The Royal BC Museum installed an interpretive display, focussing on early First Nations land use, at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre today.
The installation, which describes Lekwungen First Nations settlement and cultural features at Fleming Beach and Macaulay Point, will be on display for three months in the Recreation Centre’s atrium.
“This is a one-of-a-kind interpretive display telling a story of Lekwungen First Nations settlement that few people are aware of,” said Mayor Barbara Desjardins. “I urge everyone to come to the Recreation Centre and learn more about the archaeological significance of Fleming Beach and Macaulay Point.”
Through panels featuring information, archival photographs and paintings, and an original stone net sinker, used to hold a reef net down between two canoes, the display tells the story of Macaulay Point from ancient First Nations sites to today.
“Fleming Beach is an area rich in history,” said Royal BC Museum Curator of Archaeology Grant Keddie. “The Fleming Bay area has evidence of a fascinating human history going back over 4000 years.”
Macaulay Point was known as Mukwuks by the Lekwungen First Nations on whose traditional territory it is located. Today the Lekwungen are represented by the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations.
The public can view the display during facility hours, 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., seven days per week until late 2015.
For more information, please contact:
Kyle Wells, Communications Specialist
Royal BC Museum
Tel: 250-387-3207
Ritchie Morrison, Communications
Township of Esquimalt
Tel: 250-414-7122