For the past 30 years, I have researched women’s
lives with enthusiasm — their ways of knowing, of doing and of being. I’ve
written articles, poetry, hosted television segments on women’s development and
published a book with the University of Ottawa Press
Lately, I’ve immersed myself in women’s history,
more specifically, French Canadian Northern Ontario women’s history. I am on a
quest to learn about my own historical roots through the eyes of the women who
have pioneered the North. Beginning in the late 1860s, thousands of French
Canadian families emigrated to Ontario from
their native Quebec including my two grandmothers—Maria Lemire Guénette from St-Bruno-de-Guigues and Rosa Paul Ouellette from Drummondville .
These brave souls left their families and their birthplace to create a new life
amongst the tall, dark shades of green in the rugged, isolated and largely
Anglophone Northern Ontario landscape.
It wasn’t long before Genealogy Avenue unexpectedly crossed
paths with History Road !
Before 2012, I had given only fleeting thoughts to my genealogy but my research
on French Canadian women pioneers awakened my curiosity about my own ancestors.
As I compiled information, gathered data and collected photos to tell the
stories of French Canadian women who had been part of the “herstory” of Northern Ontario since the time of colonization, I opened
a file with the name “Ouellette” and began paying attention to my own
ancestors.
About six months into my research, I wrote an article about my memére Rosa who was quite a creative businesswoman in her day.
Having moved to Northern Ontario in 1934 at the age of 30, with five children
in tow, one on the way and quite a few more to come (15 births, 13 children
lived to adulthood), I learned that her adventurous spirit knew no bounds.
 |
| Charles and Rosa Ouellette, their wedding day on July 26, 1922 in Valleyfield, Quebec Image provided by Author |
Since I no longer live in Northern
Ontario , my research presents multiple challenges as I am far
removed from municipal archives, local libraries, historical society meetings
and family gatherings where the lives and stories of women are told. When I do get my eager hands on a book or a
site about French Canadian pioneers in Northern Ontario, I am often left
wanting by its lack of relevant content for my research as most publications
and resources have silent pages when it comes to women’s experiences and
historical contributions.
Nonetheless, I have persevered and am pleased to
have published 185 articles on my research blog thus far! Although it may not
seem like an impressive number, it is quite a feat considering the significant
lack of material that I must contend with and the fact that Ontario 's francophone community represents less
than 5% of the province's total
population.
I have since found out that I am a descendant of
Anne Rivet, a King’s Daughter who arrived in New France in 1666 and married my ancestor René Hoûallet on March 8, 1666. Like Anne, I too seem to be guided by the light of hope that whatever challenges burden my research path, I will cross the river of knowledge and find the New World !
My research may be but a whisper on the timeline of history but the inspiration comes from the female wind of the past. Beginning in the late 1860s, thousands of French Canadian women have walked and felt the Northern land before me. They have planted cultural roots, sang the French language and echoed traditions passed on to through their daughters and sons for 400 years.
As I learn more about my Ouellette ancestry, how
can I not feel honored by Isabelle Barré’s sacrifice in Paris when her son René Houâllet, my first ancestor to come to Canada , left la mère patrie never to return? Or be admiring of Anne Rivet’s adventurous spirit, widowed, poor, yet coming to New France to start all over again with René? And Rosa,
my paternal grandmother, who left her family in Drummondville at age 30 and never went back
home because the circumstances of her life did not allow for traveling?
Our collective narrative is etched with the
spirit of the Great Women of yesteryear—their challenges, their courage, their
losses and their triumphs. It is a privilege to showcase them on my blog. Visit
me at http://femmesdelaroute11.wordpress.com.
Jeannine Ouellette has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in education. She is the author of two blogs related to women’s history: “Les femmes de la route 11: les Elles du Nord” and Women in Ottawa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Want to learn more
about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks,
Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NGS does not imply
endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Republication
of UpFront articles is permitted and encouraged for
non-commercial purposes without express permission from NGS. Please drop us a
note telling us where and when you are using the article. Express written permission
is required if you wish to republish UpFront articles for
commercial purposes. You may send a request for express written permission to [email protected]. All republished articles may not be
edited or reworded and must contain the copyright statement found at the bottom
of each UpFront article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Think your friends,
colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post
interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Suggestions
for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please
send any suggested topics to [email protected]
No comments:
Post a Comment