Education and Inspiration through the ancient art of storytelling!
Zenoble Membre was a student of Pere Marquette who traveled through the Midwest with LaSalle, Hennepin and DeTonti. Through the journals of these intrepid explorers, Brian “Fox” Ellis portrays Zenoble, bringing to life the struggles and triumphs of their attempt to build an empire in the wilderness. Through original and traditional songs, poetry and folktales Fox allows listeners to experience first hand the beauty and grandeur of the voyager. Audience members are invited to barter furs for trade goods, to sing-a-long in French, and to paddle a canoe through the mists of time to see America through the eyes of the first Europeans. Follow this link to view lesson plans.
Before Lewis and Clark, Father Marquette and Joliet explored the rivers of America. Before America was a nation, LaSalle and DeTonti built a fur-trading empire in the Illinois Country. The text for this show is taken directly from the journals of these earliest explorers. Through these journals we get a glimpse of life in the early days of Midwestern history. Through traditional paddling songs and true tales we can be immersed in the adventures of these hardy explorers and French fur traders. This performance is the recreation of a cross country canoe trip taken in 1690 by Father Zenoble Membre. Thegoal is to give you a chance to experience local living history through story and song!
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