'Colonialist mentality:' Indigenous groups challenge Quebec over new history museum
Several Indigenous groups are calling on the Quebec government to distance itself from the "colonialist mentality" as it designs a new $92-million history museum project in the provincial capital.
The Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador, the First Nations Education Council and an Innu cultural centre — Institut Tshakapesh — made their feelings known about the project in a brief submitted about a government bill to create the museum.
They asked the government to distance itself from a colonialist point of view and include in the museum the stories, contributions and perspectives of Indigenous people.
Denis Gros-Louis of the First Nations Education Council told a hearing at the legislature that the bill in its current form doesn't clearly recognize the fundamental contributions of First Nations.
The Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador had criticized Premier François Legault for suggesting during the museum announcement in April that the province's history began with the arrival of French explorers Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Legault responded to say the Musée national de l'histoire du Québec will focus specifically on the history of the French-speaking Québécois nation but will also discuss the contributions of Indigenous people.
John Martin of the First Nations Education Council told the hearing he's worried the museum will present an overly rosy view of Quebec's history. "There are things in Quebec's history that aren't very positive," said Martin, who is a member of the Gesgapegiag Mi'gmaq First Nation. "The Oka crisis, for example," he said, referring to the 78-day standoff in 1990 over land rights between Mohawk protesters and the Canadian Armed Forces.
The Indigenous groups also repeated previous criticism of historian Éric Bédard, who was quoted telling reporters at the museum announcement that history begins with writing, and that therefore "the Indigenous people represent a bit the prehistory of Quebec."
"I think we have a different understanding of what history means," Martin said. "You're asking us to endorse what we perceive to be reminders of colonialism."
Quebec Culture Minister Mathieu Lacombe said he understood the objection to the word "prehistory."
"I understand that those words could have been hurtful," he said.
The new museum is expected to open in 2026.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 24, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Government to increase carbon tax on April 1, Guilbeault says
The federal government has 'no intention' of pausing the next planned increase to the carbon price, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault confirms.
Debate gets testy as MPs consider confidence motion in PM Trudeau
MPs debated the first non-confidence motion of the fall House of Commons sitting today, seeing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre push once again for a snap election. But with votes secured to keep them afloat, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals were quick to turn the discussion into a referendum on the Conservative alternative.
EXCLUSIVE Image released of mysterious object shot down over Yukon in 2023
An image of the unidentified object shot down over Canada's Yukon territory in February 2023 has been obtained by CTVNews.ca.
Boosting Canadian seniors’ benefits would cost a 'chunk of change,' says PBO
Canada’s budget watchdog says the federal government may not meet its fiscal anchors if it acquiesces to the Bloc Quebecois' demand to expand seniors benefits in exchange for keeping the minority Liberals in power.
'I have nothing to do with this': B.C. man says he had no idea his name was linked to global fraud scheme
CTV News and the Investigative Journalism Foundation spoke with a Canadian who claims his identity was stolen and used to set up a series of companies peddling fraudulent investment schemes.
B.C. councillor blames 'leftist extremists' after blackface photo surfaces online
A city councillor in British Columbia says an online mob of "extremists" and "politically motivated hackers" is responsible for uncovering and publicizing a photo of him wearing a blackface costume to a Halloween party in 2007.
Couple in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., awarded more than $500K for enduring life with hellish neighbour
We've all had neighbours we didn't like, but two people from Sault Ste. Marie have been awarded more than half a million dollars for the 'extreme' behaviour of the people who lived next to them.
'Privacy is dead': The questions being raised over body cameras in stores
Questions are being raised over the use of body cameras in stores as a way to combat crime.
Ontario woman seen in viral video of Porsche theft now facing more charges
An 18-year-old woman who allegedly stole a Porsche and then ran over its owner in a caught-on-video incident in Mississauga earlier this month is now facing auto theft charges in Toronto.