Sainte Marie among the Iroquois
Encyclopedia
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.
The Jesuits built 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 Onondaga Lake
(Ganantaa in Iroquois). In addition to the missionaries and their servants/bondsmen, a contingent of French Coureur des Bois
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.
. 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.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Jesuit mission
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
to the Onondaga
Onondaga (tribe)
The Onondaga are one of the original five constituent nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. Their traditional homeland is in and around Onondaga County, New York...
Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
. It was located on Onondaga Lake
Onondaga Lake
Onondaga Lake is a lake in Central New York located northwest of Syracuse, New York. The southeastern end of the lake and the southwestern shore abut industrial areas and expressways; the northeastern shore and northwestern end border a series of parks and museums. Although it is near the Finger...
near modern-day Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. 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
Mohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
and French
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
in Quebec
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
, the Onondagas were anxious to broker peace between the two parties. The French built a stockade and a few buildings overlooking Onondaga Lake
Onondaga Lake
Onondaga Lake is a lake in Central New York located northwest of Syracuse, New York. The southeastern end of the lake and the southwestern shore abut industrial areas and expressways; the northeastern shore and northwestern end border a series of parks and museums. Although it is near the Finger...
(Ganantaa in Iroquois). In addition to the missionaries and their servants/bondsmen, a contingent of French Coureur des Bois
Coureur des bois
A coureur des bois or coureur de bois was an independent entrepreneurial French-Canadian woodsman who traveled in New France and the interior of North America. They travelled in the woods to trade various things for fur....
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 Onondaga LakeOnondaga Lake
Onondaga Lake is a lake in Central New York located northwest of Syracuse, New York. The southeastern end of the lake and the southwestern shore abut industrial areas and expressways; the northeastern shore and northwestern end border a series of parks and museums. Although it is near the Finger...
. 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.