METEPENAGIAG (NB) – August 22, 2007 – Chief Noah Augustine of the Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation was joined today by Mike Allen, Member of Parliament for Tobique-Mactaquac on behalf of Canada’s New Government, and the Honourable T.J. Burke, Minister of Justice and Consumer Affairs, to mark the official opening of the Metepenagiag Heritage Park. Construction of the multi-million dollar Park, a world-class cultural tourism facility, began in the spring of 2006, thanks to a partnership between the Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation, the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick.

“The opening of our park is a time to honour and reflect on the traditional way of life of our ancestors more than 30 centuries ago” said Chief Noah Augustine. “It is also a time to celebrate our pride as Mi’kmaq of Miramichi, and our inseparable connection to the land at Metepenagiag and the river that have sustained our enduring community. We have a long history here. Metepenagiag Heritage Park is a valuable cultural educational facility that will help everyone see the bigger picture.”

“Canada’s New Government recognizes that investments in projects such as the Metepenagiag Heritage Park are vitally important to our communities and to the people who live in them,” said MP Allen. “This world-class tourist attraction will serve to educate and remind us of the rich and vibrant way of life of the Mi’kmaq. This park marks a vital step in the recognition and celebration of the rich Aboriginal heritage of this area.”

“The Heritage Park is a wonderful opportunity for the people of Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation to celebrate their culture, heritage and to demonstrate their creativity and spirit to all,” said Minister Burke. “New Brunswickers and indeed all Canadians have much they can learn and much they can gain from experiencing and understanding the rich heritage and unique traditions of the Mi’kmaq peoples.”

The Park will preserve, protect and present the national significance of the Augustine Mound and Oxbow National Historic Sites of Canada – two of the most impressive Aboriginal heritage archaeological sites in Eastern Canada. The sites show that Metepenagiag (Red Bank) is the oldest, continuously occupied village in New Brunswick, dating back more than 3,000 years. They also illustrate wide ranging aboriginal trading networks, which stretched from Atlantic Canada into the Great Lakes and as far as the Ohio Valley.

Ce communiqué est également disponible en français

FOR BROADCAST USE:

Chief Noah Augustine, Member of Parliament Mike Allen, and the Honourable T.J. Burke, Minister of Justice and Consumer Affairs were on hand to celebrate the grand opening of the Metepenagiag Heritage Park Interpretation Centre today.

The world class cultural tourism attraction will celebrate over 3,000 years of Mi’kmaq history in the Miramichi region. It is supported by the Government of Canada, the Province of New Brunswick and the Metepenagiag First Nation.

INFORMATION:

MEDIA BACKGROUNDER

• The Metepenagiag Heritage Park will preserve, protect and present the national significance of Augustine Mound and Oxbow National Historic Sites of Canada – two of the most impressive Aboriginal heritage archaeological sites in Eastern Canada. The sites show that Metepenagiag (Red Bank) is the oldest, continuously occupied village in New Brunswick, dating back more than 3,000 years. They also illustrate wide ranging aboriginal trading networks, which stretched from Atlantic Canada into the Great Lakes and as far as the Ohio Valley.

• The Park will also bring an economic boost to the local economy. It is expected to grow to attract upwards of 25,000 visitors annually.

• Visitors will experience over 3,000 years of Mi’kmaq history and culture through a series of evocative, engaging, and entertaining thematic settings and media. The 1,539-square-metre interpretation centre includes a main reception hall, theme exhibits that provide a variety of two- and three-dimensional settings, audio-visual productions, computer interactive programs and oral history recordings. There is also a multimedia theatre featuring a 20-minute production presented in a “forest-like” setting that includes multiple-screen panoramic projections, “virtual” historical figures and evocative soundscapes.

• Visitors can also observe the Oxbow National Historic Site of Canada from an exterior viewing deck. The numerous walking trails that run through the Park will enhance the visit by providing visitors with an opportunity to experience the beauty of the Metepenagiag landscape. Nationally certified heritage interpreters will provide guided tours and additional programming activities.

• To date, the Government of Canada has invested $5.9 million towards this initiative. Funding was provided by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development ($2.3M), the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) ($2M), the Department of Canadian Heritage ($1.6M). Parks Canada provided in-kind professional services for the development of the project, and will invest $1.5 million over the next 10 years towards the operational costs of the Park.

• The Province of New Brunswick contributed $1,145,000 million to the project, and the Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation contributed $450,000.