Metis

Volume II: A brief story of Élisabeth Couc, who became known as Isabelle Montour.

Posted on May 25, 2019February 27, 2021 by Abitawiskwe

Translated from an article entitled “De remarquables oubliés – Isabelle Montour“, published by Radio-Canada in November 22, 2016.

A woman of rare intelligence and great beauty, Isabelle Montour is a prominent figure in the young history of the United States.

Élisabeth Couc was born in 1667 at the fiefdom of Algonquin Sachem Pachirini in Trois-Rivières. Her mother Marie Mite8ameg8k8e is Algonquin. Her father, Pierre Couc, from Cognac, is one of the first settlers.

In 1676, the family moved to Saint-François, on the other side of the river from Trois-Rivières. In 1679, Jeanne, the eldest child, was raped and killed by a man called Rattier, an employee of Lord Jean Crevier.

This tragedy illustrates the Settler’s disregard for the Métis. Elizabeth is 12 years old and she will never forget the incident.

From Couc to Montour

It is Elizabeth’s brother, Louis, who adopts the name of Montour when baptizing his children. In 1687, Elizabeth became Isabelle and she married Joachim Germaneau, a much older coureur des bois. Her sisters also marry coureurs des bois. The men know each other and do business together.

A desired woman

In 1692, Isabelle Germaneau and her two sisters moved to the Michillimackinac area, the strategic post between Lake Huron and Lake Erie, then ruled by Lamothe-Cadillac. In 1693, Isabelle’s husband disappears in the woods: she is widowed at 26 years old. Isabelle is very beautiful and leads a libertine life. Lamothe-Cadillac had her arrested and returned to Quebec.

A sparkle

In Quebec, Isabelle Montour is kidnapped by an Indian chief Ottawa, Outoutagan, a very handsome man, who brings her back to Michilimackinac. They marry. It is from this moment, in 1697, that Isabelle becomes an interpreter: she speaks Algonquin, Huron and Iroquois, which is unique. Around 1701, she separated and married a French soldier: she became La Téchenet and moved to Detroit.

The beginning of a saga

Étienne de Maubourg, who came from France to inspect the Cadillac colony, becomes Isabelle’s new lover, who is nearly 40 years old. Meanwhile, Louis Montour fur trade with the English who want to break to the west. He is very powerful. In Detroit, many people desert to follow him, including Isabelle and Etienne.

Maubourg had an affair with a married woman, Madame Tichenet, known as “La Chenette”, at Fort Pontchartrain. After his desertion in 1706, the couple met up and lived among a group of deserters on an island in Lake Erie

The French go after them. They do not find them, but their heads are priced.

In 1709, Louis Montour was murdered by Private Joncaire on the orders of Governor Vaudreuil.

A clan mother

Isabelle takes over from her brother. After having entrusted her daughter to her sisters in Trois-Rivières, she returned to Albany. She moved to Iroquois territory. She becomes accepted by the Oneida Nation and definitively adopts the name of Montour. She marries the chief Karontowa:nen, known also as Robert Hunter, of whom she is very in love. She is a diplomat who participates in all major conferences. Despised by the French, she is greatly respected by the English. She perpetuates the legend of her brother Louis.

Descendants of Marie Mite8ameg8k8e (click to enlarge)

A big liar

During her old age, her son Andrew manages to get her a big stone house. She receives a lot and likes to tell her life, but by inventing all sorts of stories! That’s why there are passages that remain unknown in this unusual life. Isabelle Montour died in 1751, at the age of 85.

She left a large Métis descent named Montour.

At the beginning of the story

In 1670, the population of New France was barely 6,700 people against 120,000 in New England. The Hudson’s Bay Company has just been created under the influence of Médard Chouart des Groseilliers and Pierre-Esprit Radisson. In 1676, the defeat of the Indians in New England gave European settlers control of the North American coast.

Epilogue

In 1850, in Pennsylvania, in memory of Madame Montour and her descendants, Montour County was created in the Susquehanna Valley named in honor of Madame Montour. In the United States, there are, in New York State, the Montour Falls and the city of Montour.

Meanwhile…

In 1679: Cavelier de la Salle explores the Great Lakes region. Then he goes down the Mississippi River. He takes possession of Louisiana in the name of France.
In 1863: William Penn signs a peace treaty with the Delaware Indians.
In 1686: Pennsylvania attracts many German and French Protestants who chose exile after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.
In 1691: a far cry from virginia condemns to banishment any individual who is married to a black man, a mulatto or an Indian.
In 1699: the first permanent French colony is established in Louisiana.

References and bibliography:

Madame Montour and her time, by Simone Vincens, published by Hébert publications.

Mrs. Montour, White Queen of the Iroquois, by George G. Struble, published at Lebanon Valley College.

Volume I: Pachirini, Mite8meg8kwe, Couc, Lafleur and their offspring

Posted on May 21, 2019February 27, 2021 by Abitawiskwe

Pachirini, an Algonquin appears as a young warrior wounded who was cared for by Jeanne Mance at the Hôtel-Dieu in Montréal in March of 1643.

He was baptized on April 2, 1643 in Montréal by Father Imbert Duperon. He was given the Christian name of Charles. One of the witnesses was Jeanne Mance.

His fellow tribesmen left for Trois-Rivières. Charles lived here for some time with the two Jesuits of the post and led them to explore the shore that was later to become Laprairie (a Jesuit mission). He rejoined his people at Trois-Rivières and, prior to 1648, became the captain of the Christian Algonquins, even during the life-time of TESSOUEHAT.

Sachem Pachirini was Chief of the Weskarini Band of the Algonkin Tribe. He was given a Fiefdom in Trois-Rivières. Governeur-general Montmagny had actually given him, for the use of the Algonquins, a plot with a frontage of four perches and a depth of eight, next to that of the Jesuits where the church was to be built. Governeur-general D’Ailleboust enlarged it and the land was called Pachirini’s fief, which is now the Place d’Armes.

Weskarini was an Algonquian tribe that lived on the north side of Ottawa river below Allumettes Island (Morrisson’s Island), Québec, with the people of which they appear to be closely associated in the Jesuit Relations.

They were known as Petite Nation des Algonquins, Little Nation of the Algonkin.”

The Weskarini Band also known Algonkin Proper, La Petite Nation, Little Nation, Ouaouechkairini, Ouassouarini, Ouescharini, Ouionontateronon (Huron word), Petite Nation were originally localed on the north side of the Ottawa River along the Lièvre and the Rouge Rivers in Québec.

