This piece was created by British artist George Heriot, who lived in Canada between 1792 and 1796. It shows “domiciled Indians.” At the time, this term referred to Indigenous people who had been converted to Catholicism and taken up residence in a missionary settlement. Their clothing is that of the Huron-Wendat Nation of Jeune-Lorette (Wendake), near Québec City.

1807 - 1840

Indigenous Peoples in Québec City at the turn of the 19th century

As since time immemorial, Indigenous nations lived in and around Québec City at the turn of the 19th century. Among them were the Huron-Wendats, who lived just outside Québec City in a village called Jeune-Lorette. It is better known today as Wendake. Indigenous people gathered in nearby wooded areas to hunt or fish, or came into town to sell various products. Other nations, such as the Maliseet and Abenaki, also frequented the peripheral region south of the St. Lawrence River. No wonder that the artists of the time illustrated many Indigenous people in their works!

Indigenous Catholic converts

George Heriot This piece was created by British artist George Heriot, who lived in Canada between 1792 and 1796. It shows “domiciled Indians.” At the time, this term referred to Indigenous people who had been converted to Catholicism and taken up residence in a missionary settlement. Their clothing is that of the Huron-Wendat Nation of Jeune-Lorette (Wendake), near Québec City.

Chronoscope What else do you see in this piece? (unilingual French for a limited time)

Depicted period: 1807

Source: Library and Archives Canada Document in the public domain (free of copyright) - Acc. No. 1989-479-5 - Date: 1807

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