The Crisis

 Picking up where I left off yesterday. The actions of the FLQ culminated in the October Crisis in 1970, with the kidnapping of a British diplomat and provincial cabinet minister. The federal government invoked the War Measures Act. By the end of the crisis, the diplomat was released, but the minister was murdered.

The province continued to question its future- as a province within country or as a country on its own. By 1976, a separatist party would win power in the province.

License plates reflect the change in leadership. The editorial cartoon at top shows the two rivals- the Quebec premier Rene Levesque (perpetually seen with a cigarette dangling from his lips) and the Canadian prime minister, Pierre Trudeau.

It came to a referendum over separation in 1980. Trudeau was one of the leaders of the No movement, to keep Quebec as part of Canada. Here video clips of both leaders play against each other in turn, this one being Trudeau making a speech at a rally on the subject.

The other features Levesque in the provincial legislature, with his own remarks on the subject.

The 1980 referendum did not get the result Levesque wanted. In 1995, separatists were back in power, and had another go at another referendum. 

Jacques Parizeau, the premier of Quebec, was one of the leaders of the Yes side. He is represented here by a puppet.

Another puppet, but this being a leader of the No side- the prime minister at the time, Jean Chretien.

The Rocket

 Before the turn of the century, through the advocation of the Inuit people, the federal government divided up the Northwest Territories in the Arctic into two, creating the new territory of Nunavut out of the eastern part.

The next thematic area looks at Quebec and Francophones in Canada. It begins with a man who remains a legend in the province and country long after his death. Maurice "Rocket" Richard was one of the greatest players in hockey history, playing for the Montreal Canadiens and earning the undying devotion of millions. One of his jerseys and one of his hockey sticks resides here.

In the 1960s, Quebec underwent what was called the Quiet Revolution- a time of societal transformation and a look towards modernity. 

Part of this came from the end of the premiership of Marcel Duplessis, who died in office after eighteen years in 1959. His iron grip on power gave way to new possibilities and a strong turn in a different direction.

Hydro-Quebec has had some big infrastructure projects in the interior in the post-war decades. One of those examples is the Manic 5 project. European readers will recognize Tintin at lower right- the creator once paid a visit to the area and left a sketch behind.

The project left a big mark that still resides in the province today. Some mementos of the time are seen here.

In 1967, Quebec saw the visit of the French president, who proceeded to stick his big nose where it didn't belong. Charles de Gaulle, the war hero (in his own mind) with an ego that could match that witless orange goon south of the border these days, paid a state visit to Canada. He made a speech at Montreal's city hall advocating an independent Quebec, setting off a diplomatic firestorm.

His speech is played on a screen above, the infamous Vive le Quebec libre speech. He was sent home by an angry federal government (rightfully so). I will always maintain that he did absolutely nothing in World War Two that couldn't have been done by others, that he took credit for things that were not his to take credit for, that France would have been better served if a lucky German sniper had taken him out in 1940, and that he is one of history's colossal assholes. I expect he's burning in hell these days, complaining about everything as usual.

The 1960s saw the rise of the Front de Liberation du Quebec (FLQ), a terrorist group that carried out a series of bombing attacks for years. Police equipment seen here speaks to the time.

Reconciliation

 This beautiful stained glass window is one of a pair, with the other at Parliament Hill. Metis artist Christi Belcourt created this work from the aftermath of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, 

The Commission had been headed by Murray Sinclair, a First Nations lawyer and judge who had an enormous task. A quote by him speaks to his wisdom, and a challenge to the country as a whole.

This headdress belongs to Phil Fontaine, a former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations- himself a survivor of the residential school system.

Indigenous peoples have been political activists for a long, long time.

Here are examples of First Nations art.

A video screen shows imagery of indigenous peoples in the current era.

William Commanda was a local chief of the Anishinaabe, and a recipient of the Order of Canada.

The heart of this space is occupied by a display case containing a dress, placards, and water vessels. The dress belongs to Autumn Peltier, a young First Nations activist who has advocated for the right to clean water, speaking to the United Nations. 

A quote by Elijah Harper, a Manitoba politician and Cree leader, adorns this display. He was a key factor in the failure of the Meech Lake Accord, a constitutional amendment, opposing it on principle.

A New Canada

 We start today with a model of the Indian Pavilion, which was part of Expo 67.

These display cases feature prominent Canadians of that time. Northern Dancer was the legendary horse that won the Kentucky Derby. Glenn Gould was the brilliant but reclusive classical pianist, and the case includes a pair of his gloves and one of his hats. Nancy Greene was an alpine champion skier who won gold at the 1968 Olympics.

The Canadian government moved forward with a Canadian constitution, signed into law by Queen Elizabeth in this historical photograph as the prime minister at the time, Pierre Trudeau, looks on.

Women's rights continues to be a preoccupation; as much progress has been made, there is more to go.

Our relationship with our American neighbours has long been an interesting one. Quotes by Kennedy and Trudeau accompany these displays.

The last portion of the gallery looks at various themes in Canadian history. Our darkest chapter is the first one, namely the treatment of First Nations peoples, and in particular the stain of the residential schools. The last of those schools closed in the 1990s, so this is something still very much in living memory.

It became the policy of the federal government after Confederation to establish residential schools as a way to get the Indian out of the Indian. The abuse and upheaval that would ensue would create damage spanning generations.

Not everyone saw it the same way. Peter Bryce was a medical doctor working as the chief medical doctor for Indian Affairs. He was alarmed by what he saw during inspections of residential schools in western Canada, calling it a national crime. He was largely ignored. Today his grave in Beechwood Cemetery here in Ottawa is a sacred place, even including a mailbox where people can leave letters.

This map of the country shows each location of a residential school.

But most poignant and heartbreaking is the testimony seen on a video display. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established to gather evidence, to hear the testimony of residential school survivors, and to make recommendations for making things right. Survivors talk about their experiences and the effect the schools have had on their lives ever since.