Known variously as: Algoumequins de l’Isle, Allumette, Big River People, Gens de l’Isle, Honkeronon (Huron word), Island Algonkin, Island Indians, Island Nation, Kichesippiriniwek, Nation de l’Isle, Nation of the Isle, and Savages de l’Isle. Main village was on Morrison’s (Allumette) Island.”

It appears from PRDH documents that Pachirini had two wives. In any case, he fathered several children with two Algonquin women: Marie 8KI8TIABAN8K8E (Oukioutiabanoukoue – French spelling) and SEHAM8 (Sehamou).

One of my ancestors, Marie Mite8meg8kwe, aka MITOUAMEGOUKOUE (French spelling (pronounced: mee-tee-wa-mee-gou-kwee) was born around 1631-1632 in the “Nations des Ouionontateronon”(Huron word for Weskarini Band of the Algonkin Tribe), in the area between the Ottawa and the St-Maurice rivers in Québec.

She was baptized on November 6th, 1650 in Montréal.

Latin transcription Anno D[omini] 1650 ego ide[m] baptizavi Mariam Mite8ameg8k8e nunc Kakesik8k8e dictam uxore[m] Asababich. Matrina fuit Maria uxor Lepine. 6 Novemb[ris] Traduction française En l’an du Seigneur 1650, moi, le même (Claude Pijart de la Société de Jésus, desservant de cette paroisse), j’ai baptisé Marie Mite8ameg8k8e maintenant dite Kakesik8k8e, épouse d’Asababich. La marraine fut Marie, épouse de Lepine. (Fait) le 6 novembre. English Translation “In the year of Our Lord 1650, I, the same [Claude Pijart of the Society of Jesus], have baptized Marie Mite8ameg8k8e, now named Kakesik8k8e, the wife of Asababich. The godmother was Marie, wife of Lepine. [Executed] the 6 of November.

She, along with other members of the Weskarini tribe, lived in the Fiefdom Pachirini (today called Place d’Armes), in Trois-Rivieres.

Marie caught the eye of the soldier-farmer, Pierre Couc dit Lafleur, who had purchased land and had established a farm in Trois-Rivieres.

Pierre had learned the Algonquin language and frequently served as an interpreter between the colonists and the Native Americans. Marie Mite8ameg8kwe had taken an interest and enjoyed his frequent visits to her village.

Pierre was 30 years old; Marie was an orphan and a widow who had lost two children. They married five winters (16 April 1657) after her family had been taken from her by the Agniers (Mohawks). The Jesuit priest, Father Paul Ragueneau officiated at this Christian-Algonquin marriage.
Their 1st child, Jeanne was born and baptized that year (1657). Pierre had purchased land from the Trottier brothers, enough to build a house and a small garden. He hired himself our as a laborer for Barthelemy Bertaux, ironsmith. Pierre and Marie had problems during those first years. Loans were reclaimed. Pierre injured himself and had enormous medical costs. He lost his employment as an ironsmith.

Two years after their marriage (15 Oct 1659), Pierre commissioned his friend Notary Severin Ameau to draw up a Marriage Contract to insure that his wife and children would be rightful heirs to his property.

That same year, Marie was pregnant with their 2nd child. Their son was born in the fall of the year and baptized as Louis.

The Agniers began their attacks once more. Pierre decided, two years later (1661) to move his family to Cap-de-la Madeleine where he had bought 4 arpents (acres) of land on the west bank of the river. This was an agricultural community where crops grew well and family life was better than at a trading post like Trois-Rivieres. Pierre built his house near the windmill and erected a palisade around it.

Marie Angelique, 3rd child of Pierre and Marie was born the year after the Couc family had moved to their new community (1662).

Two years later (1664), the 3rd daughter, Marguerite was born and baptized.
The quiet peace was again disturbed by Agniers raids. Over the next 5 years, the new governor convinced France to send soldiers, the Carignan Regiment, to finally quell the Iroquois attacks. Finally, a peace treaty was signed in the summer (1667) For the next 16 years, it was an era of calm and prosperity for everyone.

Elizabeth, the 5th child, was born and baptized that summer of the peace treaty, when the Iroquois finally renounced their domination of the Saint Lawrence valley.

Marie continued instructing her brood in the Algonquian language and culture; Pierre taught his children French and his heritage; and the Jesuits taught the children to read and write.

Over the next 6 years, two more children were born in the Couc family: Marie Madeleine and a son, Jean Baptiste.

During this time, the atmosphere in Cap-de-la Madeleine had begun to change dramatically. With the departure of the Jesuits in 1666, the Cap became contaminated by the illegal traffic of alcohol. On 10 Nov 1668, the sovereign Council granted permission for the legal sale of alcohol, even to the Natives.

The change in atmosphere undoubtedly prompted Pierre and Marie to move their family to the seigniory of Jean Crevier, in the Ile-de-Fort, which would eventually be known as St. Francois-du-Lac.

Jean Crevier had begun to distribute land grants in the fall of 1673. Marie must have been very proud of her husband, as one of the first five signers of a contract. Crevier had begun to clear the land, had built a village mill and had established justice for this seigniory. There was a poll tax system where a person paid for a right to farm and obtain 3 to 5 arpents (acres) in frontage by 30 to 40 in depth. The only charge was to leave the fourteenth milling as grinding costs.

There is no doubt that these favorable conditions prompted Pierre and Marie to decide to move their home to the other side of the river. Because of his revenues from land at Trois-Rivieres and Cap-de-la-Madeleine, the former soldier-peasant became a well-to-do land owner at St. Francois-du-Lac.

By the work of his hands during 15 years, Pierre Couc had the right to show justifiable pride in his home and land.

Life at St. Francois-du-Lac was very different than that at Trois-Rivieres and the Cap. The first 3 children had learned to read and write because the Jesuits took charge of teaching the basics. In St Francois there was total isolation. There were only traveling missionaries who came sporadically to administer the sacraments.

Marie Mite8meg8kwe’s quiet life was shattered in the fall of 1679 by the assault and death of her daughter, Jeanne. Marie’s husband had been wounded in coming to the rescue of his daughter. Jeanne’s assailant, Jean Rattier, was sentenced as a murderer. For the Couc family, life was not the same after the tragic loss of their daughter and the lengthy justice process. Pierre was a man of character, he respected the law and expected others to do so also. Justice had been carried out, but not to his satisfaction.

For the Couc family, life was not the same after the tragic loss of their daughter and the lengthy justice process. Pierre was a man of character, he respected the law and expected others to do so also. Justice had been carried out, but not to his satisfaction.

Marie and Pierre continued to see their family grow and become adults with a succession of marriages.

Angelique married Francois Delpee St.Cerny dit Belcourt. He was 35 years old and she was 20 years old. In the summer (30 Aug) 1682, they married and established a home on 12 arpents (acres) of land in St-Francois-du-Lac. They had 5 children.

