The Mississauga moved into southern Ontario following the 17th century dispersal of the Huron-Wendat nation. The lands north of Lake Ontario up to the area around Midland, now known as Huronia, were the territory of the once numerous Huron-Wendat. Together with their close relatives, the Petun and Neutrals, the Huron-Wendat were ravaged by newly introduced European diseases and eventually attacked in their villages and dispersed by the Iroquois from south of Lake Ontario.