History Repeats Itself: Huron Childrearing Attitudes, Eurocentricity, and the Importance of Indigenous World View

Abstract

In an attempt to address the lack of historical research on Native Canadian childrenand Aboriginal forms of learning, this article reports on an investigation into17th-century Huron-Wendat childrearing practices. This study reexamines the few,yet popular interpretations of the Huron childhood experience. Overall, the articleconcludes that contrary to widespread belief, the historical depictions of disrespectand freedom associated with Huron children are false. Accordingly, a new definitionof childrearing practices is contrived exposing their circular and truly complexnature.