Mock battle may move off Plains of Abraham

History buffs planning to re-enact the Battle of the Plains of Abraham this summer may move their event off the historic siteafter some Quebec sovereigntists complained the mock battle wouldbe an insultto their French ancestors.

The National Battlefields Commission and event organizers are expected to announce a scaled-down version on Tuesday.

Organizers have beenlooking for areas outsideQuebec City to recreate the conflict if the federal commission decides its site is too controversial.

"There will be some modifications," said Horst Dresler, one of the organizers and president of the Quebec Historical Corps.

Planned for August, roughly 2,000 military buffs from the world were supposed to gather in full costume outside the fortified walls of old Quebec City to recreate the 1759 clash between French and British troops.

However,re-enactment of the battle that ended with a British victory over France has struck a raw nerve amongsovereigntists.

The controversy began several weeks ago when leaders of the separatist Parti Qubcois andBloc Qubecois raised the issue publicly.

Since then, petitions have been circulating around the province and sovereigntists have threatened to protest the event. Some of the participants have received threatening letters.

Even Premier Jean Charest said he'd stay away.

Re-enactment was intendedto teach

Three re-enactments have taken place on the Plains of Abraham in the past, without incident.

Dresler said some people have misunderstood the purpose of this year's event.

He said it is part of an overall commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the battles of the Seven Years War. Re-enactments of significant moments of the war have been happening across North America for the past few years.

"For us, it is to bring history to the public. That's our mission," said Dresler. "It's to teach, it's to educate."

Dresler is amazed that he's being accused of insulting the soldiers of New France.

"We're always, at any site we go to, we're there to honour the memories," said Dresler.

Sovereignty movement gets boost

Leaders of some of Quebec's sovereigntist organizations hope the event will not only be scaled down, but cancelled altogether.

Victor Charbonneau, president of the group La Liberation, sees one silver lining in the controversy. He said it has renewed interest in the cause of sovereignty.

"What is happening at Plaines d'Abraham is fantastic for us, for the movement," said Charbonneau.