Event marks 400th anniversary of expedition

September 16, 2015 · 0 Comments

Attending the plaque unveiling were Chief LaForme, Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation; members of La Société d’histoire de Toronto including Christian Bode, President; participants in the commemoration of the 1615 Brûlé – Wendat expedition including residents from Champigny-sure-Marne, France, the village of Etienne Brûlé.

Photo courtesy of TRCA Matthew Volpintesta

By Mark Pavilons
King Township has entered the history books by marking a special anniversary.
Last week, La Société d’histoire de Toronto and partners are commemorating the 1615 Brûlé-Wendat expedition with a re-creation of their journey along the Toronto Carrying Place Trail from Samuel de Champlain’s monument in Orillia to the mouth of the Humber.
Hikers ended day two of their journey in King, at the 16 Sideroad and Weston Road, to recognize the rich cultural heritage of this area.
Local representatives and members of the public gathered to welcome the participants. Joining them were Elder Garry Sault and Chief LaForme, Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation.
King Mayor Steve Pellegrini shared some comments on this occasion.
“I am delighted to have the honour to welcome all of you to this event on the treaty lands of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. King Township is proud of its history and culture. For us in the 21st century, there are not a lot of visible, concrete reminders of our history and what preceded our current society and its infrastructure. Events like today, and being right here to unveil this plaque, is a rare occasion.
“For a thousand years the Carrying Place Trail has been a trade route used by many peoples. Long before the Europeans arrived it was part of a long established network of trade routes used by many different First Nations people. Starting in the 1600s, it was used by French fur traders, the courier de bois, missionaries, adventurers and explorers.”
The mayor observed that today, in 2015, this area continues to be a major trade route – the 400!
In 1615 Champlain recorded in his diary: “In all these villages they received us very courteously and kindly.”
The mayor pointed out in that spirit King, Township offers all those here today apples and cider from one of orchards, corn bread baked in King and dried cranberries.
In 2014, 11 bronze plaques were installed throughout the Humber River watershed to celebrate the 15th anniversary of its designation as a Canadian Heritage River. This included five plaques with a map of the Carrying Place Trail, and six Canadian Heritage River System (CHRS) plaques and is additional to the CHRS plaques installed following the Humber’s designation in 1999. Each plaque was cast with a message celebrating the Humber River in three languages: English, French, and one of three Aboriginal languages: Huron-Wendat, Onondaga, or Mississauga. Two CHRS plaques were made of each Aboriginal language and placed at appropriate locations throughout the watershed.