RSM Coat of Arms
The Story of the RSM Coat of Arms
The Coat of Arms was granted to the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in 1993 at the opening of the First Nations Gallery. It is an abstract representation of the Museum's purpose and mandate. The Coat of Arms includes the following parts:
· The Shield
· The Motto
· Colours
· Crest
· Compartment
· Supporters
The Shield
Barry of twelve Vert and Or on a chief in poplar-leaf section Or a medicine wheel Proper
The shield represents the three curatorial units: Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, and Aboriginal History. The gold and green stripes refer to the 12 fossil-bearing geological strata in Saskatchewan. The row of poplar leaves represents today's environment. The slenderness of this row illustrates how very fragile our environment is and how responsible we all are for its maintenance and health. The circle at the top represents the medicine wheel, an ancient First Nations' symbol of humanity's relationship with the cosmos.
The Motto
Serving Through Stewardship
Colours
Vert and Or
The colours are those of the province of Saskatchewan, and indicate that the Museum is a provincial institution.
Crest
Issuant from a wreath of the colours an Eagle wings addorsed and displayed Vert garnished Or rising from a coronet of four garbs also Or, one and two-halves visible jeweled Gules on the rim
The Eagle is an emblem of conservation in Saskatchewan and, therefore, is also a symbol for one of the Museum's principal objectives. The coronet made of gold refers to the "Royal" designation and is a symbol of the Museum's importance and dignity. It also evokes the circle motif on the shield and draws on the wheat sheaf from the Provincial Coat of Arms. The jewels are an allusion to the mineral wealth of Saskatchewan.
Compartment
Of alluvial granite Proper
The compartment, or base, is inspired by Mistassine, a large glacially-deposited rock that was sacred to First Nations people and that was destroyed as part of the construction of the Gardiner Dam to form Lake Diefenbaker. It represents the fact that much of Saskatchewan is built on rock; it also symbolizes the need for conservation and for respect for Earth's resources.
Supporters
Dexter a bison and sinister a caribou both Or and each gorged with a cord of ancient beads Proper from which is pendant a key Sable
The caribou represents northern Saskatchewan; the bison, southern Saskatchewan. Their gold colour underscores the designation "Royal." The beads mirror the circular shape of the medicine wheel and allude to the long time period studied by the Museum. The key is a symbol for research and is often used as a heraldic symbol for museums.
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