CALEB NICKERSON
CAMPBELL’S BAY
Feb. 21, 2018
Prior to the council of mayors meeting on Feb. 21, citizens and elected officials were invited to the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) office to honour a piece of the MRC’s history.
Inlaid in the terrazzo floor of the waiting area, situated within the MRC Pontiac offices, is a depiction of the county’s namesake: the prolific Indigenous war Chief, Pontiac.
Warden Jane Toller explained that a local resident, Angela Dubeau, had contacted the MRC and voiced concern about visitors walking on the head, which she saw as disrespectful.

After hearing the same concerns from other members of the community, Toller came up with the solution of using red velvet ropes to cordon off the likeness. In addition, she said the MRC plans to put a display about who Pontiac was, on the wall behind the emblem.
“It’s long overdue,” she said. “This is a lesson, that it’s important to speak up about issues that matter to you.”
Fort Coulonge resident Ronnie Godin said that in the past, he had even gone so far as to put his own sign in place to discourage people from walking on the head, but it had been removed.
Following the introduction from Toller, local Indigenous spokesperson, Louise-Marie Beaudry read out a prayer.
She said that it was important for the MRC to recognize the historical significance of figures like Pontiac and to take care about how his image is displayed.
To close the ceremony, Toller handed out pins featuring two versions of the Pontiac logo to the Indigenous representatives among the crowd.