[Bcma-l] (Fwd) CMA Clip Serv:
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Thu, 28 May 2009 10:11:28 -0700
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<b>Auction house halts sale of 246-year-old medal</b></span></font>
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<b>FIRST NATIONS: Medal presented in 1763 to Egonimey, chief of
Odawa</b></span></font>
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Michael Purvis, Sault Star, Thursday, May 28, 2009</span></font>
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The owner of a historic King George III Medal at the centre of a
family tug-of-war has taken it off the auction block, but says he won't
give up on selling the historic heirloom.</span></font>
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Alan Cywink, who got the medal from his mother when he turned 13,
said he agreed to halt the medal's sale when approached by the
auction house through which he had put it up for sale.</span></font>
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Cywink's nephew Michael Cywink, of Manitoulin Island, had
reportedly sought to get an injunction to stop the medal's sale, citing
its historical value to family members and to First Nations people.</span></font>
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"It's the publicity, it's not doing the auction house any good. (The
auction house) lawyers are handling it, and that's where it stands,"
said Alan Cywink, 72, who lives in Uxbridge.</span></font>
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The family says the medal was a gift in 1763 to ancestor Egonimey,
chief at the time of the Odawa, from King George III for Egonimey's
services to Sir William Johnson and Henry Gladwin. Egonimey and
two other chiefs were awarded for their services in helping the Crown
reach the Treaty of Understanding held at Niagara Falls, signed in
1764.</span></font>
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Some of the family would like to see it retained within its ranks or be
held in trust to a museum, rather than having it privately sold. The
medal and original documents, including a certificate from Gladwin,
Commandant of Detroit, were listed for auction by the auction house
Bonhams at an estimated value of $20,000 to $30,000.</span></font>
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Childless, Alan Cywink has said he considered passing the heirloom
on to a relative, but abandoned that idea in hopes it would go
somewhere it could be displayed for the public.</span></font>
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He said those who expressed interest in acquiring the medal were
"reputable institutions," including the Royal Ontario Museum and a
large Ontario-based aboriginal organization.</span></font>
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"That's what I wanted: somebody to look after it, to tend to it so it
stays in good condition, for everyone," said Cywink.</span></font>
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"This is a piece of history for Canada, not just for the local Indians."</span></font>
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He said it was unlikely a private dealer could have afforded to pick up
the medal.</span></font>
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He said the auction house is handling legal issues to do with the
injunction and may seek damages.</span></font>
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