Louis first married according to the Indigenous culture, a young woman from the Sokoki Nation named Madeleine (1681). This marriage was not recognized by the Catholic Church.

His first son, Francois, was listed as a natural child on baptismal certificate. Louis later married Jeanne Quiquetig8k8e in the winter of 1684.

Marie Madeleine married Maurice Menard dit Fontaine, the son of wheelwright Jacques Menard, They were married before the end of the year 1684.

Elizabeth married Joachim Germanau/Germano in the spring of 1684, at the same time as her brother Louis. She was also known as Isabelle. She was 17 and Joachim, who had arrived in 1665 with the Carignan Regiment, was in his forties. Germano had been a trader with the Indians for pelts, loading them on canoes to transport back to the colony.

During the winter of 1687, the French invaded the Seneca territory (one of the Iroquois Five Nations). A mediocre victory by the French only incited the summer raids of vengeance ravaging the banks of the Saint Lawrence. There was not one single fortified place to resist the enemy. Each seigniory was ordered to build a fort. Crevier received the help of the troops to build his fort. The village of Saint Francois was secure the following winter; the villagers followed their normal life. The summer of 1688, smallpox created havoc; the Mohawks forced themselves into Sorel, Saint Francois and Riviere-du-Loup (Louiseville). there were not many massacres, but the raids were enough to put fear in the inhabitants.

Elizabeth/Isabelle had been given land in Trois-Rivieres and settled there with a generous dowry from her father. Marie never learned to read and write. When she served as a witness to her daughter Isabelle/Elizabeth’s wedding, her mother simply affixed her mark-a totem of a bird to the marriage contract.
Marguerite married three times:

Jean Gauthier dit Delisle, (b. 1632) who died in L’Assomption in 1683, shortly after their marriage
Jean Fafard, (1657- Detroit 1702) Married in the winter of 1688 in Sorel, because there still was not a chapel at St.Francois-du-Lac.
Michel Massé, (1671-1730)

Louis adoped the surname Montour. He had hired himself out to become a beaver hunter. He joined his two brothers-in-law Germano and Fafard who were experts in this field. The three men were on their return home during the following summer of 1689 when the massacre of Lachine, near Montreal spread its terror among the families. In November, St. Francois was attacked; the Iroquois did not attack the fort, but they killed two inhabitants and with flaming arrows burned the newly constrected chapel.

In 1690 Pierre died. Marie and Pierre had been married for 37 years and had combined two cultures into one unique way of life. Pierre Couc, one of the hard working founders of French Canada, in the presence of his family and a large friendly crowd, was buried at the age of 63 years, beneath the ruins of the chapel of St. Francois where he would stay while the rest of his family took refuge in the Trois-Riviere fort.
Jean Baptiste, the youngest child, married an Indigenous woman named Anne around 1705 in Lachine. She was either Algonquin, Sokoki or Abenaki.

Marie Mitew8meg8kwe is remembered in history by a simple Christian record, written by Elisee Crey, Recollet Priest, Pastor of Trois-Rivieres, on her burial certificate as a “Sauvagesse”-“a female Native or Savage.”

The year 1699, the eighth of January was buried in the cemetery of the parish of Notre Dame of Trois-Rivieres Madame Lafleur, native widow of Mister Lafleur after having received all the sacrements in the manner of a true Christian-by my hand, a Recolet priest having carried out the pastoral duties, Father Elisee Crey, Recolet.

Many thanks to Norm Leveillée (www.leveillee.net), Suzanne Boivin Sommerville, Mindy Ruffin for this research.

Fief Pachirini: terres volées – stolen lands.

Posted on May 12, 2019October 1, 2019 by Abitawiskwe

Place d’Armes, aux Trois-Rivières.

Le ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec déclare que:

La valeur patrimoniale de la place d’Armes réside dans son intérêt historique. Il reflète le riche passé de la ville de Trois-Rivières et son premier développement urbain. Le fief initial, concédé au chef algonquin Charles Pachirini (Baazhińiniwish) en 1648, est avant tout un campement autochtone. Il est cependant géré par les jésuites qui octroient de petits lots aux colons à partir de 1656 et devient ainsi une demeure française.

En 1722, le terrain est converti en marché public. Devenu une place d’Armes dans la seconde moitié du 18ème siècle, il fut utilisé pour des exercices militaires jusqu’au début du 20ème siècle. Le canon en bronze fabriqué en Russie et découvert en 1828 aurait été rapporté par des soldats de Trois-Rivières ayant participé à la guerre de Crimée (1853-1856). Le site conserve encore le nom de Place d’Armes, bien qu’il soit maintenant utilisé comme parc urbain.

La valeur patrimoniale de la Place d’Armes repose également sur son intérêt pour l’histoire de la conservation du patrimoine au Québec. Contrairement à la “loi sur la conservation des monuments et des œuvres d’art d’intérêt historique et artistique” adoptée en 1922, la “loi sur la conservation des monuments, sites et objets historiques et artistiques”, sanctionnée en 1952, intègre des paysages et des sites de intérêt artistique ou historique dans les biens susceptibles d’être protégés. La place d’Armes, classée en 1960, est le premier lieu protégé au sens de cette loi.

Cependant, dans le contrat de 1699 ci-dessous, nous voyons que la terre a été transférée aux jésuites, sans aucune consultation des peuples autochtones qui avaient occupé la terre:

23 Octobre 1699
Concesfsion
De la Seigneurie de Sillery
Aux Révérends Pères Jésuites

HECTOR de CALLIÈRE, Chevallier de L’Ordre de Sainct Louis, Gouverneur & Lieutenant Général pour le Roy en toute France Septentrionale.

JEAN BOCHART, Chevallier Seigneur des Champigny, Norroy et autres lieux, Conseiller du Roy en ses Conseilz, Intendant de Justice Police et Finances au dit pays.

