The First Nations have contributed to the development of the history of the Quebec nation, François Legault declared on Wednesday. The Prime Minister still insisted on the importance of highlighting the Quebec nation through the exhibitions of the future National Museum of Quebec History (MNHQ).
“It is the National Museum of the History of Quebec, therefore, it is the museum of the Quebec nation,” he declared at a press briefing.
Two weeks ago, Mr. Legault announced the creation of the MNHQ in order to stir the pride of Quebecers. This new institution will realize the ambitions which were to be expressed through the Blue Spaces network, a project canceled due to its excessive costs.
At the time of the announcement, historian Éric Bédard, who will act as a consultant on the project, asserted that Indigenous people represented the “prehistory of Quebec,” a position that he later qualified.
From Champlain
On Wednesday, while the opposition accused him of disrespecting the First Nations, Mr. Legault recognized their contribution to the development of the Quebec nation. “Listen, when we arrived, the indigenous nations were already here, there were links that were forged,” he said. “So, we definitely worked together. For sure. »
The Prime Minister specified that the new museum institution will take this into account in its exhibitions. “The idea is to show the history of the nation which was French-Canadian, which is now Quebecois, which began with Champlain,” he said. “Obviously, we are going to talk about the Aboriginal people who were there before we arrived. »
The Minister of Employment, Kateri Champagne Jourdain, a member of the Innu nation, recalled that a committee will be responsible for developing the exhibitions presented at the MNHQ. “Obviously, I would like to reiterate that the history of the First Nations is closely linked to that of the development of the Quebec nation,” she said.
Mme Champagne Jourdain affirmed that relations with Indigenous people are an important component of Quebec’s history. “The Indigenous people are here, have a millennia-old presence and they have had relationships, there have been contacts made with the first arrivals and Indigenous cultures have certainly influenced the history of Quebec and Quebec culture, that’s part of the history of Quebec. »
Lack of respect
The Minister responsible for Relations with First Nations and Inuit, Ian Lafrenière, affirmed that the MNHQ will be a museum on the history of the Quebec nation, and not on the history of Quebec and its geography. “There are several museums that exist in Quebec on several First Nations; the nation of Quebec, to have a museum, it’s correct,” he said at a press briefing.
In the National Assembly, Liberal MP André A. Morin accused the Minister of Culture, Mathieu Lacombe, of having proposed a project that does not take into account the contribution of Indigenous people. “He has just destroyed 30 years and more of reaching out to First Nations,” he said. “What a lack of respect towards these people. Perhaps it is relevant to remind our CAQ colleagues that the First Nations have been on the territory for thousands of years? »
Mr. Lacombe affirmed that the government supports First Nations and Inuit so that they highlight their history.
“We have a project, that of the National Museum of the History of Quebec. It will be a wonderful museum for all Quebecers,” he said. “The committee of experts will work on the content. »