Montreal marked national Indigenous Peoples’ Day with ‘Great Peace’ anniversary ceremony
Posted June 21, 2026 4:38 pm.
Hundreds gathered in the Old Port on Sunday to mark National Indigenous Peoples’ Day and commemorate the 325th anniversary of the Great Peace of Montreal, a landmark agreement that helped shape relations between Indigenous nations and French settlers in North America.
Held at the summer solstice, the civic ceremony brought together Mohawk Elders, dignitaries and members of the public. Traditional drumming echoed across the waterfront as a ceremonial fire received offerings of tobacco and speakers reflected on the significance of the 1701 gathering, which united dozens of Indigenous nations and French representatives in a commitment to peace and diplomacy.
“The Old Port of Montreal is proud to host this meaningful ceremony, which highlights a defining moment in our shared history and collaboration,” said Benoit Renaud, Senior Director, Old Port of Montreal. “It invites us to honor the Indigenous nations with whom we share an unbreakable bond with the river.”
Following the ceremony, dancers, dignitaries and attendees took part in a festive procession to Place Royale, where activities continued as part of the Pointe-à-Callière Neighbourhood Festival. The celebration featured a powwow dance led by Aroussen Gros-Louis, a musical storytelling performance by Jocelyn Sioui and music from DJ Poptrt of the Mohawk Nation of Kahnawá.
“This celebration, organized annually by Terres en vues, reminds us that, as Frantz Fanon wrote, the human being is a vibrant ‘YES’ to cosmic harmonies,” said André Dudemaine, Director of Land InSIGHTS. “In the context of the 325th anniversary of the Great Peace of Montreal of 1701, we will joyfully renew our commitment to mutual understanding, respect for diversity, and the building of a future founded on solidarity and the harmonious coexistence of peoples and cultures.”
Visitors also had the opportunity to view one of the event’s most significant historical artifacts: the original Great Peace of Montreal treaty. Presented at Pointe-à-Callière, the document is the only known surviving copy of the agreement signed more than three centuries ago at the site where the museum now stands.
The ceremony marked the beginning of a series of commemorative activities planned throughout the summer to honor the 325th anniversary of the Great Peace of Montreal.
