Maison Busteed in 2011, one year before the land was handed over to the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government
Versions of that debate are taking place across North America as communities grapple with systemic racism and the complicated legacies of historical figures. Plenty of physical structures, such as buildings and statues, have become a part of that reckoning—the subject of nuanced conversation and peaceful demonstration, but of vandalism and bloody confrontation, too.
Thomas Busteed, an Irishman, settled in the region in the late 1700s, joining his brother, an Irish-American loyalist who had fled north after the American Revolution. Busteed built the house around 1800, and his descendants lived in it for more than two centuries. On the house’s 200th anniversary, the local Société historique Machault planted gardens with heirloom flowers and hosted a community picnic.
As for the house itself, there were mixed feelings. “The older generation in our community remembers being denied access to the property,” says Gray. “Our elders would remind people that it is still our land, it is still our property.” There was talk in recent years of converting the house into a “place of healing” for the nation’s 3,000 residents—something the nation’s government discussed with the province, which had designated the house a heritage building in 1987.
As the Listuguj debated what to do, some in the neighbouring municipality of Pointe-à-la-Croix—whose lineage of mayors includes three members of the Busteed family—criticized how the First Nation was handling its acquisition. “It was the longest-standing structure of colonial oppression on the Gaspé coast, and you’re saying we have to honour this?” says Gray. “It’s not for someone outside to tell us what we do with our homes and our community.
If you can't move on. Then those that set the fire are racist....
The wolverine, the buffalo and deer that we lived off of, did not give up or cede thier territories. The bears were here long before us indigenous people came here, thats the animals territory us humans live in. oldways indigenousknowledge
Colonialism built the first world and should be revered , this land was NEVER Indian, that’s a English term an d concept, natives lived on it but never hold it, the only reason they still have land is because Canada reserved and protected them and this is how repaid. Horrid.
That's pretty metal tbh
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