Huron Traditional Site

One of the main reasons we began in Quebec City was to visit the Huron Traditional Site. This reservation is dedicated to sharing the history and culture of the indigenous people of the area, also known as the people of the first nation. On the way there, our driver explained to the group that the indigenous people did not pay taxes and in order to live within the reserve, you either had to be part of the Huron heritage or married into the tribe. Driving into the reservation, we noticed that the houses were not much different than the others we had seen in Quebec. Other than the street signs written in a different language, the neighborhood looked no different than what you would expect of a typical suburban neighborhood to look like. We arrived and our tour began inside a traditional longhouse where we learned how families lived among each other. As we walked through the site, we learned everything from the history of their tribe, how they survived the cold Canada winters, and their traditional medicine and spiritual beliefs. Our guide was passionate and knowledgable about his ancestors and heritage. He was a proud native but when we talked about the traditions that still exist today, it was obvious that he was upset about the lack thereof. He expressed his grief that their native language was completely lost and that it is just now being reintroduced into the school on site. Many people living in the reservation have also had to find new jobs as modern manufacturing has put many of their on site jobs out of business, for example, those who sold hand-made canoes and snow shoes.