A garden of peace blooms in Montreal

MONTREAL — Clutching handfuls of earth, aboriginal and non-aboriginal people joined in Montreal last week to plant a symbol of peace and cooperation.

The tiny white pine tree they planted stands near the centre of Montreal’s First Nations and Inuit garden, which opened Aug. 3.

This newest addition to the Montreal Botanical Garden emphasizes the cultures of Quebec’s 11 aboriginal nations.

“It is a contemporary garden, one inspired by Amerindian and Inuit cultures. It highlights not only native knowledge of plants, but also activities relating to the plant world, from gathering food and medicinal plants to using wood and trees to make things and transport their homes,” said Jean-Jacques Lincourt, director of the garden.

The aboriginal garden is still patchy in places, as newly-transplanted vegetation struggles to take root in Montreal’s steamy summer heat.

But among the 300 species featured in the 2.5 hectare garden — as large as five football fields — are 750 trees, 3,000 shrubs, and 1,200 flowers, vegetables and berry bushes.

Nunavik’s Avataq institute participated in the design of the garden’s “nordic” section, which is devoted to vegetation found in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions.
The space is dominated by an inuksuk built by Avataq board members Charlie Arngak and Isaacie Padlayat. Driftwood, lichen-covered boulders and plants common to Nunavik, such as willows, cotton grass, Labrador tea and crowberries, surround the inuksuk.

These plants were gathered in Nunavik and brought down to Montreal for the garden.

In each of the First Nations and Inuit Garden sections there are interpretation panels and interactive terminals. One explores the hardwood forest, another the boreal forest. There’s a pond, streams, a vegetable plot, and even a peat bog.

An interpretation centre houses a gift shop as well as a permanent exhibition on native peoples.

Quebec’s department of tourism and the City of Montreal paid the $3.5 million cost of the project.

Pierre Bourque, the mayor of Montreal and former head of the botanical garden, said the opening of the aboriginal garden is a “great, great day” for native communities in Quebec and Montreal.

“You’re at home in Montreal. This is your land,” said Bourque, who joined native leaders in planting the white pine.

This gesture kicked off celebrations for the 300th anniversary of the signing of the Great Peace of Montreal. On Aug. 4, 1,701 representatives from more than 40 First Nations signed a truce with French colonizers in Montreal.

“Today, the sun has scattered the clouds, revealing this wonderful tree of peace,” Grand Chief Kondiarok said at that time.

The First Nations and Inuit Garden is located inside the Montreal Botanical Garden, facing Olympic Stadium, at 4101 Sherbrooke St. East.

The garden is open from sunrise to sunset until Nov. 4. The admission charge, which also covers entrance to all other exhibits within the botanical gardens, is $10 for adults, $7.50 for students and seniors, and $5 for children aged 5-17.

Guided tours of the First Nations and Inuit Garden are available daily.

Activities, such as Huron-Wendat storytelling, Micmac basketmaking, and Innu drumming, are planned for the upcoming weeks.

On Aug. 10-11 Inuit throat singers will perform for visitors, while soapstone carvers will demonstrate their craft on Sept. 15-16.

More information on the garden is available at www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/en or at 514-872-1400.