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This IS hvmg history, orgamzer says of Henri di T onty Festival By KRIS ausaowv wmssanugam. Staff writer Henri di Tonty arrived in King- ton yesterday afternoon the same ' way he arrived for the first time in 1678. Dressed in full .period costume ' and led by a group of six natives from the 'l'yendinaga Reserve, di Tonty-- --played by Kingstonian Mi- . chael Marreilo -- arrived on fact at the Marine Museum of the ' Great Lakes all ready to take part in the Team Feaflvai. . ' The festival had ibeennorganlzed to honor the first Italian fur trader to arrive in the area, and was spon- sored by the Italo Canadian Club and CFFX Radio. "This is living history," said organizer Phil Quattrocchi, "a real lesson. " According to fellow-organizer Richard Gold, who is curator of the MacLachlan Woodworking Mu- seum in Pittsburgh Township, di Tonty was a real adventurer. Di Tonty lost his hand during his service in the French military af- ter a grenadewent off bide him. "He replaced it with an iron hook." said Mr. Gold, "and then a capper fist. He used that list as a personal weapon. '. "Di Tonty was a lieutenant un- der the explorer, LaSalle. And La- Salle even named an island after him-- Ile Tonty - which is now Amherst Island, " Mr. Gold said. During the festival, "di Tonty" was welcomed by natives from the Tyendinaga Reserve and members from Legion 560, who told him of the changes to Canada over the past 300 years. Legion members each carried a different provincial flag to show to the explorer. "1 am surprised to discover that my island has been re-named, " joked "dl Tonty. " A group called Peacemakers Drum and Dancers from the Tyendinaga reserve per- formed a friendship dance in tradi- tional costume. Several onlookers joined in and danced alongside them. Native women then picked corn and squash from the Unity Garden, which is located beside the run- seum. (These vegetables were later delivered to the Kingston food bank. ) "The spirit of the event was joy- ful. All kinds of different people were working together on the program," said Mr. Gold. "It was a' real fundamental sense of differ-. ent cultures getting along together and co-operatlng. That was the point of the whole day. " He estimated that 250 people took part in the Tonty Festival, which included SpectatOrs and par-'1 ticipants.