STORY. If you have recently passed through downtown La Tuque, you may have noticed the presence of new signs in a pedestrian circuit, which reveal a piece of local history.
In French and Atikamekw, the panels of the “Urban Circuit presented by Desjardins” recount the highlights of the events that shaped La Tuque, to diversify the range of outdoor activities offered to citizens and visitors.
This is the first of three phases. Initially, the pedestrian circuit will allow you to learn more about the region, via 14 interpretation panels integrated into 7 impressive structures, spread over 5 different sites. They can be found on a vacant lot on rue Scott at the intersection of rue Saint-Antoine, on rue Commerciale near the intersection of rue Tessier, between rue Commerciale and rue Saint-Antoine at the Parc des generations, on rue Saint-Joseph near the presbytery and in the park of Lac Saint-Louis.
The development of the Mauritian forest, Atikamekw culture, cohabitation with nature, aviation, rail transport, navigation on the Saint-Maurice river, these are all slices of history discussed. A QR code on the panels allows you to go further in the experience via augmented reality, with your cell phone.
This first phase also features the short film Atisoko (tell me) presented in the evening on a wall of water at the Sakihikan center (Lake Saint-Louis) since July 22. The 6-minute short film tells the story of the cohabitation between natives and non-natives on the territory of La Tuque.
Partners
Among the partners, Desjardins invested in this project. “The contribution of $ 62,655 from the Fonds du Grand Mouvement Desjardins and the Community Development Fund of the Caisse is our way of providing concrete support for innovative and structuring projects with a view to sustainable socio-economic development,” says Robert. Ayotte, president of the Caisse Desjardins de La Tuque. Since 2016, Desjardins has set up a $ 250 million fund to invest in communities “to support projects that have the potential to transform our society by 2024”.
He added that the projects are selected by and for the community in order to meet its needs.
The Executive Director of the Native Friendship Center of La Tuque (CAALT), Laurianne Pétiquay is proud that her organization has contributed, stressing that La Tuque is the city with the highest percentage of Native presence among its population, in Quebec. “95% of the natives who live in La Tuque are Atikamekw,” she also noted.
The translation of the texts in Atikamekw on the panels was carried out by a member of CAALT, a retired teacher.
Mme Pétiquay is delighted to see the inclusion of native people in regional projects that contribute to the influence of native culture.
“The city is super open […] We’ve been talking for a long time with several partners who have the city’s culture at heart by demonstrating that there is an Aboriginal presence here and that there is a possibility of enhancing that presence. It is a richness for La Tuque, the culture and the native language ”, affirms Mr.me Petiquay.
In addition to Desjardins and CAALT, Ville de La Tuque, through its Economic and Forestry Development Department (SDÉF), the Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communications, the Canadian Initiative for Healthy Communities, the Haut-St-Maurice SADC, La Tuque SDC, Tourisme Mauricie, as well as the Arts and Culture Development Corporation (CDAC) are also involved in the project.
The next phases
A second and a third phase are planned for the urban circuit project. The second will consist of embellishing certain windows in downtown La Tuque and adding signage to guide visitors to the various elements of the urban circuit. The third phase foresees the creation of a work of art, the realization of a mural, as well as the design and distribution of symbolic objects.
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