Masked mosaic at Quebec City Hall: inaccurate and offensive, experts say

Temporarily hidden mosaic at City Hall is historically inaccurate and may be offensive, say experts consulted by The Journalwho plead for a lasting solution.

• Also read: The Marchand administration chooses to hide a work in the presence of First Nations

• Also read: Masked “offensive” mosaic: a decision taken by Mayor Bruno Marchand

• Also read: Masked mosaic at Quebec City Hall: Denys Arcand would send the work to the museum

The mosaic presenting an indigenous chief kneeling in front of Champlain offers a “very dated” image, “which no longer fits with current historical knowledge,” says Francis Lévesque, professor at the School of Indigenous Studies at the University of Quebec in Abitibi -Témiscamingue (UQAT) and specialist in social anthropology and ethnohistory.

“The Native people did not revere the French. They considered themselves equal to them. […] In short, the indigenous leaders would never have knelt before Champlain (or to anyone for that matter),” he explains.

Additionally, the chief wears a Western First Nations headdress, experts note. “There are historical references reinterpreted with a colonial eye. I understand that it can turn some people on,” expresses Jean-Philippe Uzel, professor in the Department of Art History at the University of Quebec in Montreal and director of the Interdisciplinary Research Group on Contemporary Indigenous Statements.

“Good decision”

“I cannot speak on behalf of the First Nations, but I would not be surprised if this mosaic is considered offensive by certain indigenous people,” added Mr. Lévesque, who believes that “it was a good decision” by the hide.

“I fully support his comments,” adds Sébastien Brodeur-Girard, professor at UQAT in indigenous studies specializing in the rights and history of indigenous peoples and the history of colonialism. “I was thinking about what we would say if we forced the PM of Quebec to hold his press conferences in Ottawa in front of a work representing the defeat of the Plains of Abraham.”

Mr. Uzel welcomes the “gesture of reconciliation” and the “nuance” shown by the Marchand administration, which did not choose to withdraw the work completely. “We thought about it and the decision is provisional.”

The avenue explored by the town hall, namely putting it back into historical context by an explanatory panel, is the right one, according to specialists. Once this is done, it will no longer be necessary to mask the work, Mr. Uzel commented.

The choice of whether or not to consult the nation upstream is not unanimous. “When we greet someone, we don’t ask them if we can greet them,” remarks Mr. Uzel.

“Lack of delicacy”

For her part, Louise Vigneault, full professor of art history at the University of Montreal, considers that “making a decision to camouflage the work without their approval [des Premières Nations] constitutes in itself a lack of delicacy and diplomacy, despite the good intentions of the leaders.

The great Wendat chief, Pierre Picard, insisted in our pages on Tuesday on the “respectful” nature of the gesture made by the town hall, even if this request had not been made by the nation.

After Bruno Marchand had indicated his intention to continue the discussion with the Wendats, The Journal asked them again for their comments. “One thing is certain, this relationship of domination, which has long marked our relations and which is illustrated by the mosaic, no longer has its reason for being in any way,” reiterated the great leader. As for the options that Mayor Marchand is considering, we are fully prepared to listen to him.”