A 600 year-old Huron-Wendat village unveiled to students

New plaques commemorating a 600 year-old Aboriginal village site were recently unveiled before a group of eager Ontario secondary school students.
Students packed into the library where a special ceremony was held at Scarborough's Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School on Nov. 14 to recognize an ancestral Huron-Wendat village that was unearthed during a 2001 archeological dig. The school is adjacent to the site of the former community. This is the first time in the Greater Toronto Area that one of these villages has been commemorated in this fashion with Huron-Wendat participation.
The plaques were unveiled after the presentations and will later be installed in L'Amoreaux Park located next to the school.
The 600 year-old village was three to four acres in size. The site was excavated in advance of a housing subdivision. Ontario has strict legislation stating that an archeological assessment has to be taken before all land development or disturbance.
Among the presenters who enjoyed the ceremony was Chief Archeologist and managing partner of Archeological Services Inc. Dr. Ron Williamson. He was hired by the developers to assess the site before development and was responsible for the dig.
Dr. Williamson said he was very excited when this site was discovered because many people don't believe that there is this kind of archeological substance and history to be found in their city.
"Whenever we find these sites we are excited because it's another opportunity to catch one of these sites before they are destroyed by development," said Williamson after the presentation.
He added that provincial legislation is very powerful and helpful in assuring the recording of the very rich archeological record in Ontario.
Six hundred years ago, approximately 800 to 1,000 people - ancestors to the Huron-Wendat nation - called the village home. Their village was discovered under a farmer's field and was called the Alexandra site in 2001. The original name for the community has been lost over time.
Nearly 20,000 artifacts were recovered during the eight-month excavations. Among the site's artifacts found were beads made of seashells from the east coast, which is evidence that extensive trading took place. Also uncovered were imprints made from sweat lodges and 17 longhouses, which are large wooden-framed house structures covered in bark. Day to day items, such as pottery fragments, were found inside these structures.
According to Williamson, pottery fragments are important discoveries because they help to date the site and identify the cultural group. The pots also have carbon incrustations of food debris, which help researchers to gain knowledge as to what kind of foods were consumed by the villagers. Cultivated fields of corn, beans, squash, sunflower, and tobacco surrounded this agricultural community.
Remains of deer, trout, and wild berries, among other wild animals and plants, also suggest that this community hunted and gathered as an additional means to support themselves.
"Animal bones and remains of cultivated foods put together a very clear picture as to what people were eating and how that changes throughout time," added Williamson.
First Nations' Elders also assisted the researchers in identifying the artifacts and to discuss the meaning that these objects might have.
Artifacts found on this site were available for viewing by students. Currently, many of the artifacts are housed at the University of Toronto.
The ceremony held at the school was used as an opportunity to teach the students about Huron life in the past and present, according to Williamson.
"So it was good for these students to understand the ancestral history of the Huron right on this land," said Williamson. "And of course, when this gets media attention, it allows us to use this as a model for how other sites should be commemorated in the same way."
Many students asked interesting questions after the presentations, said Williamson. One student asked if every site is the same and why do researchers go back to each site.
"Well, I said, 'Is your house identical to the house of your best friend or another friend? Is every city you visit the same? Is every town you visit the same?' I made the point that every site is different. Different people live different ways. Although there may be similarities, people live very complex lives and it's important to get as complete of a picture as we can," added Williamson.

On average, one village like the one found on the Alexandra site is discovered in the Toronto area every year.
Williamson said he finds it wonderful, dealing with children because they are very honest and direct with their observations and questions. One child, who looked at the artifacts after the presentation, inquired why she never knew about this history and why does she only have to read it in a textbook when this site was here all along.
"And she kept going on about how it wasn't right that she didn't know about this history. I wish governments could see how this history was important to her, and she was of Asian decent. It's the history of where she lives," added Williamson.
Luc Laine, whose ancestors called the ancient village their home, also spoke to the students.
"For me, I was very pleased and honoured to be part of this ceremony and to meet the people who are interested in knowing more about us," said Laine.
Also, it is important that upcoming generations will know about the Huron people in Ontario. The students at the ceremony seemed opened-minded and eager to learn about the history. The presentations gave the teenagers the opportunity to learn about archeology and to know that this kind of history happened in their backyard.
"I think for them, it was eye-opening and they will remember this for the rest of their lives," added Laine.