VU LA REQUESTRE à nous présentée par le Révérend Père Martin Bouvart, Supérieur de la Compagnie de Jésus, en ce pays, et le Père François Vaillant, son Procureur, tendante à ce qu’il nous plust leur transférer en propre les fief, terre et Seigneurie de Syllery, donts ils n’on jouy jusques à présent que comme administrateurs du bien des Sauvages Chrétiens, à qui le dit fief avoi testé donné par Sa Majesté, au mois de Juillet 1651, et que les dits Sauvages ont été obligéz d’abandonner depuis dix ou douze ans pour s’establir ailleurs, tant parce que les terres en culture y estoient tout a faict usées, que parceque les bois de chauffage, coupéz depuis prez de quarante ans, se trouvent beaucoup éloignéz de leur demeure, commes au foy, de leur transférer pareillement en propre et en fiefs, quatre perches de terre de front, sur huict de profondeur, concédées par fe Monsieur de Montmagny, et vingt toises en quarré d’augmentation concédées par feu Monsieur Dailleboust, tous deux Gouverneurs Généraux de ce pays, à feu Pachiriny, Capitaine Sauvage dans le lieu des Trois Rivières, dont les dits pères Jésuites ont donné depuis plus de quarante ans, comme tuteurs et adminstrateurs du bien du dit Pachiriny, des contractz de Concefsion à divers particuliers François, pour les occuper et y bastir, comme ilz ont faict, moyennant quelque petite redevance; lequel Pachiriny est mort, et les ditz Pères Jésuites sont demeurez dans la jouifsance des ditz emplacements, dont ilz nous requèrent de leur donner la Concefsion; et estans pleinement informéz des bonnes intentions des ditz Pères de la Compagnie de Jésus, des grands secours spirituelz et temporelz qu’ilz rendent aux Sauvages de ce pays, et des grandz soins qu’ilz ont pris, et des dépenses excefsives qu’ilz ont faictes pour soustenir les mifsions des ditz Sauvages, et pour travailler solidement à leur Salut, et particulièrement à l’égard de ceux qui estoient établis audit lieu de Sillery, pour lesquelz depuis qu’ilz en sont sortis, ilz on achepté à leurs propres frais d’autres terres en divers lieux de ce pays, afin de les y establir; sans quoy ilz se seroient disperséz.

Pour ces raisons, nous avons donné, concédé, et octroyé en propre aux ditz Pères Jésuistes, les dits fief, terre et Seigneurie de Syllery d’une lieue de large, sur le fleuve Sainct Laurens, et d’une lieue et demie ou environ de profondeur jusques à la Seigneurie de Sainct Gabriel qui la termine par derrière, commençant du costé du Nord Est à la pointe de Puifseaux, et du costé du Sud Ouest à une ligne qui la sépare du fief des Gaudartville; lesquelles lignes ont esté tirées, l’une il y a environ vingt cinq ans, et l’autre il y a environ quarante; avecq tous les droictz et privilèges condédéz autrefois aux ditz Sauvages; pour tenir le tout en véritable fief, ne relevant que du Roy, avecq droit de haulte, moyenne & bafse justice, ainsy qu’ilspofsèdent toutes les autres terres que Sa Majesté leur a bien voullu accorder en ce pays; et pareillement, nous leur donnons, concédons et octroyons, en mesme titre de fief, et avecq les mesmes droitz et privilèges cy defsus spécifiéz, les dites quatre perches de terre de front sur huict de profondeur, concédées par few Monsieur de Montmagny, et les vingt toises en quarré d’augmentation concédées par few Mr Dailleboust, tous deux Gouverneurs Généraux de ce pays, au dit feu Pachirini, Capitaine Sauvage, pour du tout jouir par eux en propriété à toujours, en suivant la Coustume de Paris; à la charge que les apellations de la justice du dit Syllery resortiront devant le Sr. Lieutenant Général de la Prevosté de Québecq, et que les ditz Pères Jésuites seront enus de prendre de Sa Majesté ratiffication des présentes dans un an. En témoin dequoy nous les avons signées, à icelles faict apposer les sceaux de nos armes, et contrisigner par nos Sécrétaires. Donné à Québecq, ce vingt troisième Octobre, mil six cent quatrevingt dix neuf.

Signé « Le Chevallier de Callières. »
Et « Champigny. »
Scellées du cachet de leurs armes et contresigné
Par Monseigneur, « Hauteville »
Et Par Monseigneur, « André. ».

Et ensuitte est escript :

EXTRAIT de la Lettre du Roy aux Sieurs Chevallier de Callières, et de Beauharnois, Gouverneur Général et Intendant de la Nouvelle France.

Sa Majesté a accordé aufsy, celle de la terre de Syllery, demandée par les Pères Jésuites, quoyque cela soit contre la règle qu’elle s’est faicte de ne plus donne de terre du Canada à des Communautéz Ecclésiastiques.
Collationné à l’Original par nous Intendant, au dit pays, le vingt cinquiesme Novembre mil sept cent deux.
Signé, « Beauharnois. »
Et plus bas Par Monseigneur « Trehard. »

AUJOURD’HUY, le Titre de Concefsion et l’extraict de la Lettre du Roy dont conppies sont cy devant, ont esté régistréz au Greffe du Conseil Souverai, suivant son arrest de ce jour, par moy commis audit Greffe soubsigné à Québec, ce deuxiesme Juillet, mils sept cent trois.
(signé) « Hubert, » avec paraphe

I do hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy from the original, as on record in the Office of Enrollments at Quebec, in a French Register, intitulated, “Registre d’Insinuation Cons. Sup. B. No.2” verso 137. Provincial Secretary Office.
Quebec 5th of April 1847
DDalz
Sec

Place d’Armes, in Trois-Rivières.

The Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communications, states that:

The heritage value of Place d’Armes lies in its historical interest. It reflects the rich past of the city of Trois-Rivières and its first urban development. The initial fief, conceded to the Algonquin Chief Charles Pachirini in 1648, is first of all an Indigenous encampment. It is however managed by the Jesuits who grant small lots to settlers from 1656 and thus becomes a French dwelling place.

In 1722, the land is converted into a public market. Became a place d’Armes in the second half of the 18th century, it was used for military exercises until the beginning of the 20th century. The Russian-made bronze cannon found there, dated 1828, was reported to have been brought back by soldiers from Trois-Rivières who participated in the Crimean War (1853-1856). The site still retains the name Place d’Armes although it is now used as an urban park.

The heritage value of Place d’Armes is also based on its interest in the history of Québec’s heritage conservation. Unlike the “Law on the Conservation of Monuments and Works of Art of Historical and Artistic Interest” adopted in 1922, the “Law for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Monuments, Sites and Objects”, sanctioned in 1952 integrates landscapes and sites of scientific, artistic or historical interest in the properties likely to be protected. Place d’Armes, ranked in 1960, is the first protected place under this law.

However, buried in this 1699 contract below, we find that the land was transferred to the Jesuits, without any consultation with the Indigenous people who had occupied the land:

October 23, 1699
Concession
of the Seigneurie of Sillery
To the Reverend Jesuit Fathers

HECTOR de CALLIÈRE, Chevallier of the Order of Sainct Louis, Governor & Lieutenant General for the King in all northern France.

JEAN BOCHART, Chevallier Lord of Champigny, Noraie and other places, Councilor of the Kingdom in his Council, Intendant of Justice Police and Finances to the said country.

