Abitibiwinni: 6,000 years of history

Prominent People

Guide to Indian Country Page 13

You get there and you walk into a turtle.

That's right, a turtle. You are in Quebec City's Musee de la

civilisation, featuring an exhibition called "Abitibiwinni: 6000 years

of history."

The exhibition displays how the Abitibiwinnik have lived over the last

60 centuries. To non-Natives, the Abitibiwinnik are mostly known as

Algonquin (the name of both a First Nation located in Quebec and

Ontario, and their language), not to be confused with Algonquian (a

linguistic and cultural group including numerous First Nations and

languages distributed across Canada). The Algonquin are one of 11 First

Nations in present-day Quebec. In linguistic terms, their language is

an Eastern Ojibway dialect.

Abitibiwinni is the name of the band in one of nine Algonquin

communities in Quebec. The Abitibiwinnik's traditional hunting grounds

are located southeast of Moose Factory, Ont., (on James Bay), between

two rivers: Abitibi and Harricana.

No special previous knowledge is required to enjoy what is presented in

the exhibition. Built around three themes: "Leaving", "Trading" and

Returning," "Abitibiwinni: 6000 years of history" is aimed at a general

public.

A single computer game is included and the turtle's head contains a

video projector, depicting activities such as boating on a river,

building a pole structure, roasting beavers and digging for artifacts,

and includes a soundtrack in both Algonquin and French with English

subtitles.

Largely based on archeological findings, the exhibition features a

number of artifacts and some general information about digging sites.

More specifically, historical information pertains largely to the fur

trade era, on lifestyle and the relationships they enjoyed with other

Aboriginal groups.

As appears too often to be the case in simplified versions of Native

history, transition from the early European contact period to the

modern, Indian Act system is not clear. Not much is said either about

churches, and other agents or change, including mining and lumber

companies or other users of natural resources.

Still, organizers have succeeded in making "Abitibiwinni: 6000 years of

history" a pleasant and satisfying experience as well as an educational

one. You may not come out knowing everything about the Abitibiwinnik,

but you will have acquired a taste for finding out more.

The exhibition was developed in close cooperation with the Pikogan Band

council and Algonquin Elders. Pikogan is located north of the town of

Amos in western Quebec (look straight north of Lake Ontario on a map of

the great Lakes area).

The exhibition was co-produced by Pikogan's non-profit Matcite8eia

Society, dedicated to the Algonquin people's cultural, social, economic

and touristic development.

A local museum (Center d'exposition d'Amos) and a regional heritage

group focusing on archeology (Corporation Archeo-08) were the other two

co-producers. This is a traveling exhibition, slowly making its way

around over a period of four years.

In Amos, where it was first shown, it generated considerable interest

in younger Abitibiwinnik, according to Dominique Rankin, executive

director of Societe Matcite8eia.

"Abitibiwinni: 6000 years of history" is in keeping with the Musee de

la civilisations's mission to reflect all dimensions of Quebec's

identity. From the outset, in 1988, Native people have been considered

partners, as outlined in the museum's policy on Aboriginal nations and

their heritage. Specific official agreements have been reached since

with a number of First Nations: Micmac, Huron-Wendat, Montagnais and

Abenaki. The museum is also a partner in the publications of a series

of booklets on individual Aboriginal groups in Quebec, including the

Algonquin.

From September to February, "Abitibiwinni: 6000 years of history" will

be seen in a number of Abitibi (northwestern Quebec) areas, including La

Sarre, Rouyn-Noranda, Ville-Marie and Vald'Or. Starting in March 1997,

it will tour the rest f Quebec and a number of other Canadian

locations. Presently, the exhibition will remain at Quebec City's Musee

de la civilisation until August 11, thereby covering two of the

Algonquin's six seasons: minokamin (May and June) and nipin (July and

August).