The Notukeu Heritage Museum has a collection of prehistoric archeological, anthropological and paleontological objects from the Southwest area of Saskatchewan. This includes several fossilized creatures whose remains were found near the town of Ponteix, SK.
Anthropology
The majority of objects were discovered by Mr. Henri Liboiron, an amateur archaeologist from Ponteix. Over his lifetime, Henri collected and reported a large number of tools and other artifacts previously used by First Nations people. These artifacts are presented in Notukeu Heritage Museum : arrowheads, stone cutters, blades, choppers, weapons, pemmican, etc. Henri Liboiron gave visitors to the museum a chance to discover the traces left by the First Nations.
Long ago (around 8475 BC according to archeologists) nomadic First Nations tribes migrated through the Ponteix area pursuing the Plains bison. They used to hunt this animal not only for food, but also for its fur. Two sites belonging to these nomadic groups have been identified near the town of Ponteix. The first site was called Niska (means "goose" in the Plains Cree language), located between Ponteix and Aneroid; and the second site was called Napão (meaning "man" in the Cree language), located between Ponteix and Cadillac.
Paleontology
The dinosaur Mo
At a place called the "Tillet Hills", about 7 km north-east of Ponteix, Henri Liboiron discovered the remains of a majestic prehistoric creature. This plesiosaur is called Mo and has been immortalized in a fictional story written by local author Odette Carignan. The story presents both the life of the dinosaur and the discovery of its fossil. Ponteix was given the opportunity to preserve the tip of Mo's tail in the museum and has done so since its discovery. For interest's sake, a replica of the plesiosaur greets visitors coming to town through the southern entrance of the village.
The bison
The Bison has always occupied the North American plains and once were common roaming through the region around Ponteix. Native American tribes hunted bison with a spear and commonly used all the parts of the animal (bones, skin and meat). The museum has bones and products produced from the remains of this imposing and massive animal.