BY THE REQUEST presented to us by the Reverend Father Martin Bouvart, Superior of the Society of Jesus, in this country, and Father François Vaillant, his Prosecutor, who is eager to see us. Moreover, it pleases us to transfer to them the fiefs, land and lordship of Sillery, which they have enjoyed until present only as administrators of the property of the Christian Savages, to whom the said fief has tested given by His Majesty, in the month of July, 1651, and that the said Savages were obliged to give up ten or twelve years ago to settle elsewhere, both because the cultivated land was quite worn out, and that because firewood, cut for almost forty years, is far away from their homes, as in our faith, to transfer them as their own and in fiefs, eight perches (unit of measure) by four perches deep, conceded by Monsieur de Montmagny, and the addition of twenty squared fathoms conceded by the late Monsieur Dailleboust, both governors general of this country, to the late Pachiriny, Savage Chief in Three Rivers, whose so-called Jesuit fathers given for more than forty years, as tutors and administrators of the land of the said Pachiriny, contract with various private French individuals, to occupy them and to build on them, as they have done, for a small fee; aforementioned Pachiriny is now deceased, and the say Jesuit Fathers are to remain in the enjoyment of the said locations, which we are asked to give them the Concession; and are fully informed of the good intentions of the said Fathers of the Jesus, in recognition of the great spiritual and temporal help which they render to the Savages of this country, and of the grounds the care they took, and the extraordinary expenses they made to support the missions of the Savages, and to work solidly on their salvation, and especially on those who were established in the said place of Sillery, for which since they came out of it, done at their own expense on other lands in various places from this country, in order to establish them there; without which they would have dispersed.

For these reasons, we have given, conceded, and granted to the said Jesuit Fathers, the said fief, land and lordship of Sillery of a league wide, on the Saint Laurence river, and a league and a half or so deep down to the Seigneurie of Saint Gabriel, behind, starting from the northeastern coast at the tip of Ruisseaux, and from the south-west coast to a line that separates it from the fief of Gaudartville; which lines were drawn, one about twenty-five years ago, and the other about forty; with all the rights and privileges once condemned to the said Savages; to hold the whole thing in true fief, falling only to the King, with the right of justice, middle and good justice, as well as all the other lands which his Majesty has been good enough to grant them in this country; and likewise, we give them, concede and grant, in the same title of fief, and with the same right and privileges specified, the so-called four perches of land abreast on the depths of the body of water, conceded by the defunct Monsieur de Montmagny, and the twenty fathoms in square footage conceded by Mr. Dailleboust, both governors general of this country, to the said late Pachirini, Sauvage Chief, to enjoy by all in their property forever, following the Coutume de Paris; to the charge that the appellations of the justice of said Syllery will spring before the Sr. Lieutenant General of the Prevost of Quebecq, and that the said Jesuit Fathers will be able to take of his Majesty ratification present in one year. In witness of which we have signed them, they have to affix the seals of our arms, and to compel by our Secretaries. Given at Quebecq, this twenty third of October, one thousand six hundred and ninety-nine.

Signed “Le Chevallier de Callières. ”
And “Champigny. ”
Sealed with the seal of their arms and countersigned
By Monseigneur, “Hauteville”
And By Monseigneur, “Andre. “.

And below:

EXTRACT from the Letter of the King to Sieurs Chevallier de Callières, and Beauharnois, Governor General and Intendant of New France.

His Majesty has granted also, that of the land of Sillery, demanded by the Jesuit Fathers, that it is against the rule that it has made itself no longer to give land of Canada to Ecclesiastical Communities.

Collated with the Original by us Intendant, in the said country, the twenty fifth of November, one thousand seven hundred and two.
Signed, “Beauharnois. ”

And below By Bishop Trehard. ”

TODAY, the Title of Concession and the extract from the Letter of the King, of which it is in the foreground, have been registered with the Registry of the Sovereign Council, following his arrest of that day, by means of the said registry at Quebec, this second July, mils seven hundred and three.
(signed) “Hubert,” with initials.

(The following was entered in English)

I do hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy from the original, as on record in the Office of Enrollments at Quebec, in a French Register, intitled, “Registre d’Insinuation Cons. Sup. B. No.2” verso 137. Provincial Secretary Office.
Quebec 5th of April 1847
DDalz
Sec

Le calcul du coût d’une reconnaissance de l’identité métisse: trop cher, mais nécessaire?

Posted on May 11, 2019October 1, 2019 by Abitawiskwe

Je me suis réveillé en pensant aux économies d’échelle et à l’identité autochtone.

Je pense que le nombre de Métis est gonflé pour une raison financière.

Voici pourquoi:

Afin qu’une communauté métisse soit reconnue, ses membres doivent avoir recours aux tribunaux.

C’est généralement pour faire face à des accusations relatives aux droits de récolte ou de l’occupation territoriale des terres de la Couronne.

En passant, les terres de la Couronne devraient automatiquement être restituées aux Premières Nations et aux Inuit.

En général, cela commence quand une personne est arrêtée pour «chasse illégale» ou parce que des «cabanes de chasse» étaient réputées être illégalement sur les terres de la Couronne.

C’est ainsi que débute un long parcours le système judiciaire – qui sera garanti se rendre jusqu’à la Cour suprême du Canada.

Chaque niveau doit être financé par des centaines de milliers de dollars. Le ou les défendeurs doivent engager des avocats et des témoins experts et assumer tous les coûts associés.

Les témoins experts doivent fournir des preuves empiriques de l’existence historique d’une communauté – avant la vague notion coloniale de «contrôle effectif», qui est une date non définie et différente partout.

Chaque membre de la communauté doit fournir au moins une lignée ancestrale validée reliant un ancêtre «indien», avec les enregistrements de naissance et de mariage.

Les documents civils sont difficiles à obtenir (voir ma publication concernant les registres de baptêmes non-indexés de ma communauté) et obtenir une généalogie complète avec ses documents coûte plus de 250 $ chacun.

À ce propos, même les Métis de la rivière Rouge doivent avoir *une* seule ligne ancestrale vérifiée. La famille Powley aussi.

Ensuite, une communauté doit démontrer des preuves de son existence jusqu’au moment de «l’infraction».

La défense poursuivra ses efforts pour prouver que la communauté était réellement “absorbée” par le pouvoir en place, c’est-à-dire par la gouvernance anglaise ou française du temps.

Les tribunaux veulent que cela soit prouvé comme s’il existait une sorte de «club» doté de rôles d’adhésion, de procès-verbaux et d’assemblées générales annuelles.

