Kanata organizes a battle re-enactment

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Over three days from May 24 to 26, you could step back in time to 1784 at Kanata (pronounced Gah-na-dah) Traditional Village. There you could experience a live battle re-enactment between U.S. troops led by General John Sullivan under the orders of Colonel George Washington and Six Nations warriors assisted by Brant's Volunteers and Butler's Rangers.

At Kanata's show, A Dawn of Two Nations, you could find American soldiers, Butler's Rangers, Six Nations warriors and Brant's Volunteers all clothed in traditional garb mock-fighting one of the many battles fought during the Revolutionary War.

Aaron Bell, cultural interpreter at Kanata Village, acted as narrator while the battle ensued and gave the spectators background and commentary during the half-hour performance. "Sullivan brought close to 6,000 troops with him to this battle and the Six Nation warriors, supported by Brant's Volunteers and Butler's Rangers, were greatly outnumbered," he said. "However, the Americans viewed this battle as a failure as their purpose was to take control of Fort Niagara, which they failed to do."

Bell explained the Native style of war was unlike that of their counterparts. The Six Nations style was organized and was representative of their philosophy, "live to fight another day."

Bell was pleased with the success of this event. "We had double the amount of re-enactors as last year."