Did you know?
The flag and coat of arms of the city of Montreal include an indigenous symbol!
Can you guess which symbol it is? Here is the flag of Montreal:
Maybe you’ve already noticed, but since September 13, 2017, at the center of the flag of the city of Montreal is a white pine tree. This tree is an important symbol in Aboriginal culture: it represents peace, harmony and concord, whose roots extend so that peoples can find the path to peace and close the weapons of war once peace has been established.
This white pine icon was added in honor of the Mohawks still living around the island of Montreal, to underline their contribution to the creation of the city of Montreal. The white pine is placed in the center of the flag to represent the link with indigenous peoples.
To go further
For more information on the flag of the city of Montreal, visit the city’s website: https://ville.montreal.qc.ca/memoiresdesmontrealais/les-autochtones-montreal
A little more on the meaning of the white pine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onwrGW8kRE4
A quick answer from Melissa Mollen Dupuis in Paroles Autochtones about this symbol on the flag: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajjzfCfeI4o