New Uashassihtsh Complex in Mashteuiatsh Made Possible by Funding From the Government of Canada

MASHTEUIATSH, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - June 21, 2012) - The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, took the opportunity of today's official inauguration of the new Uashassihtsh complex showcasing Ilnuatsh culture and ancestral traditions to note that federal funding was granted for the construction of this facility in Mashteuiatsh.

"By funding the construction of the Uashassihtsh complex, the Government of Canada is demonstrating its commitment to fostering the growth of tourism, a high-yield sector for the Quebec and Canadian economies," said Minister Lebel.

The purpose of the new Uashassihtsh facility is to showcase Ilnu culture and develop the tourism potential of the Mashteuiatsh territory. The complex includes an arts pavilion, a stage, a period general store, a rest area for cyclists travelling the Véloroute des Bleuets, and various other recreational tourism facilities to give visitors the opportunity to learn more about traditional Ilnuatsh life in 1910-1930.

The political and administrative body of the Mashteuiatsh First Nation-Pekuakamiulnuatsh Takuhikan, formerly the Conseil des Montagnais du Lac-Saint-Jean-hopes to introduce a wider audience to the rich heritage of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh; to achieve this, the community now has this new complex to further the promotion and transmission of its culture.

"In choosing to become a major vector of Aboriginal identity, Mashteuiatsh is sparing no effort to make the Uashassihtsh complex one of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean's key tourist attractions, particularly for European visitors," concluded Minister Lebel.

Information:

The funding for this project, granted in the form of a $3,205,212 non-repayable contribution, was awarded through Canada Economic Development's Community Diversification program.

Keep up with the latest news from Canada Economic Development by visiting www.dec-ced.gc.ca or subscribing to @CanEconDev on Twitter.