December 5, 2024                    Sault Ste. Marie, ON                  Parks Canada

Parks Canada is committed to empowering diverse voices to ensure their experiences and perspectives are better represented through the promotion and presentation of Indigenous cultures, histories and languages.

Today, the Honourable Terry Sheehan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour and Seniors, and Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, announced $177,000 in funding for the Garden River First Nation, the Mississauga First Nation and the Thessalon First Nation for knowledge gathering projects related to sharing the Indigenous history of Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site to support the inclusion and representation of authentic Indigenous stories at the historic site.

Three separate contribution agreements provide support to each First Nation to gather research from National Archives, interviewing elders, and inventorying archaeological objects from the Fort St Joseph collection. The combination of this research will be shared with the site to bring First Nation voices to the forefront of visitor experiences at Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site.

The Government of Canada is committed to strengthening relationships with Indigenous partners and providing avenues for Indigenous peoples to share their cultures, histories, and voices. Parks Canada administered places support presentations of diverse, wide-ranging, and sometimes complex perspectives, including the difficult periods of our past. This funding will support Parks Canada’s commitment to ensuring that the history and voices of Indigenous peoples are incorporated in the programming and experiences at Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site.

By sharing these stories with Canadians, we hope to foster better understanding and open discussions on the histories, cultures, and realities of Canada’s history.

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