Without adequately understanding where we have been and recognizing the mistakes made along our path to the present, we cannot possibly hope to properly plan for the future.
As the old saying goes, failing to learn from history condemns us all to repeating errors that should have served as lessons upon which to build a brighter, more inclusive and considerate future for everyone.
I cannot help but find admirably commendable the diligence that the Sundre and District Museum, under the leadership of executive director Jaime Marr, has demonstrated towards building cultural bridges with the Métis Nation.
Growing up — and even to this day — my own knowledge of their history and culture has been rather limited in scope. It could essentially be summed up by what I was taught in grade school about Louis Riel; the founder of Manitoba and political leader of the Métis people who famously led a resistance against the Canadian government to preserve their rights, but was subsequently executed for high treason despite protests as well as calls for clemency.
What was not as clearly conveyed during those lessons was the extent to which the Métis people were for far too long neglected and essentially dismissed as second-class citizens whose rights were not recognized and arguably even trampled.
Only in 2016 did Canada’s Supreme Court pass a ruling that more than 600,000 Aboriginal people previously denied special legal status by the federal government should receive it, potentially opening doors to access new rights. In its decision, the court declared the Métis — people of mixed First Nations and European descent — as well as other Aboriginals who were not registered with the government, as “Indians” under the Constitution Act of 1867.
To this day, many Canadians do not know much about the trials and tribulations faced by a culture that despite contributing to this country in many ways was cast out by an indifferent majority.
Yet that seems poised to change courtesy of the work and effort of people like Marr, as well as organizations such as the Sundre and District Historical Society.
“The historical society and museum recognize that we need to tell their story,” Marr said during a recent interview about a special re-dedication of a display celebrating the contributions of Métis families in Sundre and surrounding area.
That involves a long-term effort to record and document the culture’s oral histories for future generations, she said, adding a video documentary production team partnered with the museum to collect the stories that are to eventually be transcribed and digitized for posterity.
That initiative should be applauded and I look forward to seeing the results of the project that represents a significant step along the path to reconciliation.
I don’t doubt for one second that I, as well as many others, stand to gain some valuable insight and understanding that would otherwise have remained elusive.
