Parks Canada and Local Partners Collaborate to Preserve Forillon's Expropriation History
Event summary
- Parks Canada, the Association of Persons Expropriated from Forillon and their Descendants, and the Musée de la Gaspésie are collaborating to document and preserve 12,500 historical objects from Forillon National Park, including 4,100 linked to expropriated families.
- The initiative, ongoing since 2023, involves assessing the heritage value of objects and focusing conservation efforts on those most significant to Forillon's history.
- Parks Canada aims to consolidate over 25 million heritage objects under optimal conservation conditions, with 6 million currently on loan to various institutions.
The big picture
This collaboration underscores a broader trend in cultural heritage management, where governments and local communities are increasingly working together to preserve and share historical narratives. The initiative is part of Parks Canada's larger effort to manage over 31 million historical and archaeological objects, reflecting a strategic shift towards shared stewardship and digital accessibility in heritage preservation.
What we're watching
- Community Engagement
- How the ongoing dialogue with expropriated families will shape the future use and accessibility of the collection.
- Digital Access
- The pace at which digital tools will be developed to improve public access and consultation of the collection.
- Heritage Prioritization
- Whether the focus on preserving objects directly linked to the expropriation will sustain long-term historical accuracy and community recognition.