National Day of Truth and Reconciliation celebrated on the Plains of Abraham
National Day of Truth and Reconciliation celebrated on the Plains of Abraham
Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
cassandra@qctonline.com
To commemorate the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR), albeit two days early, on Sept. 28, the National Battlefields Commission (NBC) invited the public to discover Indigenous culture on the Plains of Abraham.
At Cap Diamant, named for the quartz mistaken for diamonds by the 16th-century French explorer Jacques Cartier, the NBC organized two types of activities in honour of NDTR. The celebrations began at 11 a.m. with entertainment for children and children at heart. Those present participated in traditional games, a drawing and other cultural discovery activities.
“We greatly enjoyed going to the activity this morning. My children loved the games, and they had so many questions about the traditional attire,” said Mary Donnelly. “It is important to take part in these activities and to learn about the colourful and rich culture and heritage of the First Nations, like that of the Wendat Nation. This afternoon, after the English tour of the art pieces, we are going to Wendake before heading back home to Montreal.” The NBC offered three 30-minute tours of the art pieces: 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. for the French-language tour, and 1:30 p.m. for the English-language tour.
The two artworks of art displayed on Cap Diamant are Remembering Through Beads by Wendat artist Ludovic Boney, and The 3 WatchMen by Haida artist 7IDANsuu Chief James Hart. The former is meant to link the past, present, and future, while the latter keeps a watchful eye on the spiritual and material worlds, according to the NBC. Both pieces bridge the East and the West of Canada in Quebec City.
The Wendat Nation of Wendake was officially known as the Huron- Wendat Nation until members voted to drop the name “Huron” – meaning “boar head” and given by French colonists to describe a traditional Wendat hairstyle – in a referendum earlier this year.
The Haida Nation are from Haida Gwaii (known until recently as the Queen Charlotte Islands) in British Columbia. Their territory once stretched along the northwest coast of North America, as far as Alaska. For thousands of years, artists from this community created totem poles. Some of them were topped with the three watchmen.
When visiting Cap Diamant, feel free to walk through the giant beads. Remember through the beads: sit and contemplate, pose for photos or walk through the giant beads.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is celebrated annually on Sept. 30, which coincides with Orange Shirt Day. Both events are meant to recognize the lasting impacts of the residential school system on Indigenous Peoples in Canada. They are meant to honour victims of the residential school system and those who survived, help the healing process for the survivors, their families and communities.
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