History
Since the 17th century, in collaboration with many stakeholders, the great Wendat families have ensured that very distinct sets of their historical heritage are secured and preserved.
In 1967 and again in 2006, the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec recognized the importance of these unique assets and classified nearly 350 objects from the Huron-Wendat collection as “cultural heritage of Quebec.” The Musée Huron-Wendat is responsible for the ongoing management of these collections and their development.
Since the 1980s, a succession of Wendat cultural agents have been mandated by the Huron-Wendat Nation Council to ensure the continuity of this spirit of conservation. These officials were able to inventory and group together many cultural identity assets on behalf of their community of Wendake, thus consolidating the basis of the collection of the current Musée Huron-Wendat. These successive cultural agents ensured a decisive safeguard leading to the creation of the museum in 2008, following the direct will of the Huron-Wendat Nation Council. Since that day, the Museum team has worked to promote and teach Wendat culture.
Our mission
Inaugurated in 2008, the Huron-Wendat Museum is a vital institution of the Nation Council, dedicated to preserving and promoting its heritage.
Its mission is to promote the rich history of the Huron-Wendat Nation locally, nationally and internationally while honouring the authenticity of the community and supporting the local economy.
Through its permanent and temporary exhibitions, the museum preserves and makes accessible and contributes to the learning and transmission of the history, culture, and arts of the Wendat people. Through its activities and thematic workshops, the Museum raises visitors’ awareness of the identity and traditions of the Huron-Wendat Nation and those of other First Nations.
Our goals
The Huron-Wendat Museum is dedicated to preserving and making accessible the tangible and intangible heritage of the Nation it represents.
To achieve this, it preserves, protects and increases knowledge of Wendat heritage and culture through an accessible space-time trail and through activities that encourage intercultural and intergenerational exchange;
The Museum reaches out to local, national, and international audiences, raising awareness of Huron-Wendat’s history, knowledge transmission, national identity, sociopolitical issues, and rich heritage.
The Museum makes it a point of honour to respect the integrity of oral transmission, guided by historical and scientific rigour and accompanied by the Nation’s partners who entrust it with the stories of their history.
Our values
Authenticity – Integrity – Respect – Responsibility – Collaboration
Authenticity in the content of our exhibitions, activities and projects to create opportunities for encounters between the public and the Nation’s key players;
Integrity in welcoming customers and representing the Wendat vision through cultural mediation;
Respect for the culture and heritage of the Huron-Wendat Nation and other First Nations;
The responsibility to disclose authentic and verified historical information;
Collaboration with the tourism industry to promote the Wendat Nation.
