“The picture is valuable, but the story behind the picture is what makes it incredible,” said his daughter, Val Guillemin.
She helped Paton compile his 2018 book, An Honest, Genial and Kindly People, which features photos and stories Paton gathered over three to four decades of research.
That research grew to be a valuable source for Indigenous communities piecing together family histories, she said.
One of those people was Candace Wasacase-Lafferty, a board member of Wanuskewin Heritage Park and a senior director of Indigenous Engagement at the University of Saskatchewan. She’s helping Guillemin find a suitable place for her father’s work, whether that’s through an exhibit or by repatriating some of the artifacts.