On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, The National Battlefields Commission is proud to unveil two works by First Nations artists in a new installation on Cap Diamant. The beauty of the creations by Wendat artist Ludovic Boney and Haida artist 7IDANsuu Chief James Hart echoes the extraordinary vistas of the site steeped in a rich history. Culturally important plants and a symbolic fireplace enliven the space and create a site for dialogue that is inspiring and unifying, to which interpretative panels will be added.
Both works highlight Indigenous cultures and present a unique opportunity to build bridges between nations, bringing Eastern and Western Canada together through art. Ludovic Boney's sculpture Remembering Through Beads (Des perles en mémoire) is made up of a series of rings representing wampum beads. Traditionally made from seashells, these tubular purple and white beads can be strung together to form belts or woven necklaces. These items were ritually exchanged to seal diplomatic alliances between nations or to inscribe them in memory. "These wampum beads placed on the ground tell an everlasting story that is reborn again and again," the artist explained. "It is the vast and enduring memory of the Ancestors."
