Press Release
For Immediate Release: December 8th, 2023
“Revealing Chignecto: The Stories Within” – A New Narrative at the VIC
SACKVILLE, NB – The Municipality of Tantramar is pleased to announce that it is hosting Parks Canada’s traveling exhibit “Revealing Chignecto: The Stories Within” at our Visitor Information Centre (located at 34 Mallard Drive), from November 15, 2023, to January 25, 2024.
The “Revealing Chignecto” traveling exhibit, initiated in 2016, tells the stories of the Chignecto Isthmus, a narrow strip of land linking mainland Nova Scotia to New Brunswick. Today, this land is a quiet landscape of salt marshes and rivers. Since its official launch at the Université de Moncton’s Musée Acadien in 2022, the exhibit has made stops at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 and Fundy National Park’s Salt & Fir Centre.
This interactive exhibit offers a profound look into the Mi’gmaq and Acadian history of the Chignecto Isthmus. Suitable for all ages, it encourages a deeper understanding of narratives that have long been overlooked.
Géraldine Arsenault, Superintendent for Parks Canada’s Northern New Brunswick Field Unit, stated, “Parks Canada has a responsibility to go beyond the colonial historical narrative and to bring Indigenous perspectives, values, and contributions into the stories we share with Canadians. ‘Revealing Chignecto: The Stories Within’ does this by taking a deeper look at the history of the Chignecto Isthmus region from both Mi’gmaw and Acadian perspectives. We are very pleased to bring the exhibit to Sackville, a vibrant community in the heart of this rich and storied land.”
The exhibit is a culmination of a significant partnership between Parks Canada, the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre, and Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Inc., with guidance from Elders and Knowledge Keepers. It reflects the commitment to present a more inclusive history.
Chief Rebecca Knockwood of Fort Folly First Nation and MTI Co-Chair reflects on the region’s significance, “Siknikt [Chignecto] has always been and continues to be an important area for the Mi’gmaq. The lands and waters are significant in the geography of the Wabanaki Nations. Trade, meeting, hunting, and harvesting have taken place here since time immemorial. We hope this exhibit will help the public understand the significance of this area for the Mi’gmaq.”
The bilingual exhibit also features eight audio stations for an immersive experience in Mi’gmaw. The official opening date is Thursday, December 14th, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and we are inviting the public to connect with the past in a way that is both educational and transformative.
Tantramar residents and visitors can view the exhibit Monday through Saturday, between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM in December. January hours will be Friday to Monday, from noon to 4:00 PM.
This exhibit will be traveling to different locations until 2026. Venues interested in hosting the exhibit should contact Parks Canada by email at denny.richard@pc.gc.ca or visit the website at www.pc.gc.ca/chignecto.
-30-
Media Contact:
Jeremy McLaughlin
Communications Officer
Municipality of Tantramar
(506) 364-4930
J.McLaughlin@Sackville.com