Ontario’s first European Community, Sainte-Marie among the Hurons was the headquarters for the French Jesuit Mission to the Huron Wendat people. In 1639, the Jesuits, along with French lay workers, began construction of a fenced community that included barracks, a church, workshops, residences, and a sheltered area for Native visitors. By 1648, Sainte-Marie was a wilderness home to 66 French men, representing one-fifth of the entire population of New France. Today throughout July and August, Sainte-Marie among the Hurons is pleased to offer fun and informative demonstrations and “hands-on” activities that share aspects of life in the 17th century, including 17th century fire-starting, historic clothing and medicine, native games, 17th century music, historic cooking, and more.