Tout cela coûte beaucoup d’argent. Au moment où une affaire est jugée auprès de tout le système judiciaire, nous estimons que la facture totale se situe à près d’un million de dollars, voire plus.

Il y a beaucoup de tactiques de blocage. Parce que le temps égale plus de frais d’avocats.

À moins qu’une société avec un intérêt acquis ou une sorte de bienfaiteur soit prêt à payer la facture, les membres d’une communauté doivent supporter les coûts.

Bien entendu, les tribunaux prennent rarement en charge ces coûts.

C’est tellement pernicieux et cela ouvre la porte à ce que les communautés s’entraînent avec des sociétés d’extraction de ressources qui offrent des services de consultation:

Cette liste publiée par le gouvernement de l’Alberta est une compilation de consultants en recherche autochtones reconnus. Vous remarquerez les grands acteurs habituels tels que Stantec et SNC Lavalin:

https://open.alberta.ca/publications/list-of-alberta-historic-resource-consultants

Ainsi, dans des endroits comme le Chicot, sans ressources commercialisables connues, la quête de la reconnaissance de notre communauté, avec seulement environ 300 ménages qui s’identifient comme Métis, nous devrions en supporter les coûts nous-mêmes.

Donc:

$1 000 000 ÷ 300 = $3 333 par ménage

3 333 $ par ménage pour prouver l’existence d’une communauté métisse.

C’est un coût trop difficile à supporter pour une région économique où le revenu moyen des ménages est inférieur à 50 000 dollars par an.

Ainsi, la seule option serait de créer une sorte de société ou de club, d’ouvrir un registre et de choisir des abonnements à 50 dollars la carte pour générer un revenu permettant de couvrir les coûts.

$1 000 000 ÷ $50 = 20 000 membres.

Environ 1 200 personnes s’identifient comme Métis au Chicot.

En tant que planificateur financier, ces chiffres n’ont aucun sens.

Un million de dollars n’est même pas un investissement, car il n’y a aucune récompense autre que la reconnaissance à la fin de décennies de procédures judiciaires.

Cela amènera seulement le gouvernement à “reconnaître” l’existence du Chicot.

Alors, entre-temps, moi-même et les autres Métis Chicot continuerons de nous appeler des faux, des fétis, des appropriateurs culturels.

Et le gouvernement colonial se réjouit.

Can you spare $1,000,000? The Economics of proving Identity

Posted on May 11, 2019November 9, 2019 by Abitawiskwe

I woke up thinking about economies of scale and Indigenous Identity.

I think numbers of Métis is inflated for a financial reason.

Hear me out:

To have a Métis community recognized, its members must use the Courts.

Usually, it’s over Harvesting rights or territorial occupation of Crown lands.

p.s.: Crown lands should automatically be returned to First Nations and Inuit.

Usually, it’s initiated when someone is arrested for an “illegal hunt” or because their “hunting cabins” were being deemed to be illegally on Crown land.

Hence, begins a long and drawn-out path thorough the Court system – which will be garanteed to be fought right up to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Each level of Court take hundreds of thousands of dollars to see through. The defendant(s) must hire lawyers, expert witnesses and cover all costs associated.

The expert witnesses need to provide empirical evidences of a community’s historical existence – prior to a vague Colonial concept of “effective control” which is a non-defined date different everywhere.

Each member of the community must provide a minimum of one vetted ancestral line linking to an “Indian” ancestor, complete with birth and mariage records.

Records are difficult to obtain (see my posts regarding the un-indexed records of my community) and cost upwards of 250$ each.

By the way, even Red river Métis need to have *just one* ancestral line verified. So did the Powley family.

Then, a community needs to show evidences that it continued to exist right up to the time of the “infraction”.

The Crown’s defense will attempt to prove that the community was actually *absorbed* into the ruling power, i.e. either English or French rule.

The way the Courts want it proven is as if some kind of “club” existed with membership roles, minutes and Annual General meetings.

All this costs LOTS of money. By the time a case makes its way through the court system, we’re looking at close to, and even over a million dollars.

There’s lots of stalling tactics. Because time equals more money.

Unless some corporation with a vested interest or some sort of benefactor is ready to foot the bill, members of a community must bear the costs.

Of course, the Courts seldom provide for these costs.

It’s so pernicious, and opens the door to communities becoming embroiled with resource-extraction corporations who offer “consulting”:

This list published by the government of Alberta is a compilation of recognized Indigenous research consultants – you’ll notice the usual big players such as Stantec and SNC Lavalin in there:

https://open.alberta.ca/publications/list-of-alberta-historic-resource-consultants

So, in places such as the Chicot, with no known marketable resources, the quest to have our community recognized, with only approximately 300 households who identify as Métis, we’d have to bear the costs ourselves.

$1,000,000 ÷ 300 = $3,333 per household

$3,333 per household to prove the existence of a Métis community.

That’s too much to bear for an economic region where the average household income is less than $50,000 per year.

So, the only option would be to form some sort of corporation or club, open up a Registry, and shill memberships at $50 bucks a card to provide income to cover the costs.

$1,000,000 ÷ $50 = 20,000 members.

There are only about 1,200 people who identify as Métis at the Chicot.

I’m a Financial Planner and those numbers just don’t make any sense.

$1,000,000 isn’t even an investment because there are no rewards ither than recognition at the end of decades of Court processes.

It will only lead to the government “recognizing” that the Chicot exists.

So, meanwhile, myself and other Chicot Métis will continue being referred to as fakes, fétis, cultural appropriators.

And the Colonial government rejoices.

“Nous sommes plus forts unis”

Posted on May 4, 2019October 1, 2019 by Abitawiskwe

Traduction de l’article de mon amie Daphne Williamson, publié un article fort intéressant – sur CBC anglophone: https://bit.ly/2UXY0Je

– y voici la traduction:

《Nous sommes plus forts ensemble》: l’avocat demande la fin de la violence latérale à l’encontre des Métis de l’Est

Daphne Williamson – CBC News

Les victoires de la Cour suprême au sujet des droits des Métis ont influencé une augmentation du nombre d’autochtones s’identifiant, affirment des experts. (Sean Kilpatrick / Presse Canadienne)

En tant que femme autochtone et avocate, la majeure partie de mon travail concerne les personnes et les communautés marginalisées dans le domaine des droits et de l’identité des Autochtones. Je voudrais aborder la violence latérale qui a été perpétrée contre les Métis de l’est au cours des dernières années et mettre les choses au clair quant à la légitimité de leurs revendications.

