And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 16:11:44 -0400
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: Lynne Moss-Sharman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Maliseets & The Old Government & the stopwatch [take a look at
schedule timing at bottom of email]
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June 30, 1999 Restored mansion reopened tomorrow
Ceremonies returning the historic residence to
the people will highlight the province's Canada Day celebrations
By ALAN WHITE - New Brunswick Telegraph Journal
FREDERICTON - On New Year's Day 1835, Maliseets made their way to the house
of Lieutenant-Governor Sir Archibald Campbell to perform a traditional
dance to welcome the New Year. That scene was captured in a small
watercolour, a copy of which hangs in that same house - Old Government
House - in Fredericton. And that scene from 164 years ago will be revisited
tomorrow as Maliseets again come to Old Government House to participate in
the ceremonies that mark the official rededication of the majestic stone
mansion as the home of New Brunswick's representative of royalty after a
century-long absence.
It's been about 100 years since New Brunswick's vice-regal representative
called Old Government House home, but that officially ends tomorrow as the
building that has been designated as both a National and Provincial
Historic Site is given back to the people of the province after a
$5.5-million effort to restore the building to its original glory. "It's a
point in history that will always be remembered and go down in the history
books," says Lieutenant-Governor Marilyn Trenholme Counsell of tomorrow's
events. There to mark the occasion as part of Canada Day celebrations will
be representatives of the province's native community, its Acadian
community and those of Anglo-Saxon ancestry, all of whom have historical
links to the site {Note: some more than others eh?} on the banks of the St.
John River on Woodstock Road.
Native use of the site goes back thousands of years, and the French settled
there in the 1700s, which was confirmed by the discovery of Saintonge
pottery from pre-1765 during the testoration work on the building during
the past two years. A burial ground neighbouring the site is believed to
have been used by both natives and French settlers. Under British rule in
the early 1800s, the province built Old Government House as the home and
office of its third Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Howard Douglas, opening it in
1828. The Canada Day ceremonies will honour the history of the site as a
common link between the native, Acadian and British communities as much as
the history of Old Government House itself.
"It's of fundamental importance that we realize this represents much more
than a building; it represents our history," said Mrs. Trenholme Counsell.
"The restoration of the building is important, but far more important is
the history of the site, in my view. It's a day about the building, but I
think if we were just there praising the building, we would be selling
ourselves short in terms of our history {note: and tourism}. And we
certainly wouldn't be offering enough respect to the first nations and the
Acadians and not opening the doors enough to the multicultural society that
we've become."
The events to mark the official opening begin at 7 a.m. with a traditional
native sweetgrass ceremony by the Negootkook Drummers and Chanters of the
Tobique First Nation, which will serve to bless the building. Most of the
ceremonies marking the occasion will take place between 11 a.m. and noon,
with the public encouraged to arrive on the grounds prior to 10:50 a.m.
Following the entrance of the Lieutenant-Governor and the vice-regal
salute,the Negootkook Drummers and Chanters will perform a welcome drumming
chant, much like was done on New Year's Day in 1835, according to the
watercolour that hangs inside Old Government House. {Note: paintings serve
as virtual recordings?}
"It's sort of picking up on that tradition and also recognizing the
significance of what was taking place in that illustration," said Cynthia
Wallace-Casey, the province's project executive for Old Government House.
"It was far more than just a nice little social get-together. There was a
reason for that and it had to do with renewing understanding on an annual
basis and just maintaining a certain status {note: whew!!!} between the
British authorities at the time and the first peoples that were living on
the land."
The hour-long ceremony will also include performances by the Hillsborough
Girls Choir and the Choeur de Soulanges, which bears the name of the French
governor for the region in the 1600s when New Brunswick was then part of
New France. While natives will bless the site through the sweetgrass
ceremony that must be carried out early in the morning when things are
peaceful, Anglican Bishop George Lemmon and the Roman Catholic Bishop for
the Saint John Diocese, Most Rev. Faber MacDonald, will also give their
rededication blessing.
Also on the schedule of events is official recognition of Sachem Gabe
Acquin, the founder of what is now St. Mary's First Nation in Fredericton,
as a Person of National Historic Significance. "He also was a leader in
the Wolastoqew [Maliseet] community all along the river and was frequently
coming and going from Old Government House in the 1800s," said Ms.
Wallace-Casey. "He's quite broadly remembered for his involvement with the
Royal Visit in 1860. Gabe took the Prince of Wales for a canoe ride along
the river when he was staying at Old Government House," she said. "[The
Prince] actually was supposed to be at a service at Christ Church
Cathedral. They couldn't find him. He was out on the river with Gabe Acquin
and he showed up late for his service. Shortly after that, he was invited
to England by the Royal Family to visit and demonstrate Wolastoqew culture
to the people of London."
A highlight of the morning's ceremonies for Mrs. Trenholme Counsell will be
the unveiling of the Royal Coat of Arms above the main entrance to the
mansion that houses her office, her private apartment, and the spacious
main-floor rooms that have been restored to their original glory and are
open to public viewing. "That's the Coat of Arms given by King George III
to our first governor, Thomas Carleton," she said. "From the point of view
of my office, that's very significant." Mrs. Trenholme-Counsell calls the
rededication of Old Government House "a very significant moment in New
Brunswick's history." "I'm just sort of awestruck with the history of the
whole thing and the historical significance," she said. "And I'm also
realizing what an immense privilege it is to be in this office at this
time." Following the official ceremonies, which conclude with the playing
of O Canada at noon, the doors of Old Government House will be thrown open
for the public to view the four main rooms that have been restored to look
much like they did in the pre-Confederation era.
Following is the schedule of public events:
7 a.m. - Sweetgrass ceremony
10:40-10:50 - Pre-ceremony music by Choeur de Soulanges
10:50-11 a.m. - Pre-ceremony music by Hillsborough Girls Choir
11 a.m. - Arrival of colour party; Lieutenant Governor exits
from front doors of Old Government House
11:03 a.m. - Welcome drumming chant by Negootkook Drummers and
Chanters
11:13 a.m. - Welcome by Masters of Ceremonies Frank
Flanagan and Bernard-Marie Theriault.
11:18 a.m. - Remarks by Fredericton Mayor Walter Brown
11:23 a.m. - Remarks by Premier Bernard Lord
11:28 a.m. - Remarks by Fredericton MP Andy Scott.
Recognition of Sachem Gabe Acquin as a Person of National
Historic Significance
11:33 a.m. - Signing of official documents and unveiling of
Royal Coat of Arms; National Historic Site plaque; Provincial
Historic Site plaque. (Performances by Choeur de Soulanges
and Hillsborough Girls Choir)
11:43 a.m. - Remarks by Lt.-Gov. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell
11:48 a.m. - Certificate presentations to Canada Day poster
contest winners
11:53 a.m. - Rededication blessing by The Right Reverend
George C. Lemmon and The Most Reverend Faber MacDonald.
11:58 a.m. - Conclusion of ceremonies by masters of ceremonies.
Noon - Singing of O Canada
"Let Us Consider The Human Brain As
A Very Complex Photographic Plate"
1957 G.H. Estabrooks
www.angelfire.com/mn/mcap/bc.html
FOR K A R E N #01182
who died fighting 4/23/99
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.aches-mc.org
807-622-5407
Reprinted under the fair use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
doctrine of international copyright law.
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Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit)
Unenh onhwa' Awayaton
http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/
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