Victor, NY—The Friends of Ganondagan’s annual Living History Event “A Seneca Encounter with LaSalle” on Saturday, September 28 from 10 am – 4 pm provides time travel back to the 17th-century. Thanks to historical re-enactors from the United States and Canada, visitors will be able to get up-close-and-personal to witness the remarkable meeting when French explorer LaSalle and his 10-man exploration entourage came to the town of Ganondagan and shared food, traditions, and trade goods with the Seneca people.
In addition to the 3:00 pm re-enactment, there will be numerous events and opportunities to meet authentically dressed French explorers, Jesuits, Seneca people, and Dutch traders; view traditional Colonial and Native American demonstrations; try out Colonial and Native games including hoop & javelin, lacrosse, longball, and archery; visit a trading post; tour Ganondagan’s full-size bark longhouse replica; and hike the Site’s trails.
Various educational demonstrations by skilled artisans of period crafts also will take place. The excellent documentation by Galinée—the French priest who accompanied LaSalle—has provided a high degree of accuracy regarding clothing, weaponry, and period crafts and trade items.
“We entitle our event “A Seneca Encounter with LaSalle” because there are two directions in which this historic event was viewed,” said Michael Galban, one of the Ganondagan’s site interpretive staff. “Here at Ganondagan, we offer the unique opportunity to understand this time period first, from the viewpoint of Seneca people, and then from the perspective of the colonial European. I would encourage anyone interested in our shared history to come and spend some time here with us as we travel back in time to 1669.”
The day’s schedule is as follows:
10:00 am: Opening Address & Orientation
10:30 am: Cornhusk Arts demonstration
11:00 am: Flintlock & Matchlock demonstration
11:30 am: “Traditional Haudenosaunee Stories”
12:00 pm: Meet the cast of the LaSalle Encounter
1:00 pm: “The Fur Trade – as seen through material eyes” Ken Hamilton
1:00 pm: Flintlock & Matchlock demonstration
1:30 pm: Mohawk basketry demonstration at the Bark Longhouse
1:30 pm: “Carrying the Burden of Life – the artistic tradition of Woodland Tumplines”
2:00 pm: The French Experience in 17th century North America
3:00 pm: Reenactment of the LaSalle Encounter with the Seneca
4:00 pm: Closing Address
Admission prices are: $5/adults; $3/seniors (62+), students (ages 6-18), and Friends of Ganondagan members; free/children 5 and younger. For information, call 585-742-1690 or visit www.ganondagan.org/LHE.html. This event is sponsored by the Rochester Area Community Foundation Historical Fund.
