The inspiration for this poem arose in the wake of the 375^th and the idea of incorporating First Nations heritage within the Montréal flag. This poem pays tribute to the founding peoples and has been translated into Mohawk.

Je me souviens (I remember),

that born in a garden of lillies, shamrocks, thistles and roses;

watered by the spirits of the Americas,

its petals rustled by the winds of the Old World.

I grow under a maple tree,

with ruby leaves reflecting the colours of the garden below,

where its roots are under the belief,

that in diversity,

we are one.

In Mohawk

Skén:nen Na’tekarihò:ten

Ké:iahre,

Tsi nón:we wakenakerá:ton, katsi’tsanó:ron katsi’tsaiénthon,

Áhsen-niioneráhtonte kahentaiénthon, tánon teiohnionwarón:ton otsí:tsa iotón:ni.

A’nowará:ne ratinákerehkwe konwatinia’tanawénhtha,

Ohontsakaión:ne nonkwá:ti entkawerénhawe kaweraráhstha,

Skennén’:a iohrá:kahre tsi teiotenerahtókwen.

Wáhta iokwí:rote, okwiró:kon wakatehiá:ron. Teiohstaráthe onekwénhtara ioneráhtonte, tekontahsohkwaiéstha ne kahéhtakon tiotón:ni.

Nà:kon tiohté:ronte, ne tiawehtáhkwen tsi akwé:kon skátne enkénhake,

Arenhátien tsi tetewattihánion