Sainte Marie among the Iroquois

Sainte Marie among the Iroquois

Sainte Marie among the Iroquois (originally known as "Sainte-Marie-de-Ganentaa" or "St. Mary's of Ganantaa") was a 17th century French Jesuit mission to the Onondaga Iroquois. It was located on Onondaga Lake near modern-day Syracuse, New York. The original mission was in use only from 1656 to 1658, but a modern replica is in operation as a museum and interpretive center.

History

The Jesuits build the mission at the invitation of the Onondaga nation of the Iroquois Confederation. Due to ongoing warfare between the Mohawks and French in Quebec, the Onondagas were anxious to broker peace between the two parties. The French built a stockade and a few buildings overlooking Lake Onondaga (Ganantaa in Iroquois). In addition to the missionaries and their servants/bondsmen, a contingent of French soldiers were sent to defend the stockade.

After two years, the Mohawks threatened to attack the mission, and a new French Governor lost interest in the project. The entire group fled safely in 1658. No further missions in Iroquois territory were attempted by the French.

Reconstructed Mission

In the 1930s, a replica fort/mission was built on a bluff overlooking Lake Onondaga. It was thought that this was the original location, but no proof has been found for this. A later (modern) interpretive center has a variety of displays about Native and French culture ca. 1650. The Mission itself is surrounded by a high stockade and contains a chapel, refectory (dining hall), workshops and pens for animals. Outside the fort are gardens (vegetable and herb) and a baking oven.

The Mission is a "living history" project, with costumed interpreters on weekends during the Summer.

References

* [http://www.livinghistorymuseum.org Official Website Of Sainte Marie]
* [http://onondagacountyparks.com/parks/sainte_marie/ Sainte Marie among the Iroquois county park]
*
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14397a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: "Syracuse - Missions Among the Indians"]
* [http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096411440 Indian Country Today: "Volunteers drive museum's revival"]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sainte-Marie among the Hurons — Established 1634 Location Midland, Ontario, Canada Type living museum …   Wikipedia

  • Sainte-Marie — is the name of several places. Marie is French for Saint Mary.In Metropolitan FranceSainte Marie is the name or part of the name of several communes:*Sainte Marie, Hautes Alpes, in the Hautes Alpes département *Sainte Marie, Ardennes, in the… …   Wikipedia

  • Iroquois — This article is about an association of indigenous tribes of North America.. For other uses, see Iroquois (disambiguation). Iroquois Haudenosaunee Total population …   Wikipedia

  • French colonization of the Americas — began in the 14th century, and continued in the following centuries as France established a colonial empire in the Western Hemisphere. France founded colonies in much of eastern North America, on a number of Caribbean islands, and in South… …   Wikipedia

  • Catholic Indian Missions of the United States —     Catholic Indian Missions of the United States     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Catholic Indian Missions of the United States     The spiritual welfare of the native tribes of America was a subject of deep concern to the Governments of Catholic… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • The Thumb — This article is about a geographical region in Michigan. For the body part, see Thumb. For other uses, see Thumb (disambiguation). The Thumb Mid Michigan Country United States …   Wikipedia

  • Onondaga Lake — Location Onondaga County, New York, USA Coordinates …   Wikipedia

  • Native Americans in the United States — This article is about the indigenous people of the United States. For other indigenous people see Indigenous peoples by geographic regions Native Americans …   Wikipedia

  • Syracuse — Syracusan, adj., n. /sir euh kyoohs , kyoohz /, n. 1. a city in central New York. 170,105. 2. Italian, Siracusa. a seaport in SE Sicily: ancient city founded by the Carthaginians 734 B.C.; battles 413 B.C., 212 B.C. 121,134. * * * I City (pop.,… …   Universalium

  • Onondaga people — For other uses, see Onondaga (disambiguation). Onondaga Chief Sidney Hill addressing the United Nations 2009, photo by Broddi Sigurðarson …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”