En termes généraux, les «Métis de l’Est» sont ceux de l’Ontario et de l’Extrême-Orient qui ne sont pas représentés par le Conseil national des métis (CNM), y compris ceux qui partagent la même parenté avec eux, mais dont l’ascendance provient de l’extérieur du «pays métis». C’est un concept intéressant compte tenu du fait que le mot «Métis (sage)» vient de la Nouvelle-Écosse et que, par conséquent, les Métis le sont aussi. Mais c’est le problème.Selon le MNC, les personnes qui ne sont pas représentées par eux ne sont pas de «vrais» Métis et mènent une campagne visant à dénigrer la légitimité des autres identités et communautés métisses au moins ces dernières années.

Il s’agit d’une forme de violence latérale – violence psychologique (ou physique) entre pairs. Lorsque ces pairs sont perçus comme des étrangers ou des adversaires, la violence latérale peut dégénérer en génocide culturel – processus systématique et délibéré consistant à saper, opprimer et, finalement, détruire l’identité culturelle ou le patrimoine d’un peuple, généralement pour des raisons politiques.

Débat sur les médias sociaux

En tant que peuples autochtones, nous connaissons trop bien l’héritage du génocide culturel, de la guerre psychologique et des injustices systémiques omniprésentes qui existent toujours. C’est pourquoi je suis à la fois choqué et attristé lorsque nous nous attaquons, et en particulier lorsque nous ciblons la culture ou l’identité d’un autre.
L’arme officielle de choix est la propagande dérogatoire qui transmet des informations incorrectes, incomplètes ou trompeuses.Des personnes supposément intelligentes acceptent tout ce qui est affiché en ligne comme évangile. Les universitaires se joignent à la mêlée. Les médias sociaux sont en flammes. Les insultes abondent. Les peuples autochtones sont scandalisés par les allégations d’intention de s’approprier la culture et les terres.

Pourquoi? Parce que les universitaires qui défendent les intérêts du MNC perpétuent cette propagande. Ils affirment que leurs recherches ont révélé que les Métis de l’Est s’appropriaient frauduleusement l’identité des «Métis» (sur laquelle le MNC revendique la propriété) pour usurper l’identité et les droits des peuples autochtones. Mais, ces universitaires n’ont pas demandé le consentement ou la participation des communautés étudiées. Pire encore, ils rejettent catégoriquement les recherches effectuées par des chercheurs des communautés ou ayant des liens ancestraux, malgré le fait qu’elles reposent sur des volumes de données historiques, des histoires orales et des connaissances de la communauté.

Acadien Métis

Personnellement, je travaille en étroite collaboration avec plusieurs communautés métisses acadiennes de la Nouvelle-Écosse, mais uniquement avec celles que j’ai pu vérifier comme pouvant soutenir leurs revendications autochtones en se fondant sur des générations d’ascendance métisse acadienne. Ce ne sont pas seulement des gens qui ont un mélange de lignées acadiennes et mi’kmaw ou qui ont un ancêtre autochtone éloigné, mais ceux qui se sont toujours reconnus métis acadiens et qui ont élevé des générations d’enfants de cette façon. Ces personnes ont leur propre identité, leur histoire, leur culture, leur langue et leurs communautés de parenté qui ont survécu à la persécution historique, distincte de celle revendiquée par le Conseil national des Métis, tout en restant légitime.De plus, je suis assez confiant que, le moment venu, il existe des preuves plus que suffisantes pour satisfaire au critère de Powley selon lequel «on s’identifiait soi-même, on acceptait la communauté et un lien avec une communauté métisse historique et contemporaine».

onsirs: Powley ne nécessite pas d’homogénéité. La Cour a reconnu que les communautés métisses peuvent se développer et évoluer différemment en fonction de l’influence de facteurs sociaux, historiques, politiques et géographiques. La cour a également déclaré que les notions (arbitraires et racistes) de «quantum de sang» et de seuils générationnels ne s’appliquent pas aux Métis. Chaque communauté est unique. Et, aussi longtemps qu’ils peuvent avoir la preuve de leurs prétentions, pas moins légitimes qu’un autre.
Autrement dit, le RNM ne «possède» pas l’identité métisse, pas plus que toute communauté ne possède l’identité «autochtone». Aucune Première nation après le contact ne peut nier qu’elle a des relations avec les Métis. Ce sont des positions politiques qui ignorent les systèmes traditionnels de parenté qui ont créé et perpétué nos communautés, maintenu la paix et assuré notre survie en tant que peuple autochtone.Personnellement, j’encourage vivement le retour aux méthodes traditionnelles car nous sommes plus forts ensemble. Nous ne demanderons jamais au gouvernement de rendre des comptes si nous jouons avec la mentalité coloniale et luttons entre nous.
Entre-temps, pourquoi tout ce bruit sur les Métis de l’est? Parce qu’ils s’organisent bien.Ils ont des volumes de preuves. Ils se soutiennent. Ils deviennent plus forts. Et cela les rend une menace – non seulement pour le MNC, mais aussi pour le gouvernement.
Cette colonne fait partie de la section Opinion de la CBC. Pour plus d’informations sur cette section, veuillez lire le blog de cet éditeur et notre FAQ .

A PROPOS DE L’AUTEUR

Daphne Williamson

Daphne Williamson est une avocate de Wampanoag en Nouvelle-Écosse qui travaille avec des Autochtones marginalisés sur des questions relatives aux droits et à l’identité.

Métis Nation Colonizers

Posted on February 11, 2019October 1, 2019 by Abitawiskwe

So we spent multiple generations and gathered from everywhere all the names we were known to call ourselves and how other people referred to us.

We then looked for all the research to prove that all these names meant we were not First Nations but were tied by kinship with the Original People.

We chose one name – Métis – that represented us all and had that name recognized by the government and included in the Constitutional Act.

Then, one group, representing a small portion within a delimited geographic area, took all the government money. They use it to campaign against people who shared everything: the names we call ourselves, the research to prove those names and the success in the recognition of the name.

That group trademarked the name Métis and also kept all the other names we called ourselves.

They tell you it’s about White people appropriating Indigenous identity.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

It’s not.

This group, and EVERY SINGLE OF ITS MEMBERS are now Colonizers. Anyone who participates, promotes, supports their actions are COLONIZERS.

Liens entre les communautés de la Chicot et du Nipissing-Ouest: “li Mitifs sont tissés serrés comme la Flechée”

Posted on February 10, 2019October 1, 2019 by Abitawiskwe

click here for English

Jusqu’à la guerre mondiale, les gens qui quittaient les communautés étaient des êtres d’exception. Les gens ont développé des racines profondes dans leur communauté; dans le cas des communautés métisses, ces racines étaient profondes même avant l’arrivée des colons européens.

