Valérie Plante has announced her desire to modify certain street names and create new ones in an effort to open up to Aboriginal communities.
Posted at 7:31 p.m.
The mayoress of Montreal made the statement on Tuesday, on the occasion of National Indigenous Peoples Day, which aims to celebrate the culture of the First Nations. However, she did not provide further details on this measure. Recall that in 2019, Amherst Street had changed its name to Atateken.
During her speech, Valérie Plante insisted on the need to “continue the work of reconciliation” with Indigenous peoples. She commended the infrastructure projects carried out in this direction by HEC Montréal, the Canadian Center for Architecture and Space for Life.
“For us, it is important to recognize that there is indeed systemic racism and discrimination, because that allows us to go further, to recognize what is happening and to take concrete action,” said the mayor.
These gestures concern “all services of the City of Montreal”, indicated Alia Hassan-Cournol, City Councilor in charge of reconciliation, citing as an example a project to decolonize school programs carried out in collaboration with the indigenous organization Mi’ ka’ma.
“Be proud of who you are”
Since 1995, June 21 has been National Indigenous Peoples Day. This year, the Old Port of Montreal hosted the celebrations. President of the Old Port Society, Isabelle Dansereau stressed the importance of “taking a moment to celebrate and highlight the unique heritage and diversity of Aboriginal culture”.
Photo Olivier Jean, THE PRESS
Indigenous families gathered at the Old Port of Montreal on National Indigenous Peoples Day.
Several Aboriginal families participated in the ceremony. Accompanied by traditional songs, they marched along the banks of the St. Lawrence River with the Mayor of Montreal. Grand Chief Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake also spoke. Speaking alternately in Mohawk and English, she expressed her pride in the resilience of Indigenous communities in Quebec.
According to her, the preservation of traditional languages within indigenous communities is a priority. “Make your native language the first language you teach your children, not French or English. Be proud of who you are. The future is bright as we finally take our rightful place in society,” she said.
A Celebration of Indigenous Cultures
The climax of the ceremony came at noon sharp. As tradition dictates, a fire was lit to symbolize the summer solstice. Spectators were asked to move their cameras away to respect the traditional rite of pouring handfuls of earth on the fire.
Pairs of dancers took their places to perform powwow dances. Among them were many children in traditional costumes. The younger ones were still standing with difficulty. “With us, there are no dance schools. Children learn by doing,” said the facilitator.
The morning ended with a concert by Innu artist Kanen, whose melodies convey both the strength of Indigenous resilience and the melancholy in the face of the crimes of colonization, in particular towards missing and murdered women. in the Innu community. “It’s a chance to have the opportunity to raise awareness and recognize the memory of the eleven nations”, explained the singer.
National Indigenous Peoples Day has echoed all the way to the Prime Minister’s office in Ottawa. “While today is a time to celebrate First Nations, Inuit and Métis across Canada, it is also a time to recognize that there is still work to be done to right the wrongs of the past. and fill in the gaps that remain,” said Justin Trudeau.