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July 18, 2023

Canadian Adventure - Visit to Wendake, Quebec and Discovering the Wendat People

Whenever we visit the Province of Quebec, we always love to take a few days to spend in Quebec City.  If you reside in North America and do not particularly want to cross the Atlantic, the closest to experiencing European ambiance and flavor, then go to Quebec City.  The city is home to some of the best French restaurants in the Western hemisphere.  You will also find some wonderful art galleries and a wide variety of shops selling unique wares.  So, when we want to surprise our European family and friends with something special, we head to Quebec City for some serious shopping.

As you have seen in previous posts, we are quite fond of Native (First Nations) culture and art.  During one of our visits, an ad for Wendake, an urban reserve of the Huron-Wendat Nation, located on the outskirts of Quebec City caught our attention.  Wendake is a quaint town of about 1.64 square kilometers, with the 2016 census listing a population of about 2,100.

The Wendat people farmed the land in the Great Lakes area of Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, and Lake Erie to the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River.  Following the century after the white man set foot on their homeland, over 90% of the Wendat were wiped out by the infectious diseases brought to their territory.  The native population had no immunity to infectious diseases, such as smallpox.   Presently, we are horrified at the toll the Covid-19 is taking globally.  But, let me put this into perspective for the Wendat people.  In the 1630s the Wendat population was about 30,000 people.  Just 15 years later, in 1650 it had dwindled to only a few hundred individuals.  

The modern exterior of the Musée Premières Nations (First Nations Museum) in Wendake, Quebec caught our eye.  The main building a traditional longhouse.  Before the Europeans arrived in the Americas, the longhouse was the traditional dwelling of the Wendat people. 


We really liked how the modern and the ancient were depicted in the common areas.  We were particularly impressed how elements of nature, native animals important to the Wendat were subtly included in the appointments, décor, and decorations of this unusual building.

Here is a bedroom decorated with a traditional native theme: a woven throw, a beaver skin pillow, and a rustic nightstand, which simply was part of a log.  The beaver skin was unbelievably thick and so soft.  As someone, who had never even seen a beaver, this was a treat for the visual and tactile senses.  Read more about the beaver further below.


Incorporating traditions and animals into the décor is exemplified by this reading lamp:


Although the Wendat were primarily farmers, nonetheless, animals such as the moose were a source of food and raw materials.  Raw materials used were anything from the hides, which were processed into leather, to the moose hair, which was used in the weaving of cloth, or dyed and used in embroidery, or the bones to make a variety of tools.   I love how this motif of the moose is incorporated into the design of this lamp, and also visually shows the stitching to resemble the tying the stretched skins on a drum.

While enjoying the common areas, I was fascinated by the tasteful display of wildlife typical of the region.  Here is a display of moose head with his antlers. 


In another part of the common area, these moose antlers depict a Canada Goose in flight.  The surface area is embellished with a carving of the goose in flight about to land on the waters of a lake.
 

This display features a beaver.  
 

Smile!  What a cute little guy!


Again, as I had mentioned earlier, I was surprised by how soft the beaver’s fur is.  This beautiful animal was almost hunted to extinction by the Europeans for its fur and castoreum, an oily substance the beaver secrets to waterproof its fur.

The beaver had special meaning to the Wendat.  It is an animal that builds and creates spaces.  Beaver colonies create environments where flora and fauna flourish.  Trout swim in the lakes they created by damming a stream.  Moose, deer and elk will drink from the water and feed from the plants sprouting on its shores.  And ducks and geese frequent these habitats.
 

Notice the beaver’s sharp front teeth that he uses to gnaw through tree trunks to fell them to build his dams. And with his claws, as he clasps branches to weave into the fallen trees to plug up the water flow to tighten the dam. 

The habitat created by the beaver is beneficial for waterfowl such as geese.  Here is a Canada Goose on display:
 

Did you know, that geese will instinctively nest on higher ground near water such as streams, ponds, and lakes?  They may even build their nest on a beaver lodge.

The variety of local flora that would be growing due to a pond created by a beaver is seen below in a beautiful floral arrangement consisting of reeds, rushes, and grasses in the common area of the building:    

Then, notice in the reflection of the window behind the floral display, you will see the beams made of trees found in the local forests.  Marrying elements of local fauna and flora is a repeating theme.

Another example of one of the animals that would come to drink at the pond created by the beaver.  It is the majestic buffalo, also hunted to extinction by the white man for its hide.
 

Another animal prevalent in the area, and benefiting from the beaver’s environment is the raccoon.  Raccoons are pretty much omnivorous.  Their diet can consist of berries, fruits, nuts, even birds, fish, amphibians.  Below we see a raccoon, with its mask (reminds one of a little cunning bandit), its ringed tail, and its dexterous paws.  In fact, when one observes this intelligent animal, you will see it picking up food with its front paws, and rubbing it.  It looks like it “washes” its food between its paws.  This washing action gave it the name “Waschbaer” in the German language.  Literally meaning: washing bear. In fact, many languages reflect this trait in their word for the raccoon.
 
 
Although raccoon skins were part of the fur trade with the Europeans, their species was not decimated like the others that I mentioned.  


This majestic Bald Eagle was on display in the common area:
 

The eagle was a sacred bird and considered the messenger between the gods and humans.  Thus, the feathers of the eagle held a strong and great spiritual meaning to the Wendat and signified bravery or having accomplished a great feat.  

As you descend the stairs from the reception down to the lower level, you are greeted by this exceptional wolf:

 
In First Nations culture, the wolf was revered and associated with courage, loyalty, and strength.  The wolf’s hunting skills were respected and emulated to be able to hunt successfully. 

Once past the welcome of the wolf, the interior of a restaurant carried the same theme as witnessed in other parts of the building complex:
 

The use of natural trees and logs gives a warm and inviting feeling.  Here, sections of the common area were separated by a log wall with a wolf skin as a throw on top:
 

We enjoyed several delectable and scrumptious meals at an award-winning restaurant.  Once again, not only was it a visual feast, but our taste buds were carried away by a variety of wonderful, and pleasingly surprising flavors.  Here is a presentation of the typical “bread” plate to accompany the meal:
 

The traditional bannock bread was presented on a rustic wooden plate.  The dinner menu was quite extensive and we had a really difficult time deciding what we wanted to try.  Our waiter suggested the tasting menu to be shared.  It was an excellent choice!
 

The shrimp was absolute heaven!

After our meal, we took in additional traditional art on display in the common areas.  I loved this painting of a proud elder:

 
Or how about this collection.  I love the use of color and capturing the motion of the riders
  



  
The walls of the hallways were adorned with these displays of a pipe, necklaces, and a drum

 
Below you see displays of intricate armbands, a tomahawk, necklace and bracelet, a tobacco pouch.  Notice the intricate bead work!
 

I also enjoyed a relaxing stroll outside of the Musée Premières Nations - First Nations Museum.  I took the pathway leading down to the Akiawenrahk River.

 

I loved the gardens of the property.  
 
   
It turned out to be a lovely fall day to marvel at the fall colors.
 
 
  
What a beautiful fall day to discover this corner of the World.

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Postscript and Disclaimer:  As much as we enjoyed our pre-Covid pandemic visits described above, our last and final visit in the fall of 2023 was an utter disappointment.  In the mean time, a change of ownership and management had taken place.  It was disheartening to witness the decline of a place that held so many fond memories for us. The new era falls short of capturing the essence that had made it one of our favorites. The decline serves as a poignant reminder that change isn't always for the better, and reminds us of the delicate balance between maintaining tradition and navigating the challenges of new ownership.

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