For release

Sept. 3, 2003

For more information contact:  Jeff Mammenga, 773-6000

Descendents of Verendrye flattered by plate at Cultural Heritage Center

PIERRE – Many visitors to Pierre this summer have been pleased with what there is to see on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, but a family from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada following the lesser-known La Verendrye Trail was especially pleased with what they found recently at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center.

            One of the featured attractions at the Cultural Heritage Center is the La Verendrye Plate, buried in 1743 by French brothers and explorers Francois and Louis La Verendrye on a hill in what is now Fort Pierre to claim the territory for France. They were the sons of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Verendrye, known as “Discoverer of the Rockies” in Canadian history books as he searched for a direct route to the Pacific Ocean. The 6-by-8-inch lead plate was discovered by teenagers in 1913 and has been in the collection of the South Dakota State Historical Society since 1914. The plate is the first known evidence of white people in this part of the country.

            Pierre de Varennes of Ottawa -- a 10th-generation descendent of Pierre La Verendrye -- his wife Danielle, and children Elyse, Gabriel and Maxime, have been following the route the La Verendryes took south and west from Canada. It was Danielle who first found out about the La Verendrye Monument, located where the plate was found in Fort Pierre. She read about it in an atlas. Pierre said the family didn’t know how far south they’d have to come to find it. When the family first visited the monument Aug. 11, Pierre said he immediately knew that he was in fact a direct descendent of the famous explorers.

            From the monument the Canadian family went to the La Verendrye Museum in Fort Pierre, which has a replica of the plate. Staff there sent them to the Cultural Heritage Center to see the original. The plate, of course, is something that de Varennes is quite proud of. “We’re impressed (a) that it was found in the first place, and (b) that it has the importance and notoriety that is has gained,” he said. De Varennes said the plate gave him “an immense sense of pride” and, of course, greatly “peaked” the interest of his children in history.

            Pierre also said it was ironic that the name of the city in which the plate is located is “Pierre,” although the city’s pronunciation is the Americanized “Peer.” De Varennes said he called his mother in Canada to tell her about the plate and she was “immensely excited.” Pierre said his father passed away a couple of years ago but added that he’s sure the plate would have made his dad proud. De Varennes said he’s got five brothers and sisters, with one living in Michigan and four in Canada. There could be more De Varenneses making the journey to South Dakota in the near future, he said.

            The Cultural Heritage Center is the headquarters of the State Historical Society, an office of the Department of Tourism and State Development.

-30-