Aubrey S.

Maple Syrup

Aubrey S.
Humboldt Community Fair
Humboldt, SK

The Indigenous people originally discovered maple syrup in Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. They used the maple syrup as a sweetener and an anesthetic, as well as for trade. To make the maple syrup they would leave the sap out in the cold weather to separate on its own. When the Europeans came over in the 16th century, the Indigenous people taught the Europeans how to make the sweet syrup and by the late 17th and early 18th centuries maple syrup production became more popular among the settlers. The Europeans used maple syrup for most of the same thing the Indigenous did although the Europeans sometimes had different methods. Further along the timeline Canada started exporting maple syrup to France in 1929. Maple syrup got popular when a short while before 1890 when the import tax was lifted from cane sugar, and cane sugar out sold maple sugar. Then in the maple industry the “sugarmakers” started producing maple syrup instead of maple sugar and over the years people have grown to love our sugary syrup; speaking of, Canada produces 71% of Canada’s liquid gold with Quebec producing 91% of the country’s maple syrup.

What sources and evidence did you consult for your project? What different perspectives did they provide on your topic?

https://trca.ca/news/maple-syrup-roots/.

https://parks.canada.ca/culture/designation/evenement-event/erable-maple.

https://www.maplefromcanada.com/about/where-does-maple-come-from/.

What is the historical significance of your topic?

Maple syrup is more than something to be exported and produced; it is very important to our culture and heritage. Maple syrup connects us to our Canadian history by reminding us how the Indigenous people helped teach and show us how to get the sweet sap from the trees and since the 20th century to the present. Maple syrup will remain part of Canada’s history.  

Why did you choose this topic? 

To understand the history of maple syrup and how it has become a big part of Canada. Also, I personally wanted to learn more. Maple syrup is a big part of Canada’s history and heritage.