act,
including the removal of discriminatory cultural and spiritual restrictions in
1951.
Packaging:
Your coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian
Mint-branded maroon clamshell with a graphic beauty box.
Order your coin today!
Specifications
No.154198
Mintage 1200
Composition 99.99% pure silver
Finish proof
Weight (g) 157.6
Diameter (mm) 65.25
Edge serrated
Certificate serialized
Face value 50 dollars
Artist Darlene Gait (reverse), Susanna Blunt
(obverse)