Wendake, May 7, 2024 – The Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) wishes to remind the Quebec government that Quebec’s history began long before Europeans arrived on the territory. The AFNQL is responding to comments made by Premier Legault on April 25, when he announced the creation of the National Museum of Quebec History, emphasizing “the importance of starting with Champlain […]”.
In addition to the Prime Minister’s remarks, the AFNQL strongly condemns the comments made by Éric Bédard, the historian in charge of the project, who stated in interviews that “history begins with writing, and before history, there is prehistory. Perhaps Indigenous peoples represent Quebec’s prehistory.”
For the AFNQL, it is crucial to recognize that the territory of Quebec, like the entire American continent, was and still is inhabited by a multitude of peoples, each with its own language, culture, oral tradition, and complex social, political, and economic structures. By excluding First Nations from the history of Quebec in the design of the future National Museum, the Premier and the historian are implicitly contributing to the systematic erasure of our shared past.
For Ghislain Picard, Chief of the AFNQL, “These comments are unacceptable. We are inseparable from the history of this land, and Champlain’s arrival does not define Quebec. First Nations have been here for thousands of years and are deeply attached to the land they occupy. Suggesting that we are prehistoric amounts to relegating us to a secondary role, when our contribution to the formation of modern Quebec is fundamental. This narrow nationalism does not represent the history of Quebec; it omits entire sections for political reasons.”
The creation of the National Museum of Quebec History is a perfect opportunity to highlight the shared past of First Peoples and the Quebec nation and to strengthen the ties that unite us in a spirit of reconciliation. First Peoples are part of Quebec’s past, present, and future.
TERRA NULLIUS
The statements made during the announcement of the National Museum of Quebec History painfully revive memories of Terra nullius, the doctrine of discovery. This doctrine, used in the 15th century to justify dispossession, colonization, assimilation, discrimination, and violence against First Nations by Europeans, has left deep intergenerational scars.
Although Pope Francis rejected the Doctrine of Discovery and apologized to the First Peoples of the territory for the role of the Catholic Church during his visit to Canada in 2022, it caused intergenerational damage that remains.
“In order to avoid committing further injustices against First Peoples and to ensure that they occupy their rightful place in Quebec history, it is imperative that those responsible for the museum project actively involve recognized Indigenous historians. Only in this way can we guarantee future generations access to all facets of our shared history on the land we share,” concluded Ghislain Picard.