Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Midland, Ontario

Then and Now

I managed a walk through Midland’s downtown which is under siege by a construction crew.  A big dig.  Perhaps water pipelines need to be replaced.

In the 1600s this place was also under siege by a certain kind of way.  At that time Jesuits from France came to the New World (North America) and to this region with the intent to preach their sermon to the local indigenous people, the Wyndad, also known as Hurons.  Unfortunately or fortunately the mission failed.  Many of the Hurons were favourable to the peaceful brothers in their black robes sporting substantial beards but a percentage caught some incurable disease.  Perhaps a virus?

This area was virgin territory—clean and pristine—but Europe with its dense population had known of plagues.  I don’t know if we can blame the Black Robes, yet by circumstance illness had come in and next to that was the attack by the warrior-like Iroquois.  The history here is rich.  Foundational remains of Ste. Marie among the Hurons and a reconstructed town of those times exist.

Now I was downtown, founded in 1875.  My first encounter on the main street was a young fellow who pulled up his makeshift mask and didn’t meet my eyes at all.  The second person an elderly Caucasian coming out of the bank with conventional mask.  He put palms together and bowed.  Minutes later and a maskless dude stoppedand spoke. “You look out of place here.”   Since the Jesuits perhaps there hadn’t been a clash of cultures.  We talked.  Nice guy.  I gave him the mantra.

May the Source be with you!

4km