The Story of the Alberta Women's Institute

              THE

STORY

OF

THE

ALBERTA

WOMEN'S

INSTITUTES

Trees and shrubs were planted and the land suitably fenced. The money for surveying and labor was raised by the sale of plots, donations and the balance out of Women's Institute funds. The annual cost of caretaking varied from fifty to a hundred dollars. This lovely cemetery is a bower of beauty with its profusion of flowering shrubs, honeysuckle, lilac, caragana and elm, spruce and jackpine trees. It is still the property of the Round Hill W.I. and most of the money for its upkeep during the past few years has come from Memorial donations. This Memorial Fund was set up about seven years ago and has helped considerably in financing the upkeep of the cemetery. A power mower is to be purchased this spring (1955) which will make the work lighter for the Institute members and those who go periodically to mow the lawn. For some years a regular caretaker has not been hired, but there is usually a good turn out of volunteers on the days set to work at the cemetery. A basket lunch is taken and the W.I. serves coffee. Mr. Bosmans passed away in September 1929 and ;VII's. H. W. Quail has carried on as supervisor. She is still very active in the \V.I. along with Mrs. C. A. Fergstad Sr. who are both charter members. They were both presented with life memberships in the A.W.I. at the Constituency Conference held in Round Hill in 1953. It was the 35th anniversary of the branch and Mrs. S. L. Lefsrud, A.W.I. President was present to do the honors. Many Institutes have taken an interest in beautifying and transforming ill-cared-for cemeteries. Some of those in the early days were Stettler. Botha. and Fort Saskatchewan.
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MEMBERS OF THE WOMEN'S INSTITUTE OF THE GlEICHEN CONSTITUENCY ERECT A CAIRN AT BLACKFOOT CROSSING IN HONOR OF THE SIGNING OF THE PEACE TREATY !N 1877. of the Peace Treaty at Blackfoot of the \'1'omen's Institute of the Gleichen Constituency, in Alberta, assembled at that historic spot to do honor to the memory of Crowfoot, the noblest and bravest of Blackloot chieftains. The Blackfoot tribe was represented by Chief Three Sons, the sole surviving Indian on the Backfoot Reserve who was present at the signing of the treaty. At the conclusion of the ceremony gifts of tobacco and a pipe were bestowed upon him. Three Sons, accompanied by his squaw, appeared attired in his most gorgeous ceremonial regalia of beaded and embroidered buckskin garments and magnificent feathered headdress. He was decorated with numerous charms and amulets and elaborately painted, in honor of an important occasion. He directed the assembly to the exact spot -44-

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