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The first Europeans to go into the middle of our country were Frenchmen. The French had settled in Canada. They sent missionaries to preach to the American Indians in the West. They also sent traders to buy furs from the Indians.

The Frenchmen heard the Indians talk about a great river in the West. But no Frenchman had ever gone far enough to see the Mississippi.

Marquette was a priest. Joliet was a fur trader. These two men were sent to find the great river that the Indians talked about.

They traveled in two birch canoes. They took five men to paddle the canoes. They took some smoked meat to eat on the way. They also took some Indian corn. They had trinkets to trade to the Indians. Hatchets, and beads, and bits of cloth were the money they used to pay the Indians for what they wanted.

The friendly Indians in Wisconsin tried to persuade them not to go. They told them that the Indians on the great river would kill them.

The friendly Indians also told them that there was a demon in one part of the river. They said that this demon roared so loud that he could be heard a long way off. They said that the demon would draw the travelers down into the water. Then they told about great monsters that ate up men and their canoes.

But Marquette and the men with him thought they would risk the journey. They would not turn back for fear of the demon or the monsters.

The two little canoes went down the Wisconsin River. After some days, they came to the Mississippi. More than a hundred years before, the Spaniards had seen the lower part of this river. But no white man had ever seen this part of the great river. Marquette did not know that any white man had ever seen any part of the Mississippi.

The two little canoes now turned their bows down the river. Sometimes they saw great herds of buffaloes. Some of these came to the bank of the river to look at the men in the canoes. They had long, shaggy manes, which hung down over their eyes.

For two weeks the travelers paddled down the river. In all this time, they did not see any Indians. After they had gone hundreds of miles in this way, they came to a place where they saw tracks in the mud. It was in what is now the State of Iowa.

Marquette and Joliet left the men in their canoes, and followed the tracks. After walking two hours, they came to an Indian village. The Frenchmen came near enough to hear the Indians talking. The Indians did not see them.

Joliet and Marquette did not know whether the Indians would kill them or not. They said a short prayer. Then they stood out in full view, and gave a loud shout.

The Indians came out of their tents like bees. They stared at the strangers. Then four Indians came toward them. These Indians carried a peace pipe. They held this up toward the sun. This meant that they were friendly.

The Indians now offered the peace pipe to the Frenchmen. The Frenchmen took it, and smoked with the Indians. This was the Indian way of saying, "We are friends."

Marquette asked the Indians what tribe they belonged to. They told him that they were of the tribe called the Illinois.

They took Joliet and Marquette into their village. They came to the door of a large wigwam. A chief stood in the door. He shaded his eyes with both hands, as if the sun were shining in his face. Then he made a little speech.

He said, "Frenchmen, how bright the sun shines when you come to see us! We are all waiting for you. You shall now come into our houses in peace."

The Illinois Indians made a feast for their new friends. First, they had mush of corn meal, with fat meat in it. One of the Indians fed the Frenchmen as though they were babies. He put mush into their mouths with a large spoon.

Then came some fish. The Indian that fed the visitors picked out the bones with his fingers. Then he put the pieces of fish into their mouths. After they had some roasted dog. The Frenchmen did not like this. Last, they were fed with buffalo meat.

The next morning six hundred Indians went to the canoes to tell the Frenchmen goodbye. They gave Marquette a young Indian slave. And they gave him a peace pipe to carry with him.

story image

Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read the story multiple times.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Study the vocabulary words.
  • Learn the concepts.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Jacques Marquette, a priest, and Louis Joliet, a fur trader, were the first Europeans to explore the center of the United States. They traveled thousands of miles in canoes across vast lakes and up and down great rivers, including the Mississippi. They met an Indian tribe called the Illinois in what is now the state of Iowa. The Illinois welcomed the Frenchmen and made a feast for them. The Illinois gave Marquette and Joliet gifts including a peace pipe when the Frenchmen departed to continue their river journey.

Vocabulary

Iowa: A state in the middle of the United States.
French / Frenchmen: People from the European country of France.
Priest: An ordained minister of certain churches.
Fur Trader: A person who obtains and sells animals furs.
Canoe: A narrow boat propelled by paddles.
Trinket: A small ornament or item of jewelry that is of little value.
Buffalo: A stout, shaggy wild ox.
Tribe: A distinctive close-knit group of people.
Wigwam: A dome-shaped hut or tent made of wooden poles and animal skins, bark, or other natural materials.
Chief: A leader or ruler of a people or clan.

Concepts

The United States of America is divided into smaller regions called states. In the story, Marquette and Joliet traveled through the land that became the states of Wisconsin and Iowa.

Zoom in and find Wisconsin (WI) and Iowa (IA) on the map of the continental United States below. Do you live in or near these states?

Facts about states:

  1. There are fifty states making up the United States of America.
  2. Each state has its own flag, its own bird, and its own motto.

For example, the motto, flag, bird of New York State are:

  1. New York State Motto: Excelsior (Ever Upward)
  2. New York State Flag:
  3. New York State Bird: Eastern bluebird

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Story

  • After reading or listening to the story, narrate the story events aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Act Out the Story

  • One person play the role of Marquette or Joliet and others play the roles of the friendly Illinois Indians.
  • Use a couch or other piece of furniture as your canoe. Climb into your canoe. Be careful! Don't fall in the water! The canoe might tip and spill you into the river if you rock it too much.
  • Paddle down the river to meet the friendly Illinois. They welcome you into their wigwam and share their feast.

Activity 3: Color the Story   

  • Click the crayon above. Color the drawings and complete page 6 of 'History Coloring Pages for First Grade.'

Activity 4: Color the Story   

  • Click the crayon above. Color the drawings and complete page 7 of 'History Coloring Pages for First Grade.'

Activity 5: Study the Story Picture

Study the painting below of Father Marquette and the American Indians. Zoom in to see the details, and find the following:

  • Father Marquette.
  • American Indians.
  • Children

Why is Father Marquette dressed in a black robe? (Marquette is a priest.)

What is Father Marquette standing in? (Marquette stands in a canoe.)

What is Father Marquette pointing at? (Marquette points down the river, where he will most likely be journeying.)

What do the American Indian men wear in their hair? (The American Indian men wear feathers in their hair.)

Review

Question 1

How did Marquette and Joliet travel down the river?
1 / 4

Answer 1

They traveled in canoes.
1 / 4

Question 2

Why do you think Marquette and Joliet decided to take this journey?
2 / 4

Answer 2

Marquette traveled to share his religion with the American Indians. Joliet traveled to buy furs from the American Indians.
2 / 4

Question 3

Who did Marquette and Joliet meet on their journey?
3 / 4

Answer 3

They met a friendly American Indian tribe called the Illinois.
3 / 4

Question 4

What did the Illinois give to Marquette and Joliet?
4 / 4

Answer 4

They gave the men a feast and gifts including a peace pipe.
4 / 4

  1. How did Marquette and Joliet travel down the river? They traveled in canoes.
  2. Why do you think Marquette and Joliet decided to take this journey? Marquette traveled to share his religion with the American Indians. Joliet traveled to buy furs from the American Indians.
  3. Who did Marquette and Joliet meet on their journey? They met a friendly American Indian tribe called the Illinois.
  4. What did the Illinois give to Marquette and Joliet? They gave the men a feast and gifts including a peace pipe.

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