New exhibit celebrates Prince Edward Island's Mi'kmaq, Acadian history
A new exhibit at the Acadian Museum in Miscouche, P.E.I., provides a look back into the province's Mi'kmaq and Acadian history.
The "Unearthing the Past: Archaeological Discoveries on Prince Edward Island" exhibit displays artifacts that were unearthed at four sites across the island, which include in Pointe-Aux-Vieux, Havre Saint-Pierre, Nikani-ika'taqank, and Pituamkek.
The museum’s exhibit was developed collaboratively between P.E.I.’s government and the Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation.
Chief Darlene Bernard of Lennox Island First Nation was on-hand Friday for the exhibit's official launch.
“We need to be able to share our history with all Islanders and all people who come here and want to know about the first peoples of Epekwitk, and they are the Mi’kmaq,” said Bernard.
Archaeologists worked closely with the island’s Mi’kmaq while excavating the sites, keeping the team small and including members of the community.
“When they unearth an artifact that hasn’t been touched in 1,000, 2,000 years, they’re the first person to touch it since their ancestor did, and it’s a very profound experience,” said Helen Kristmanson, an archaeologist and exhibit curator.
Kristmanson says the items dug up for this exhibit show the close social and economic ties between Mi’kmaq and Acadians.
They will also be used to teach island students about the province’s history.
“It just helps them create deeper meaning,” Jason MacNeil, the education officer for the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation. “And make other connections to their own lives, and to their communities, and what they’re doing in the classroom at the same time.”
As part of the collaboration, the Mi’kmaq artifacts in the exhibit are displayed with permission.
“We want our story to never be hidden in a cupboard,” said Bernard. “We want our history to be out there for all the world to see, and we want our children to learn their true history so that they can be proud of who they are as the first people.”
Bernard says, while she’s happy to see the artifacts displayed at the Acadian Museum, she’s hopeful they’ll be able to create a permanent home for Mi’kmaq artifacts administered by the First Nation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
BREAKING Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.