'A dream for many': Mi'kmawey Debert Cultural Centre set to open in 2025

A Mi'kmaw cultural centre 20 years in themaking hopes to havepriceless pieces of First Nations history returnedto Nova Scotia when it finallyopens its doors in 2025, says its executive director.

Tim Bernard said constructionon theMi'kmawey Debert Cultural Centre couldbeginas early as 2023 at what's known as theDebert Palaeo-Indian Site, a national historic siteconsidered one of the most important Indigenous archeological areas in North America.

Once open, Bernardsaid he hopes the centre will help fillgaps in the province's education system when it comes to aspects of Mi'kmawculture and treaty rights.

"We're seeing first-hand how undereducated not only non-Indigenous people are in the province, but even some of our own communitymembers,about our own history," he said.

"There's always been this disconnect."

Bringing artifacts home

Bernard said the centre is working with its partners at the Canadian Museum of Historyin Gatineau, Que., to have the Debert collection that was recoveredin the 1960s returned to Nova Scotia.

The centre has also reached out to the National Museum of the American Indianin Washington, D.C., to see if itcan obtain theoriginalMi'kmawhymnal from Sipekne'katik and a prayer bookfrom the Pictou Landing First Nation.

"We're anxious to bring home artifacts that haven't seen this soil for almost 100 years," he said.

The build will be done by AldrichPears Associates of Vancouverand Halifax-basedLydon Lynch Architects in collaboration withFormline Architecture. Formline, also based in Vancouver, is owned by Alfred Waugh, a well-established Chipewyan architect.

Together, the architectural team will work with Indigenous community membersto design the space. There are no blueprints drawn up yet, but Bernard saidthat work is set to begin in the coming days.

'A place of healing and pride'

Waugh said in arecent press release that as an Indigenous architect, working on this project is an honour.

"The Mi'kmawey Debert Cultural Centre will be a place of healing and pride embodying the history and stories of the Mi'kmawpeople," said Waugh."It is an honour to serve the Mi'kmawpeople in developing a design that captures the spirit of place and culture."

Eugene Pieczonka, principal shareholder at Lydon Lynch architects, saidthe firm is thrilledto be part of theproject.

"It's not often, especially here in Nova Scotia, thatopportunities come along to be involved in projects that are of cultural significance," saidPieczonka, who has 25 years experience in the architecture field.

"Once we discovered the opportunity to associate with Formline Architecture, we thought, 'Wow, this will be a wonderful opportunity to be involved in such an incrediblyimportant topic.'"

$5 million from goal

The project has received more than$25 millionwith support from the provincial and federal governments, as well as the community itself. It's still$5 million away from its goal.

Bernard saidtheMi'kmawey Debert Cultural Centre will be a 30,000-square-foot facility featuringa caf, an archive, and five different galleries showcasing artifacts andinformation about traditional practices andceremonial regalia. One gallery will tell thehistory of residential schools in Canada.

Besides offering educational material, Bernard saidthe centre will be host to cultural classes and activities.

"We want to engage with our community members, those who are knowledge holders and artisans, to come and share their skills whether it'smaking birch bark containers or learning a bit about birch bark canoe-making or tanning various hides like deer or moose hides," said Bernard.

Adecades-old dream

Despite the project takingyears to come to fruition, Bernard saidpeople never forgot or stopped supporting the initiative. First Nationshave been behind the project every step of the way, he said.

"It's been a dream for many for a very long time," he said. "We're definitely excited, but also nervous because this is a huge undertaking."

Pieczonkasaidafter seeing the incredibly detailed document outlining the vision for the centre, they began to really appreciate how big and how important the project is.

"To be part of this journey going forward is a humblingexperience already for us," he said.

It's expected there will be 30 people working on the site once construction begins.

A storytelling opportunity

Once its doors open, the centre hopes to welcome upto 60,000 visitors during a busy year. Bernard saidthe price of admission will likely be anywhere from $10-$12.

Bernard said he hopes the centre willinstila newfound sense of pride in the local Mi'kmawcommunity.

"Here's an opportunity for us to help tell a more deep story about theMi'kmawinvolvement here for the last 13,500 years," he said.

"It's a story that hasn't been told very well."