Les Amis de la réserve nationale de faune du Lac Saint-François and the Droulers archaeological site have teamed up this year to provide a unique and educational experience to members of the Valley. From July 22 to 23, you can spend a night at Droulers and experience many activities and workshops that will provide education on the Indigenous history of this region.
An employee of the nature reserve, Dylan Burrows, explains that “This event started over a decade ago, but then stopped. It hasn’t happened in a long time.” After a visit to Thompson Island Cultural Camp in Akwesasne last year; it was decided that “with the new Droulers team – and because we’re a new team – we decided to get back in touch with Thompson Island and get it started again.”
Burrows describes the opportunity as “an overnight stay at Droulers in a longhouse in the Iroquois village. They have a traditional meal; they have a couple workshops that they do; and then the next day they come see us and take a ride on our big rabaska which is a canoe that fits up to 10 people. We cross the Lac St Francois and go over to Thompson Island. Over there they’ll have different workshops on traditional Iroquois practices.”
The guest workshops and experiences include things like pottery, medicinal walks, basket weaving, fishing, and more. Burrows explains that the activity “used to be multiple nights; now it’s only one. This is something we’re trying this year. We would love for the activity to grow and change over time to fit people’s needs or what they want from us.”
Important to the region
Elisabeth Lumier of Droulers explains that “This activity is the result of a unique partnership, a bridge between two cultures. It offers locals and tourists the chance to discover the region’s historical, cultural, and natural treasures.” Burrows echoes this sentiment and adds that this is an important educational opportunity. “We all kind of learned a glossed-over, if not completely neglectful, Indigenous history. Many of us did it in like grade 3; then it’s never touched on again. This is a way to introduce Indigenous history to the community and engage with it,” she says, making a point to highlight that this education is coming directly from Indigenous people.
Burrows also adds that it’s important for other NPOs to support each other. “Droulers is a company that has always been really good to us, and they’re an organization who we’re really excited to work with. Obviously Thompson Island is too, but Droulers is right next door and it’s important for NPOs to band together. There’re so many of us and we all feel very isolated; if we’re able to give support to each other that’s really important.”
Tickets for the experience cost $180 and can be reserved by calling Les Amis de la reserve nationale de faune du Lac Saint-François at 450-264-5908.
