On wednesday this week we drove 2 hours north of Toronto to Georgian Bay to visit the oldest European settlement in Ontario.
St-Marie-Among-The-Hurons was a French Jesuit mission established in 1639 to convert the Wendat (Huron) people to Christianity. in 1649, the French fled and burned their settlement as they were about to be taken over by the Iroquois (the enemies of the Wendat people.) The settlement was excavated and reconstructed in the 1950s. We were with a homeschooling school trip (homeschoolers sometimes band together to get group rates like school groups do) and participated in a full-day program of activities and a tour.
It was fascinating to learn both about European life and Native American life in the time period. the guides were dressed as Jesuits, French workers and Native people and were extremely well-versed in the life and times of the 17th Century.
it was grey and cold and rainy, but we still had a fantastic day. i was a bit nervous about driving that far for a field trip, but the kids really enjoyed it and, i think, got a lot out of it. they got to make clay good luck figures, play lacrosse, try out some 17th century tools, and learn about Native children's games. we learned about the customs and beliefs of both Native and French people and how they compared and contrasted in the way they built their homes, prepared food, dressed, worshiped, and lived.
here are some photos from the day:
