Huron Wendat First Nations
Wendake, Québec, Canada
This page and these art works on Huron-Wendake is dedicated to Chief Max Gros Louis Oni-Onti) of Wendake, to my father's sister, my Aunt and late Uncle and other family who are registered members of the Huron-Wendat First Nation. Also in memory of our family ancestor, Nicolas Arendanki (1620-1649 KIA) Chieftain of the Bear Clan (Attignaouantan), his wife Jeanne Otrinohandet -Otrihouandit (1630-1654), Bear Clan (Attignaouantan) and their daughter Catherine Annennontak-Ananontha (1649 –1709).
Having lived in New Mexico for some years I have visited most of the Pueblos, Navajo and Apache nations. In the 1980s and thereafter for several years I visited Mrs. Carmelita Montoya of Okey O'Wingeh Pueblo, Yellow Mocassin Summer Clan, and she gifted me her Tewa name, a great honor. I helped her preparations during ceremonial dances and feast days. We attended the Zuni Shalako Ceremony together, a true blessing. Her son, renown artist Tommy Montoya, was a friend.
In my 30s and through the years I visited Quebec, Canada and spent time with Chief Gros Louis at Wendake when he had a small museum and cultural center there. He introduced me to many Wendat traditions, showed me the museum exhibits, and explained the Wendat history and spiritual/creation stories. I sometimes called him from New Mexico with questions and he was very generous with his time. His book "First Among the Hurons" was very instructive. Chief Gros-Louis passed on in 2020 and I visited his resting place in 2021. He is greatly missed by so many.
Historical context:
WENDAKE - ONHOÜA CHETEK8E is the name for the Huron-Wendat First Nation in Québec, Canada. Wendake is surrounded by the La-Haute-Saint-Charles borough of Québec City, formerly called Loretteville. Wendake is one of the Seven First Nations of Canada and was formerly known as Village-des-Hurons, and also as Jeune Lorette.
Prior to 1650, there were large villages of the Wendat in the northern Lake Ontario region, and in the Huron historical territory of Wendake in the Georgian Bay region. Until the middle of the 17th century, the Wendake ancestors occupied a vast territory, part of what is now the United States from Detroit south to Oklahoma, to Ontario -Penetanguishene. Midland and Québec.
The Huron population was approximately 20,000 to 30,000 people in 1634. The population at Wendake today is almost 3,000.
Historically, the members of the Huron-Wendat confederacy were the Attinniaoenten (“people of the Bear”), Hatingeennonniahak (“Makers of Cords for nets”), Arendaenronnon (“People of the Rock”), Atahontaenrat ( “Deer people”) and Ataronchronon (“People of the Bog”). Clan members were descended from Bear, Deer, Turtle, Beaver, Wolf, Loon/Sturgeon, Hawk or Fox.
During the fur trade, the Huron-Wendat were allies of the French. After the Iroquois War (a war about hunting grounds and the fur trade) about 500 Wendat peoples dispersed settling in Quebec and further south. First established on Île d'Orléans in 1651, the Huron-Wendat peoples moved to Quebec City in 1668, then to Beauport, Notre Dame de Foy, Ancienne-Lorette and in 1673, and last to New Lorette (Wendake).
Present day - The Huron-Wendat First Nation in Wendake, Québec, is led by a council made up of a Grand Chief and eight Heads of Family. The Nation offers a variety of services to its members, including a school (École Wahta’), health facility (Centre de santé Marie-Paule-Sioui-Vincent) and police (Service de police de Wendake). It is also home to Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations — a hotel, museum, Boutique, event centre and an annual International Pow-wow.
