Former home of Sir John A. Macdonald reopens with new exhibits exploring complex legacy

Above the bed in the main room of a villa where Sir John A. Macdonald once slept, there's now a screenplaying a videowhere Indigenouselders shareteachings and speakabout their hopes for the future.

Cards outlining eachof those teachings are available on a table nearby, so visitors can take one with them when they leave.

It's just one of the new exhibits at Bellevue House in Kingston, Ont., but it symbolizes the balance curators of the national historic site have tried to strikereconciling the role of Canada's first prime minister with thepresent and ensuringpreviously-silenced communities have a voice.

Adding layers to the story

Macdonald and his family briefly lived in the housefrom 1848 to 1849. The towering, white and green building is cited as an example of "Italian Villa" architecture and has welcomed tourists for decades.

Bellevue closed to the public in 2018 to undergo repairs. Six years later, it's set to reopen its doors during a ceremonySaturday morning.

The site has traditionally beena celebration of Macdonald's accomplishments as the father of Confederationandprime minister ofalmost 19 years.

Those elements are still present there's adetailed timeline of his political life, along with glass of whiskyas befitting a man known to enjoy his drink. An elegant outfit is also on display, signifying his reputation as a snappy dresser.

But there's also elements showing a deeper understanding of the impacts of Macdonald's decisions.

"There are people that are likely concerned that we are erasing the history or somehow changing the history of Macdonald and we don't think of it that way, because ultimatelythose same stories are still part of the tapestry of what's shared here," saidHugh Ostrom, a national historic site superintendentwith Parks Canada.

"It's not an erasureor change. It'ssimply adding layers on complexity to the story."

'You can't sanitize history'

In recent years Macdonald's legacy has come under scrutiny, particularly his role in the creation of the residential school system.

Statues of the prime minister have been vandalized or toppled and his name has been stripped from public buildingsand roadways.

Mohawks of the Bay of Quinteelected ChiefDonald Maracleknows the realities of residential schools. He said his grandfatherwas abused while attending one and his great aunt died there.

"You can't sanitize history," said Maracle, who took part in Parks Canada consultationsto reimagineBellevueand is present at the site in the form of a video sharing his people's past.

"I think any place where the Canadian public can learn about the country they live in, and its relationship with the Indigenous people is a good thing," he added. "It's a piece of education, but it's more of a balanced education."

A display in the orchard at Bellevue titled "A Conversation With Many Voices" provides examples of statements commonly said by visitors about Macdonald and acts as a window into the range of opinions on the controversial figure.

One describes him as a "monster," whileanothernotes we "wouldn't have Canada without him."

Ostrom said staff with Parks Canada took Bellevue's closure as an opportunity to work with a community advisory committee includingracialized and Indigenousmembersto share their perspectives on the former prime minister.

He pointed to the home's opulentdining room as an example.

While it showcases mahogany furniture, shiny silverware and fine china, the room now begs the question, whose celebrations were stripped away?

A panel on the wall explains acts ofparliament that forbid Indigenous people from taking part in their traditions and cultural gatheringsas part of assimilation.

"That's a really important message, I think, for people to come and seeand recognize that Canada's Confederation has had different impacts on different communities," said Ostrom.

Thetheme continues on the second storey. One roomincludes a Gothic revival cradle made of dark wood and deep red fabric that belonged to Macdonald's family.

Next to it is an ornate cradle board, used by Indigenous mothers to carry their babies. Near the door is a desk, part of an exhibit about the lasting damage ofresidential schools.

Learning to do better

Video screens and audio recordingsshare pieces of history and perspectives throughout the house and there are also opportunities for visitors to provide feedback.

Staff said they've already noticed the length of the average tour has increased to around an hour and a half.

Maracle, the Mohawk chief, said Bellevue now does a better job of encompassing all of Macdonald's legacy.

He urged Canadians to learn more about the country's Indigenous peoples and their culture.

"If you learnabout the history of the country, then that might actually create a desire to do better in the future."