The corporation des fêtes de la Grande Paix de Montréal launches the exhibition "1701 The Great Peace of Montréal" at Pointe-à-Callière

The treaty of 1701 shown for the first time to the public!
The corporation des fêtes de la Grande Paix de Montréal launches the exhibition
"1701 The Great Peace of Montréal" at Pointe-à-Callière

Montréal, May 1, 2001 - Within the framework of the festivities surrounding the commemoration of the signing of the peace treaty of 1701, the Corporation des fêtes de la Grande Paix de Montréal, is today launching the exhibition 1701 The Great Peace of Montréal at Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History. Through major and priceless pieces from American, French and First Nations archives and collections, the exhibition aims to educate visitors about the political, social, economic and geographic context of the events leading up to the Great Peace of Montréal of 1701. The exhibition will be presented until September 16, 2001.

According to Mr. André Dudemaine, President of the Corporation des fêtes de la Grande Paix de Montréal and Cultural Director of Land InSights, "the exhibition marks the definitive launch of the commemoration by enabling the public to better understand the historical context of the many activities that will be taking place throughout this summer and gain a keener sense of the event's importance."

As to Mrs. Francine Lelièvre, Vice-President of the Corporation des fêtes de la Grande Paix de Montréal and Director General of Pointe-à-Callière, she wished to emphasize that the treaty of 1701 would exceptionally be in Montréal for the duration of the exhibition. "Pointe-à-Callière is particularly honored to show the treaty of 1701, back in America for the very first time, to the public. This major document will be exhibited along with collection pieces, all of great quality and the majority of which have never before been shown to the public."

The pièce de résistance of the exhibition: the treaty of 1701
The treaty of 1701 is undoubtedly one of the most significant objects in the exhibition, a first-ever loan by the Centre des Archives d'Outre-Mer in France where it has been in safekeeping these past 300 years… A priceless artifact, extremely well preserved, the treaty is truly awe-inspiring. In addition to the signature of the representative of France, Governor Louis-Hector de Callière, the treaty bears the marks of 39 First Nations representatives who apposed their clan emblems thereon, depictions of animals (turtle, beaver, fox, buffalo, fish, bird, etc.), in lieu of their signature.

A momentous page in our history
Three hundred years ago, in 1701, there occurred in Montréal one of the most important diplomatic events in the history of relations between New France and the Amerindians. A general peace, signed by France and its Amerindian allies on the one hand, and by the Iroquois League of Five Nations on the other hand, ended a near-century of conflicts between the two groups. This gathering for peace was a truly spectacular event, with its 1,300 Amerindian delegates outnumbering Montréal's total population of 1,200 ! For almost three weeks, in the summer of 1701, Montréal's pulse was perfectly in tune with the formal rituals, official hearings, commercial exchanges, celebrations and discourses of the Great Peace conference.

Exceptional objects from some 20 national and international museums
The exhibition showcases more than 130 objects or batches of objects from 17th and 18th century French and Amerindian cultures. Most of these objects are on exhibition for the very first time through loans negotiated with, among others, the Musée de l'Homme, the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève and the Musée de l'Armée in Paris, the Chartres Musée des Beaux-Arts, Nebraska's Museum of the Fur Trade, the Illinois State Museum, the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull and the Musée de la civilisation de Québec.

The exhibition emphasizes the cultural characteristics of the Iroquois and of the Great Lakes Nations through finely crafted objects: moccasins, finery, leather tobacco pouches, etc. Trade goods are also on display (copper cauldrons, hatchets and various artifacts) as well as alliances, for instance that extraordinary wampum belt offered to Samuel de Champlain by the Huron in 1611 to officialize that first commercial and political alliance entered into by the parties. There is also a medal of the Ordre de chevalier de Saint-Louis, a French symbol of political and social merit, a silver monstrance made in 1686, 18th century trade rifles, a ceremonial pipe, Indian headdresses and ornaments, etc.

An awe-inspiring museography, an audiovisual presentation and a sound track
An ever-present museography combining the metaphor of the forest and of the French colony symbolizes the universe of French-Amerindian diplomacy. At the beginning of the visit, an audiovisual presentation gives an overview of this very impressive saga. The exhibition is divided into four zones and is accompanied by an ambient sound score.

Throughout the exhibition, the visitor is constantly exposed to quotations by the event's contemporary chronicler, Bacqueville de La Potherie. In this way the visitor can familiarize himself with the metaphoric language of the Amerindians: "to bury the tomahawk in the deepest of pits, to smoke the peace pipe, to plant the peace tree, to accompany each word of a discourse with wampums and various offerings, etc." During this voyage back in time, the visitor will learn a lot about the importance of peace rituals and diplomacy as well as how the French adapted to these Amerindian traditions.

UNESCO recognition
On April 26, the United Nations declared that, given the scope of the commemoration, the tricentennial of the Great Peace of Montréal deserved to be one of the premier events of the UN Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010), a series of events sponsored by UNESCO.

The Great Peace festivities: the event of the summer in Montréal
To organize the commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the Great Peace of Montréal, Land InSights, Corporation for the promotion of native culture, and Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History, decided to institute a partnership toward that end, the Corporation des fêtes de la Grande Paix de Montréal.

The Government of Québec is the event's major partner. According to Mr. Guy Chevrette, minister of Transports and minister responsible for Native Affairs, "the Government of Québec is particularly pleased to be associated with the commemoration activities of a milestone in our history, the signing of the peace treaty of 1701, given that this event is a harbinger of the rich tradition of hospitality and cultural interaction that has become a hallmark of Québec society. The Government of Québec is working diligently to develop and maintain good relations with the Native Peoples. The commemoration of the signing of the Great Peace of Montréal is a unique opportunity to demonstrate our willingness to showcase, not only Amerindian cultures, but also the languages, traditions and artistic richness of each of Québec's First Nations."

In addition to the exhibition 1701 The Great Peace of Montréal hosted by Pointe-à-Callière, many activities will be conveying the general public to commemorate this historical event in a spirit of celebration and sharing. For instance, next June 21, hundreds of costumed children will be parading in Place Royale to participate in a ceremony where they will be recognized as First Peace Ambassadors. The complete program of activities of the Great Peace of Montréal is available at: www.grandepaix.org.

Note: Pictures of the exhibition can be obtained at the following page of the Great Peace Web site: www.grandepaix.org/photosexpo/photos.html.

Source: Corporation des fêtes de la Grande Paix de Montréal

Information: Anne-Marie Laurin / Lise Perras
BDDS Shandwick
(514) 393-1180

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