On October 10th, our fourth-grade class took an exciting trip back in time to the Feast of the Hunter’s Moon, a historical reenactment festival held at Fort Ouiatenon near West Lafayette, Indiana. This annual event recreates life in the 1700s, when French fur traders and Native American tribes gathered at the fort to trade goods, share culture, and prepare for the winter season.

Our focus for the trip was learning about the French trading post, and it was like stepping into a history book come to life!

What We Saw and Learned:
Fur Trading Demonstrations:
We watched a reenactor play the role of a French trader, showing how beaver pelts were exchanged for tools, blankets, and metal goods. We learned how valuable fur was in Europe and how important trading was for both the French and Native American people.
Period Clothing and Tools:
Many reenactors were dressed in 18th-century clothes, including breechcloths, tricorn hats, moccasins, and long coats. They explained how the clothing was made and how different tools were used in daily life—like flintlock muskets, cooking pots, and hand-forged axes.
Cultural Exchange:
We saw performances by Native American dancers and French musicians, learning how different cultures interacted and celebrated together during the trading season.
Hands-On Activities:
Students got to try writing with quill pens, touch animal pelts, and even practice bartering with “trading tokens.” Everyone had a chance to ask questions and explore at their own pace.
 

This field trip helped us better understand Indiana’s early history and the relationships between European settlers and Native American tribes. It made learning about the fur trade and frontier life fun, engaging, and unforgettable.