Chief Wants Museum for “Grandfather Canoe”
22 Jun
Candance Paul, the chief of the Maliseet First Nation of New Brunswick, Canada, wants to build a museum and heritage center that will feature the “Grandfather Canoe,” built by Maliseet craftsmen 180 years ago.
The canoe is thought to be the oldest birchbark canoe in existence. CBC News published THIS story about this matter today.
“We are Wolastoqiyik people, and that means people of the river,” Paul told the CBC. “So the canoe is the symbol of who we are and it represents us as people.”
The canoe, which languished at the University of Ireland, Galway until a few years ago, will stay in Canada after its run of temporary appearances in New Brunswick museums ends, university official announced recently, HERE. Just where in Canada the vessel will reside permanently, however, has not yet been determined.
The canoe will be on display at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery until Aug. 31
