Pope's Representative Joins Dignitaries for Membertou 400 Celebrations

Archbishop Pedro Quintana, Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, will be among the dignitaries celebrating the 400th anniversary of the baptism of Grand Chief Henri Membertou.

"We are thrilled the Pope's representative to Canada will be joining us as we honour Membertou's life and legacy, renew our faith and celebrate our Mi'kmaq culture," said Deborah Ginnish, executive director of the Mi'kmaq Association of Cultural Studies.

"His Excellency's presence, along with that of Archbishop Martin Currie, Bishop Brian Dunn and members of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, signifies the importance of this anniversary both to the Mi'kmaq Nation and the Holy See."

Archbishop Currie, Bishop of Grand Falls and St. John's, N.L., will preside at open-air services at Port Royal National Historic Site, June 24, and on the Halifax Common, June 27. Bishop Dunn of the diocese of Antigonish, will also participate in both masses, which are open to people of all cultures and faiths.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for aboriginal and non-aboriginal people, Catholics and non-Catholics to come together and celebrate our shared history, acknowledge our common humanity and learn from one another," said Ms. Ginnish.

In addition to the celebratory masses at Port Royal and Halifax, the Grand Chief Membertou 400 celebrations include a five-day program of educational and entertaining events, including a Mi'kmaw cultural village, native dance and drum competitions, inter-active demonstrations and a free concert by Canadian icon and Academy Award winner Buffy Sainte-Marie.

Grand Chief Henri Membertou, Mi'kmaq shaman and prophet, was the first aboriginal person in what would become Canada, to be baptized. His baptism not only established a holy alliance between the Mi'kmaq people and the Catholic Church that would last four centuries, it signaled the Mi'kmaq's desire for peaceful relations with the European nations and set the stage for Canada to become a multi-cultural nation.

For more information on the Grand Chief Membertou celebrations visit www.Membertou400.com .