Quebec accused of erasing history

Historians, First Nations leaders take aim at new museum’s telling of the province’s origin

- MORGAN LOWRIE

Quebec Premier François Legault last month suggested the province’s history began with the arrival of French explorers Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain in the 16th and 17th centuries, to the anger of some groups.

MONTREAL The Quebec government’s framing of a new museum to be dedicated to the history of the Québécois nation is raising questions about how history is told and who it includes, two historians and the leader of a prominent First Nations group say.

Premier François Legault was forced last week to defend comments he made in April about the opening of a new history museum, in which he suggested the province’s history began with the arrival of French explorers Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain in the 16th and 17th centuries.

While he did highlight the presence of Indigenous people on Quebec’s territory in his speech, he was accused by the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador of trying to erase their history.

Steven High, a history professor at Concordia University, said the premier’s comments are a reminder that history is a political subject that raises tough questions.