{"id":4398,"date":"2013-01-22T15:11:13","date_gmt":"2013-01-22T20:11:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dougbardwell.com\/db\/?p=4398"},"modified":"2017-11-19T10:41:54","modified_gmt":"2017-11-19T15:41:54","slug":"hotel-musee-premieres-nations-is-a-triple-treat-in-wendake-quebec","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dougbardwell.com\/db\/hotel-musee-premieres-nations-is-a-triple-treat-in-wendake-quebec\/","title":{"rendered":"Hotel-Musee Premieres Nations is a triple treat in Wendake, Quebec"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Hotel-Musee<\/a>

Hotel-Musee Premieres Nations<\/p><\/div>\n

To really appreciate a city, it helps to have a historical background on the place. In Quebec, that can easily be accomplished by a short, 15-minute drive north from the city center to Wendake, home of the Huron-Wendat Nation. (pronounced When \u2013 dock\u2019 \u2013 ee)<\/p>\n

When first discovered by outsiders in the early 1600\u2019s, the Wendat peoples were called the \u201cHuron\u201d by the French. Actually, the Wendat have traced their roots to well before then, back to 1430 when the Wendat Confederation was formed. In 1697, the present town of Wendake was founded.<\/p>\n

The Wendat people struggled for recognition for hundreds of years as their lands were usurped by the British and the French. Finally, in 1990, the Supreme Court of Canada recognized a much earlier treaty, promising assistance with many socio-economic programs in Wendake. The promise was kept and resulted in the Hotel-Musee Premieres Nations \u2013 a combination hotel, restaurant and museum.<\/p>\n

The museum traces the history of the region back to 500AD when agriculture began to be practiced around the Great Lakes. In a unique, architecturally interesting round museum, the exhibits are extremely well done and very informative. \u00a0(Photography is not allowed.)<\/p>\n

Nearby are a couple other buildings worth your time if they are open. The Notre-Dame-de-Lorette church is designated as a historic monument, and has some interesting dioramas showing life in the early days. Across the street, you\u2019ll find the Tsawenhohi House (the Chief\u2019s House) where lots of handmade crafts are on display along with explanatory historical signage. The Wendat are known for their snowshoes.<\/p>\n