New Exhibition at Cascade County Historical Society in Great Falls

Situated near the downtown area of Great Falls, Montana lies what many may remember as the old Northern School Supply Building.  I remember walking the store in wonderment as a child at all the of the erasers in so many colors, sizes and shapes.

via GIPHY

It is now home to something the exact opposite of erasers; a home to preserve and remember our history in Cascade County.  Even if that history might be of a disturbing and dark nature.  A new exhibit allows for the building to continue to help individuals learn, and to hopefully not repeat those mistakes of our past

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New Exhibition at Cascade County Historical Society in Great Falls

The new exhibit in The History Museum and Research Center at 422 2nd Street South held an unveiling of "Voices of Our Ancestors: The Archival Records of St. Peter's Mission Boarding School".  The event, held earlier this week, was attended by over 200 people and became standing room only.

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The ribbon cutting and exhibit viewing "was an opportunity to reflect upon this difficult chapter of American history, engage with the past, and listen to Native American voices" according to the Cascade County Historical Society.

Historical Society Hopes to Rectify Past Mistakes in Record Keeping

As part of the new exhibit, the CCHS has compiled a book of student's names who attended St. Peter's Mission Boarding School.  The book was captured by staff and volunteers from various sources in the Ursuline Western Province Archives. Staff said that:

Descendants of students who attended St. Peter's Mission are invited to review the list of names and identify potential errors or missing names for corrections - the listings were not always complete, and spelling errors or tribal affiliation mistakes were made by the school.

The exhibition also marked the first "public opening of the UWP Archives, opened previously only to tribal members and descendants."  You can learn more about the exhibit, archives and the museum here.