Visit To Southern Ontario
Just back from a holiday deep in rural Ontario around the First Nation, native villages at Georgian Bay. Substantially occupied by French Canadians now, there are still some native Wendake tribespeople (the colonists called them by the derogatory name 'Hurons' from which the Lake gets its name) around there. 'Hurons' means something like 'ruffians' and locals say it derives from the Wendat or Ouendake hairstyles. In Penatanguishine where we were staying the Jesuits had formed a mission in 1639 at St. Marie. This had the effect of dividing the Wendat people many of whom clung to their traditional beliefs. It also provoked their neighbours, the Iroquois. The Iroquois attacked the Jesuit village of St. Joseph in July, 1648 and massacred many of the inhabitants. This was the end of the Jesuit occupation in the area. It had been a disaster for the local people. Formerly numbering some 25,000, by 1650 their numbers had been decimated by 70%. The Pope visited the site of St.Marie a few years ago as if the episode had been something to celebrate.
The Wendat were a highly organised people with a complex spirituality. An agricultural people, they were divided into 4 tribes, Bear, Cord, Deer and Rock. The name Wendat means 'dwellers on the peninsula'. Penatanguishine is Ouendake for land on the high peninsula.
Thank you so much for this. I find the history of Native Americans fascinating ... and terribly sad. I will do more reseach on the Wendat. I like that they divided into four tribes, each with a different contribution, perhaps? .Your trip sounds Very nice.
ReplyDeleteA great trip, Teresa, despite the vicious Ontario mosquitoes. Spoke to a couple of First mation Canadians in Penetanguishine too. They retain an element of resentment at the theft of land. But the atmosphere on those shores of Lake Huron is relaxed. Maybe because there is space there for everyone.
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