While visiting family, we explored the history in the area. Chiefswood Museum National Historic Site is located on the Six Nations Territory on the banks of the Grand River.
Mohawk Chief, George H.M. Johnson built the mansion for his bride. It was built between 1853-1856 using rare plank on plank construction from walnut trees harvested from the estate. It is the birthplace and childhood home of E. Pauline Johnson who has been designated as a "person of national significance" for her literary contributions to Canada. She was a very gifted author of poems and frequently gave dramatic recitals of her works throughout Canada and abroad. Living on Six Nations Territory and being of proud of both her Mohawk and English heritage, Pauline also canoed to attend services at Her Majesty's Royal Chapel of the Mohawks in Brantford.
The Chapel which is the oldest Protestant Church in Ontario is in its original building. It has eight stained glass windows depicting an event in the history of the Six Nation people.
In 1850 the remains of Captain Joseph Brant were moved to a tomb at the Mohawk Chapel, re-affirming the chapel's connection with the native people.
Next to Brant's tomb there is a boulder bearing a memorial to the Indian poetess, E. Pauline Johnson who attended services at the Chapel.
Here is one of her poems:
At Crow's Nest Pass
At Crow's Next Pass the mountains rend
Themselves apart, the rivers wend
A lawless course about their feet,
And breaking into torrents beat
In useless fury where they blend
At Crow's Nest Pass.
The nesting eagle, wise, discreet,
Wings up the gorge's lone retreat
And makes some barren crag her friend
At Crow's Nest Pass.
Uncertain clouds, half-high, suspend
Their shifting vapours, and contend
With rocks that suffer not defeat;
And snows, and suns, and mad winds meet
To battle where the cliffs defend
At Crow's Nest Pass.
Bell Homestead National Site, where Alexander Graham Bell made the first telephone call to Mt. Pleasant, was also an interesting visit.
We enjoyed an afternoon nature walk at a local RAMSAR site. 
We were all mesmerized by hundreds of Canada geese lifting off, regrouping, and settling again in the marshland.
As the sun set on the horizon church bells rang in a nearby village calling others to worship the Creator of this beauty.
Gideon dressed up as a Leafs in honour of his Uncle S.
and fought with Peter as soldiers in the fort on the Conservation grounds.
The ever loved toy was received with great joy!
We visited a local conservation area and enjoyed the autumn weather.
A birthday party with a new friend from church and swimming was enjoyed by the boys.
A lovely spot on a sunny day.
Gideon displaying a book about migratory birds - our nature study this semester is birds. 
Recently we visited a bird sanctuary where Canada Geese find a haven of shelter and food. Many years ago the sanctuary was set up to assist birds on their migratory pathways and to assist birds that were nearing extinction. The book Gideon is holding was written by Jack Miner himself "Jack Miner and the birds" - a lovely, living book of his life and involvement with birds (obtained at a local used bookstore :)
Mohawk Chief, George H.M. Johnson built the mansion for his bride. It was built between 1853-1856 using rare plank on plank construction from walnut trees harvested from the estate. It is the birthplace and childhood home of E. Pauline Johnson who has been designated as a "person of national significance" for her literary contributions to Canada. She was a very gifted author of poems and frequently gave dramatic recitals of her works throughout Canada and abroad. Living on Six Nations Territory and being of proud of both her Mohawk and English heritage, Pauline also canoed to attend services at Her Majesty's Royal Chapel of the Mohawks in Brantford.
Next to Brant's tomb there is a boulder bearing a memorial to the Indian poetess, E. Pauline Johnson who attended services at the Chapel.
Here is one of her poems:
It was an authentic experience starting with driving through the slough after a day's rainfall(yes the road was a wagon trail!), staying overnight under the stars as Laura did (well, in our Airstream:), breakfast outdoors and chores...
...always laundry to do
then off to school by covered wagon - Peter and Gideon both drove the team
and finally free time to run and play (lassoo your brother!) on the actual Homestead where Laura ran and played, and Mary took care of Carrie.
The boys also made twine rope and we purchased a boxed set of the book series as a memory of this time. Many moral lessons are intertwined in the stories. We also read Farmer Boy and began reading Little House on the Prairie the remainder of the trip to family and friends.
