- 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 OnondagaIroquois . It was located onOnondaga Lake near modern-daySyracuse, 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 theOnondaga nation of theIroquois Confederation . Due to ongoing warfare between theMohawk s and French in Quebec, the Onondagas were anxious to broker peace between the two parties. The French built a stockade and a few buildings overlookingLake 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]
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* [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"]
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