Legault defends new museum on Québécois nation after Indigenous criticism

Quebec Premier François Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a group representing First Nations of trying to erase their history.

The Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador criticized Legault’s comments on April 25 that suggested the province’s history began with the arrival of French explorers Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain in the 16th and 17th centuries.

During his announcement of a new Quebec national history museum, the premier paid tribute to Quebec’s history, saying it “started with the explorers, Cartier then Champlain, who was the founder of our nation.”

The Assembly of First Nations also criticized historian Éric Bédard who was at the event and was quoted telling reporters that history begins with writing, and that therefore “the Indigenous people represent a bit the prehistory of Quebec.”

In a statement, the assembly said, “By excluding the First Peoples from Quebec’s history in the conception of the future national museum, the premier and the historian implicitly contribute to the systematic erasure of our common past.” Chief Ghislain Picard said the comments by Legault and Bédard were unacceptable. “We are inseparable from the history of this land, and the arrival of Champlain does not define Quebec.”

“The First Nations have been present here for millenniums and are deeply attached to the territory they occupy. To suggest that we are prehistory amounts to relegating us to a secondary role.”

On Wednesday, Legault told reporters that the new Musée national de l’histoire du Québec will focus on the history of the French-speaking Québécois nation. The 11 Indigenous nations in Quebec likely don’t consider themselves part of the Québécois nation, he said, adding that their contributions will nonetheless be included in the museum.