The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Premier Gary Doer on Friday congratulated the communities of St. Laurent and Hollow Water on being selected by the internationally acclaimed Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., to present exhibits of Canadian Métis and First Nations culture and heritage. "St. Laurent and Hollow Water are two of 24 communities in the Western Hemisphere chosen to represent the diversity of Aboriginal people and their living culture," said the premier. "Métis and First Nations people of Manitoba can take great pride in being chosen for this prestigious opportunity to display lifestyle and cultural symbols that are uniquely theirs." The exhibits will be located in the Smithsonian's newly developed $219 million National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), a monument of living cultures dedicated to the preservation, study and exhibition of the life, languages, literature, history and arts of the Aboriginal peoples of the Western Hemisphere. The St. Laurent exhibit will highlight the Métis culture of today in the Our Lives section that focuses on tribal identities. The display, which is the largest in the section, features an antique Bombardier snow machine often used in St. Laurent for ice fishing, as well as fishing equipment and a video depicting daily life in the community that was filmed by the Smithsonian. The Hollow Water First Nation will be part of the Our Universe section which focuses on Aboriginal peoples' world views. The display features 13 historic birch bark scrolls containing an ancient version of strong cultural teachings that epitomizes the world view of Aboriginal peoples in the Hollow Water area. The two displays will remain with the Smithsonian Institution for up to 10 years. It is expected that more than 600,000 people will visit the NMAI during the first week and more than six million visitors throughout the year. In addition to the displays, saskatoon berry products are being presented as a traditional part of the lifestyle of Métis and First Nations people and will be sold in the Smithsonian gift shop. Opening ceremonies for the NMAI are scheduled for Sept. 21 and will include performances by the St. Laurent Youth Fiddlers and renowned fiddle player Emile Lavalle at the Potomac Stage in a tent on the National Mall. They will also entertain at the Canadian Embassy on Sept. 20. The opening ceremonies will include a native nations procession of more than 15,000 people from Aboriginal communities across the Western Hemisphere. "Our province applauds the St. Laurent and Hollow Water communities, particularly those involved in establishing this exciting celebration of the lifestyle and culture of Métis and Aboriginal people in Manitoba," said Doer. "The sharing of these traditions is an essential part of their preservation for future generations."
