MONTREAL June 16, 2026 — This year’s National Indigenous Peoples’ Day civic ceremony, to be held in Montreal’s Old Port as the sun reaches its zenith during the summer solstice, will take on special significance as it marks the 325th anniversary of the signing of the Great Peace of Montreal. This major historical event helped shape relations between Indigenous nations and the more recently settled peoples of the Americas.
In the presence of Elders of the Mohawk Nation, Mayor Soraya Martínez Ferrada, other dignitaries and members of the public, the drum will resound, the ceremonial fire will receive offerings of tobacco, and words of wisdom will evoke the spirit of the historic 1701 gathering. The commemoration will honour the moment when nations came together in mutual respect, dignified dialogue and a commitment to a shared future.
Following the ceremony, a festive procession will lead dancers, dignitaries and participants to Place Royale, where visitors can take part in the outdoor activities of the Pointe-à-Callière Neighbourhood Festival, presented by Montréal’s City of Archaeology and History. Activities will include a powwow dance with Aroussen Gros-Louis, a musical storytelling performance by Jocelyn Sioui, and music from DJ Poptrt, a member of the Mohawk Nation of Kahnawá.
At the museum, visitors will have the opportunity to view one of the most precious artifacts from this historic gathering: the original Great Peace of Montreal treaty, signed more than three centuries ago.
The ceremony will take place on June 21, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at 2 Rue de la Commune Ouest in the Old Port of Montreal.
The event is organized by Land InSIGHTS (Terres en vues) in collaboration with Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal’s City of Archaeology and History, and the Old Port of Montreal Corporation.
Throughout the summer, several commemorative events will mark the 325th anniversary of the Great Peace of Montreal, with the full program to be announced shortly.
“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 of the Old Port of Montreal. “It invites us to honour the Indigenous nations with whom we share an unbreakable bond with the river.”
“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.”
“Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal’s City of Archaeology and History, in collaboration with the National Overseas Archives of France, is deeply honoured to present to the public the Treaty of the Great Peace of Montréal, the only known copy of this historic agreement concluded in 1701 at the very site where it was signed and where the Museum stands today,” said Anne Élisabeth Thibault, Executive Director of Pointe-à-Callière.
“This exceptional exhibition offers a unique opportunity to discover a document of inestimable heritage value, a testament to one of the greatest diplomatic gatherings in North American history. Having brought lasting peace for nearly 60 years, this treaty embodies the power of dialogue among peoples and the will to build lasting relationships, whose legacy continues to resonate to this day.”
