My research will use stable isotope analysis of human hair to explore dietary preferences to facilitate a greater understanding of individual life histories of early Ontario settlers. Hair growth is faster than the rate of bone turnover, so the analysis of hair provides an opportunity to explore dietary patterns closer to the time of death. I hope to demonstrate that human hair represents an ideal material to be used in the understanding of dietary patterns and health status in a historic population from 19th century Ontario by investigating the short-term diet of individuals before death.