Fort Edmonton Park set to welcome new visitors July 1

Funding from the three levels of government made it possible to improve the range of attractions and exhibits at the living history museum. Much of that money, $ 50 million, was spent on designing the Indigenous Peoples Experience.

Many Aboriginal chiefs and elders participated in the design of the pavilion and the exhibit to make it authentic.

Photo : Radio-Canada / Mirna Djukic

This new pavilion of approximately 2,787 square meters (30,000 sq.²) offers an immersive excursion into Indigenous culture through the seasons. Inside, interpretive panels allow visitors to discover the traditional knowledge of these peoples, in addition to offering performances by Indigenous guides outside.

You can learn more about the history of residential schools in one of the sections of the exhibit.

An authentic experience

From start to finish, many Indigenous chiefs and elders were consulted in the development of the Indigenous Peoples Experience, says Treaty 6 Confederation leader Vernon Watchmaker.

The end result gives an impression of authenticity to the exhibition, he said. I am personally amazed […] It brings me back a lot of memories, he said.

Sections of the pavilion allow visitors to explore Métis culture or learn about the history of residential schools.

Photo: Radio-Canada

A sentiment shared by the President of the Métis Nation of Alberta, Audrey Poitras. She underlines that the Experience of Indigenous Peoples represents faithfully tells the story of the Métis and First Nations people who lived and worked in this area, and who helped create today’s Edmonton.

The pavilion for the Indigenous Peoples Experience exhibition opened on Monday. It will be able to welcome visitors from July 1.

Photo : Radio-Canada / Mirna Djukic

Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson hopes to change visitors’ perspective on Indigenous issues through the exhibit. He finds it important to give a greater place to this culture in an integral way in the park. It decolonizes [Fort Edmonton], in addition to thwarting the triumphant accounts of Canada and Edmonton that were taught to us when we were younger

It’s worth every dollar invested, he believes.

With information from Mirna Djukic