Sainte-Marie among the Hurons facts for kids
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| Established | 1639 |
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| Location | Midland, Ontario, Canada |
| Type | living museum |
| Designated: | 1920 |
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons (also known as Sainte-Marie-au-pays-des-Hurons in French) was a special French settlement. It was built by Jesuit missionaries in the land of the Wendat (or Huron) near what is now Midland, Ontario. This settlement existed from 1639 to 1649. It was the very first European settlement in the area we now call the province of Ontario.
Eight missionaries from Sainte-Marie died for their beliefs. They were later recognized as saints by the Catholic Church in 1930. Because of its importance, Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1920. Today, you can visit a reconstructed version of the mission. It works like a living museum, showing what life was like back then.
Close by, there's another historic spot called Carhagouha. This is where the first Catholic mass in Ontario happened in 1615. It was led by Father Joseph Le Caron. You can also find the Saint-Louis Mission National Historic Site nearby. This is where missionaries Jean de Brébeuf and Gabriel Lalement were captured in 1649.
Contents
Building the Mission
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons was started in 1639. French Jesuits, including Fathers Jérôme Lalemant and Jean de Brébeuf, built it. They set it up in the land of the Wendat people. This strong, fortified settlement became a main base for the Jesuit missionaries. From here, they worked with the Huron people. It also showed the Huron what a European community looked like. The mission was built close to a Huron village called Quieunonascaranas.
The mission began with 18 men. They arrived in November 1639. First, they built a simple shelter. It had pillars made from "cypress" wood (probably eastern white cedar). The roof was made of birch bark. They used clay to build the inside walls. Later, a carpenter named Charles Boivin arrived. More buildings were then constructed. These included a chapel, a home for the Jesuits, a cookhouse, and a smithy.
Sainte-Marie became the main Jesuit center in Huronia. From here, the Jesuits traveled to meet different First Nations groups. These included the Iroquoian-speaking Huron and Petun peoples. They also met the Algonquian-speaking Nipissing, Ottawa, and Ojibwa peoples. These groups spoke different but related languages.
Daily Life at the Mission
A small group of religious men, called donnés, worked at Sainte-Marie. They were "given" or "offered" to help the mission. In return, they received food, clothes, and a place to live. The Jesuits also hired engagés, who were laborers. There were also non-clerical Jesuits, known as "lay brothers."
The Jesuits shared the Christian Gospel with the Huron. They often changed the stories to fit local customs. A famous example is the "Huron Carol." This Christmas hymn was written by Jean de Brébeuf. A translated version of this song is still sung in Canadian churches today.
Soldiers were also present at the mission. In 1644, twenty-three soldiers stayed at Sainte-Marie for the winter. However, many Jesuits did not want a large military presence. They worried the soldiers might bring "the worst of Europe" with them.
The mission's founding caused some disagreements among the Wendat people. There was conflict between those who converted to Christianity and those who kept their traditional beliefs. Infectious disease also caused problems. Diseases like smallpox spread from 1634–1640. These were brought by Europeans, including children, from cities where the disease was common. This made the gap between traditional Wendat and the missionaries even wider. During this time, the rivalry between the Wendat and Iroquois also grew stronger. The Wendat were weakened by their internal disagreements and losses from fighting.
Conflict and Loss
Iroquois attacks were increasing. So, six more soldiers were sent from France in 1649. The weakened Wendat nation was not strong enough to fight the Iroquois. The Iroquois had gained firearms through trading with the Dutch.
Eight of the missionaries died during the Huron-Iroquois War. These were St. Jean de Brébeuf (1649), St. Noël Chabanel (1649), St. Antoine Daniel (1648), St. Charles Garnier (1649), St. René Goupil (1642), St. Isaac Jogues (1646), St. Jean de Lalande (1646), and St. Gabriel Lalemant (1649).
Burning of Sainte-Marie
On June 16, 1649, the missionaries made a difficult choice. They decided to burn the mission themselves. They did this rather than let it be taken over by the Iroquois. Father Paul Ragueneau wrote about it, saying:
"We ourselves set fire to it, and beheld burn before our eyes and in less than one hour, our work of nine or ten years."
Before the burning, the survivors decided that Brébeuf and Lalemant would be recognized as martyrs. Their remains were buried together in the same grave.
The missionaries then traveled to Gahoendoe with the Wendat. They tried to build a second mission there, called Ste. Marie II. This new mission was designed to be easier to defend. But a very harsh winter and constant Iroquois threats forced the French to leave the area. They went back to New France. They took the bones of Brébeuf and Lalemant with them. These bones are now considered holy relics at Ste. Marie II. You can visit this site across from the Anglican church on Christian Island.
Rebuilding and Modern Site
The site of Sainte-Marie was left untouched for many years. Then, in 1844, Jesuit Fr. Pierre Chazelle started digging there. Father Félix Martin continued this work in 1855. In 1940, the Society of Jesus bought the land where Sainte-Marie once stood. In 1941, Kenneth Kidd from the Royal Ontario Museum began the first scientific digs. Wilfrid and Elsie Jury from the University of Western Ontario did more digging later. In 1954, Fr. Dennis Hegarty found the graves of Brébeuf and Lalemant.
Starting in 1964, Sainte-Marie was rebuilt as a historical site. It became a living museum. All the buildings and their contents are copies of the originals. It's a very popular place for tourists. Thousands of people visit each week during the summer. The site is managed by Huronia Historical Parks. This is an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
The eight missionaries who died were made saints by Pope Pius XI in 1930. They are known as the Canadian Martyrs. Pope John Paul II visited the site next to the Martyrs' Shrine in 1984. This was part of his visit to Canada.
On August 22, 2006, three of the rebuilt buildings were badly damaged by a fire. These were the blacksmith forge, the carpenter's workshop, and the chapel. They have all been rebuilt since then.
Museum Connections
The museum is connected with several organizations. These include the Canadian Museums Association and the Canadian Heritage Information Network. It is also part of the Virtual Museum of Canada.
Images for kids
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Jesuit community reconstructed building
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Jesuit chapel interior
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Reconstructed buildings in First Nation section
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First Nations Chapel exterior
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Chapel interior
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Chapel altar
