NS Website officially launched

Aboriginal Affairs
May 17, 2010

Visitors, vendors, volunteers and participants to the powwow can now visit www.Membertou400.com for more information on the celebrations taking place from June 24 to 27 to mark the 400th anniversary of the baptism of Grand Chief Henri Membertou.On the website you will find explanations on how to apply for a license vendor or register as a volunteer. You’ll find the list of prizes to be awarded and the current special rates at hotels for the thousands of people are expected at the largest gathering of First Nations peoples to be held in Atlantic Canada.

The celebration of the 400th anniversary of the baptism of Grand Chief Membertou begin June 24 National Historic Site of Canada in Port-Royal with an outdoor mass baptism and a reconstruction of history. The celebrations will continue on the ground of the Commons in Halifax June 25 to 27 during one of the largest powwows in the country, or “mawio’mi” Mi’kmaw language.

The celebration of the 400th anniversary of the baptism of Membertou Mi’kmaw include an authentic village where visitors can interact with artists and craftspeople, discover the traditional healing, enjoy the cuisine and listen to Aboriginal elders tell the story their people, transmitted orally. Admission is free.

Among other highlights, there are dance competitions and drumming featuring First Nations artists from across Canada and the United States and a concert by Canadian superstar and Oscar winner, Buffy Sainte- Marie.

The website Membertou 400 is also an important source of information on the Grand Chief Membertou and the history and culture of the people Mi’kmaw.

Grand Chief Henri Membertou was a shaman and prophet Mi’kmaw. On June 24, 1610, he became the first aboriginal person to be baptized in this country that would become Canada, noting the gesture by the people’s desire to live in peace Mi’kmaw with European nations.

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FOR RELEASE:

Visitors, vendors, volunteers and powwow performers can now

log on to w-w-w dot Membertou 400 dot com for more information on

the June 24th to 27th celebrations marking the 400th anniversary

of the baptism of Grand Chief Henri Membertou.

The Membertou 400 site explains how to apply to be a vendor

or register as a volunteer and lists powwow prize packages and

special hotel rates for the thousands of people expected to

attend Atlantic Canada’s largest gathering of First Nation

people.

The Grand Chief Membertou 400 celebrations begin June 24th

at Port Royal National Historic Site with an open-air mass and

re-enactment of the historic baptism. The event moves to the

Halifax Common June 25th to 27th, for one of the country’s

largest powwows.

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Contact: Moira MacLeod
400 Membertou
902-424-1122
macleom@gov.ns.ca