Volunteers needed at museum, buffalo jump

Volunteerism in Havre has a long history. From our town’s start, there were people willing to give their time, talents, resources and dedication to worthy community causes. From giving to those less fortunate, to creating health care facilities and forming two libraries, the people of Havre and Hill County care about our town and work to achieve wonderful things, some which last generations.

The Clack Museum and Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump are no different. From our inception, our growth and successes have been based on volunteers. Some volunteers give meaningful artifacts to our collection to showcase this area’s history. Others have given their time serving behind the counter selling items in the gift shop and shooting the breeze with visitors. Others still have given their “sweat equity,” doing everything from facility maintenance to building museum exhibits and archaeological digs to expose the literal layers of history that run deep here.

Now that we are in our new, permanent location, the Clack Museum — and also our sister site, Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump — are in need of volunteers. Our budget is such that it only pays for part-time employment, including my position as manager. The work, however, is anything but part-time so it is important that I spend my time and utilize the expertise I have gained from over 25 years in the museum business in areas that have the biggest impact.

We welcome volunteers willing to give their talents in many areas, but our immediate needs are serving as tour guides at the Buffalo Jump, especially during the shoulder months of April, May, September and October to help out with school group tours; serving as a receptionist in the Museum Greeting Room and Gift Shop; and building exhibits that will “wow” our guests as well as our residents. This will allow me the time to go into the lower level of the Clack Museum to work on our archives — and our archives need me to organize the collection and give the caring attention I can give them. It is my goal to know every artifact, see every photograph, read every document and get to know our collections “inside and out” so as to create and organize exhibits in our museum that are meaningful and accurately interpret our area’s history. Many artifacts have never been on exhibit, and I look forward to creating those exhibits to share those artifacts with you. I had great teachers — the late Toni Hagener, Elinor Clack and Donna MacGregor (all three former Clack Museum curators) taught me well, and I look forward to further using that valuable training at the Clack Museum.

If you are interested in volunteering at the Clack Museum or Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump, it’s easy — all you have to do is call and we can talk! Our phone number is 406-265-4000, or you can call me at my cellphone number at 406-399-5225. If you don’t know much about our operations, don’t worry — we will train you!

Until next time, I remain your museum manager, Emily Mayer

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Emily Mayer is the manager of the H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum and Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump.