Community archeology project celebrated in Quyon

Community archeology project celebrated in Quyon

The results of several community archeology projects that took place over the past two years in the Chats Falls area were celebrated in a presentation in Quyon on Friday morning (November 29).

Called Archéo-Pontiac, the project was a collaboration between local historical group Friends of Chats Falls and a cooperative of archeologists, supported by several local organizations and government bodies. The public, including several classes of students from local schools, were invited to help explore a site located at Pointe à l’Indienne, just outside Quyon over several weekends.

Audrey Lapointe, one of the organizers of the event and a teacher at École Sainte-Marie in Quyon, explained that the events were a huge hit with the students.

The site they explored contained the remains of an old Hudson’s Bay Company trading post from the 1800s, as well as artifacts much older. Pinock, an artist and birchbark canoe builder from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Nation was also on hand during the digs this past September to educate attendees on Algonquin history and culture.

Maude Lambert, a founder of Friends of Chats Falls and another key organizer of the events, explained that the area has historically been a high-traffic spot, due to its position as a portage route around the falls, where the Quyon and Carp Rivers meet the Ottawa.

Lapointe said that they had many ideas in mind for events in the future to help expand the public’s knowledge of the region’s history, especially with the 150th anniversary of the village of Quyon approaching next year.