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For decades, Mi’kmaw Elder Don Julien has been part of the vision for the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre.
“We needed a place where [our] stories could be told properly, in our own voices and … we could learn about the long history of Mi’kma’ki and the presence here in the region,” Julien said at a federal announcement in Millbrook First Nation on Tuesday.
It’s taken a long time to come to fruition, but with the announcement of another $1 million in funding from the federal government — part of a $6-million package to support Indigenous tourism in Canada — Julien’s dream is one step closer to becoming a reality.
The boost in funding comes after a $9-million investment in the centre from Ottawa last October.
“Supporting Indigenous tourism is part of economic reconciliation,” MP Rechie Valdez, Canada’s secretary of state for small business and tourism, said at the announcement.
“I’ve seen it myself increase tremendous opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs. It supports our local businesses and brings visitors to diverse communities.”
WATCH | Mi’kmaw Debert Cultural Centre expected to open next year:
Mi’kmaw Debert Cultural Centre one step closer to breaking ground
The federal government announced Tuesday that it will invest another $1 million into the project. The organization’s executive director expects construction to begin this summer. The CBC’s Luke Ettinger reports.
When it opens, the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre will offer educational workshops, language and storytelling sessions, and celebrate more than 10,000 years of Mi’kmaw history.
It will also become the new home for thousands of artifacts that have long been held in museums far from the province like the National Museum of the American Indian and the Canadian Museum of History.
The $49-million project is expected to go to tender this spring, said Tim Bernard, executive director for the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre.
“Once we receive and negotiate the bid, with the successful construction companies, we’re looking at a July [or] August shovel in the ground,” he said.
The centre is still $10 million short of its funding target, but Bernard said he’s optimistic it will be reached.
Originally slated to open in 2025, he said the centre is now expected to be open by November 2028.
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