P.E.I.’s historic Province House is scheduled to reopen in the fall of 2025 after 10 years of renovations that cost more than $138 million.
The Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island began meeting in Province House in 1847, and in 1864, the building hosted the Charlottetown Conference that eventually led to Confederation.
But when visitors return to the hallways, they will hear about more than the Fathers of Confederation.
The project team of Parks Canada created a stakeholder advisory committee, as well as a First Nations advisory circle, to help shape the new visitor experience, to include the history of Indigenous, Black and other communities on P.E.I.
“When this building was first created… it had no Indigenous voices or Indigenous stories included,” said Julie Pellissier-Lush, the Mi’kmaq Knowledge Keeper with L’nuey.
“So it’s really important now that we have a chance to get them included now.”
The executive director of the Black Cultural Society has also been part of the advisory committee for the new visitor exhibit.
“Definitely the story of the Indigenous people whose land this is all happening on, it’s really important that those voices are included. They’ve never been included before,” said Tamara Steele.
