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] Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" 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. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&