First Nations’ Seasonal Camp Reproduction, circa 1900, post-contact period
Muskoka’s First People, the original inhabitants of this land, shared wisdom. We are honoured to respect their ancient culture and teachings. This temporary canvas covering is typical of what Muskoka’s Indigenous People used after contact with European Canadians during the time period of the Villager here at MHP – approximately 1880 to 1900.
For thousands of years, Anishinaabeg (Ojibway people) have inhabited Muskoka. The ancestors used the network of canoe routes for seasonal rounds of fishing, hunting and collecting material for food, tool making, and medicines. “Ojibway” comes from the Algonkian word “to pucker”, referring to a distinct puckered style of moose hide moccasin.
From about 1300 to 1650, the Wendat people (Iroquoin speaking) were based in the agricultural villages of Huronia in present day Simcoe County. They made seasonal visits to Muskoka to hunt and trade.
After 1600, Europeans traded with Indigenous People along the Georgian Bay coast. By the early 1800s, Huntsville, Dorset, and Bracebridge also were trading centres. Furs and fish were exchanged for manufactured trade goods like ironware, beads and fabric.
Colonial government policy during the 1800s caused dislocation for thousands of Indigenous People. The Ojibway of Mnjikaning, however, refused to relocate to Manitoulin Island and continued their relationship with Muskoka. As early tourism grew, the Mnjikaning people rented out canoes, served as guides, and sold handicrafts to tourists.
Many of the settlers found “their land” with the help of the First Nations guides from Wasago (Rama settlement). After the settlers arrived here, Indigenous People showed them many of the plants that were edible and traded with them for sugar, tea, flour and tobacco. Settlers would not have survived their first winter in Muskoka had it not been for the support of First Nations people.
Today the Wahta First Nation is a vibrant Muskoka community. The descendants of Muskoka’s First People continue to live in communities at Rama and Snake Island near Orillia, on Parry Island, and on Christian Island. Individual descendants of the Muskoka ancestors live far and wide.
Etwell School House, Lake Vernon, 1895
Built of squared hand-hewn hemlock logs by volunteers with $75.00 allocated by School District Trustees. In this one room schoolhouse, Miss Carrie Hall, the first teacher, taught pupils from ages 6 to 14. The school opened in 1896 and closed in 1960.
Here is an example of teachers’ salaries for 1880:
| Men | Women | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban | Toronto | $600-700 | $220-400 |
| Rural | Small town | $450 | $200 |
| Country | $260 | $127 | |
Female teachers were thought to require less salary because they were not supporting a family and, if they lived in the country, their wages were even lower because they were expected to board with a local family. Female teachers were not encouraged to have male friends. In Ontario, married women were not allowed to teach until 1955.
Trappers Cabin, reproduction, round log
Fur bearing wild animals such as beaver, muskrat, raccoon, wolf, marten and mink were trapped for sustenance, warmth and trade. This trapper’s cabin reconstruction is made of round white pine logs chinked with mostly moss. A wood burning stove would be necessary to keep you warm and cook your meals. Artifacts you’ll find inside include an HBC blanket – Hudson’s Bay Company was the primary buyer of furs and the blankets were one of the top trade items because of their strength and durability. Snowshoes are also found here – a trapper would be in the deep bush all year round, since animals change their colour according to the season. Snowshoes are a necessity for checking the trap lines in the deep snow. The trappers would usually make their own snowshoes.