Les Voyageurs, eh bien, ça voyageait – et pourtant, comme nous l’avons vu dans les registres, ils sont revenus, ils ont gardé des liens avec leurs parenté et leurs communautés. Ces liens entre communautés ont survécu à travers de nombreuses générations, malgré les difficultés de communication entre elles. Le service postal était une bouée de sauvetage entre parents et amis. Beaucoup de pintes de sirop d’érable se sont dirigées vers l’ouest, tandis que beaucoup de pemmican aux amélanches se dirigeaient vers l’est.

Les surnoms, les histoires, les chansons et les contes rappelaient notre parenté; au fil du temps, tout a été embelli et exagéré afin que l’auditeur reste captivé et pour que l’histoire soit transmise à la génération suivante. Cependant, les contes sont restés suffisamment vrais pour que si vous rencontriez le sujet en question, vous les reconnaissiez instantanément et vous sentiez comme si vous les connaissiez depuis toujours.

Au début des années quatre-vingt, ce qui coïncide avec le début des technologies modernes, la plupart des vieux habitants de nos communautés, qui étaient les conteurs et les porteurs de traditon nous avaient quittés. À mesure que le temps passait, les histoires devenaient de plus en plus douteuses et les technologies modernes faisaient penser qu’il aurait été impossible de rester connectés. Curieusement, avant la technologie, nous n’avions aucun moyen de vérifier les histoires orales – nous savions pourtant qu’elles étaient vraies. Aujourd’hui, nous sommes programmés pour tout voir à travers la lentille de fake news.

Cela me passionne toujours lorsque quelqu’un que je ne connais pas personnellement, mais avec qui je partage de nombreux liens de parenté, partage des histoires que nous avons toutes deux entendues de sources différentes et pourtant communes.

Voici un cas. Cette photo et cette histoire ont été publiées par Mme Viviane Roberge, qui tient une page Facebook merveilleuse sur les événements passés et présents de la ville de St-Gabriel de Brandon, où je suis née.

La plupart de ces noms me sont très familiers: bien qu’elles ne soient pas des ancêtres directs, Celina Corriveau et Calixte Courchesne sont les grands-parents de mon oncle, Rolland Desrochers. Nous sommes liés par son épouse, ma tante Jeanne Mathews.
J’ai eu le plaisir de passer beaucoup de vacances d’été avec tante Jeanne et oncle Rolland. Bien qu’ils soient déménagés en Floride dans les années 50 ou 60, ils revenaient presque chaque été et restaient chez mon grand-père pendant qu’ils rendaient visite à leurs familles respectives. Le frère de l’oncle Rolland était propriétaire du garage en ville et la famille tenait un hôtel et étaient des commerçants réputés.

1940

Aunt Jeane and Uncle Rolland at their 50th wedding anniversary celebration in 1986

La famille de l’oncle Rolland était composée de voyageurs chevronnés. Comme beaucoup de familles de notre communauté, elles étaient allées dans de nombreux endroits, comme les Voyageurs que nos ancêtres étaient. Oncle Rolland nous a régalé d’histoires de cousins qu’ils auraient rencontrés au cours de leurs nombreux voyages dans une succession de maisons de rêve sur roues.

Le grand-père de l’oncle Rolland, Calixte Courchene, avait quitté St-Gabriel de Brandon à plusieurs reprises, allant aussi loin au sud que Lowell, dans le Massachusetts, avant de s’enraciner avec ses plus jeunes enfants à l’ouest dans la ville de Lavigne, au Témiscamingue, où Calixte y décède en 1940.

Son fils Télesphore s’est bien assuré que les six épouses soient nommées à l’acte de sépulture.

De son union avec sa deuxième épouse, Marie Louise Allard, naquit Télesphore à St-Gabriel de Brandon en 1897.

Télesphore a épousé Marie Anne Aubin en 1920. Il est toujours reconnu comme Porteur de Traditions par le Centre franco-ontarien de folklore: https://www.cfof.on.ca/porteurs-de-tradition.

Un fils, Narcisse, suivit les traces de son père et est devenu Porteur de Traditions pour la région. Il a publié plus d’une douzaine de livres sur la région du Nipissing Ouest et est également co-fondateur de la Société d’histoire et de généalogie de la région de Sudbury. Devenu un expert dans ce domaine, il a aidé plusieurs membres de sa communauté à produire leur arbre généalogique et à obtenir leur carte de Métis.

BIOGRAPHE DE NARCISSE COURCHESNE

Jusqu’à ce que Mme Viviane Roberge ait postée dans son groupe St-Gabriel de Brandon, d’une génération à l’autre, je n’avais aucune idée du nom de ce Porteur de Traditions, mais j’avais entendu parler du cousin de l’oncle Rolland qui avait même fait le voyage en terre natale de son père au long de la rivière Chicot.

J’aurais aimé savoir cela lorsque j’ai eu le privilège absolu de visiter la région à l’invitation des députés Paul Lefebvre du comté de Sudbury et Marc Serré du comté de Nickel Belt à l’été 2017!

Rencontre de citoyens Métis concernés et de la Fédération Métisse du Canada en août 2017. De gauche à droite: Robert Pilon, Métis de la Saskatchewan, président; Johanne Brissette, Métis de la rivière Chicot, trésorier; Dr. Keen Savard, Métis de la rivière aux Français, consultant; Marc Serré, député de Sudbury et Paul Lefebvre, député de Nickel Belt

Si vous êtes lié à Calixte, Télesphore et Narcisse et que vous souhaitez discuter de nos communautés historiques, envoyez-moi un message!

Community connections between the Chicot and West Nipissing: “li Mitifs sont tissés serrés comme la Fléchée”

Posted on February 10, 2019October 1, 2019 by Abitawiskwe

Up until the World Wars, people who left communities were oddities. People grew deep roots in their community; in the case of Métis communities, these roots even predate the arrival of European Settlers.

Voyageurs, well, were travelers – yet as we’ve seen in records, they came back, they kept ties with their kin and their communities. These connections survived through many generations, despite the difficulties in communication. The postal service was a lifeline between kin. Many pints of maple syrup made their way West while lots of Serviceberry Pellican (how us kids called Pemmican) made its way East.

Kin were remembered by nicknames, stories, songs and tall tales; as time passed, everything was embellished and exaggerated to keep the listener enthralled and ensure the story was passed down to the next generation. Yet, the tales stayed true enough that if you did meet the subject in question, you instantly recognized them and felt like you’d known them forever.

By the early eighties, which coincides when the beginning of modern technologies, most of our town folk who were the storytellers had left us. As time passed, the stories became more and more doubted and modern day amenities made the idea that it was possible to keep connected became seen as ludicrous. Funnily enough, before technology, we had no way of verifying these stories – yet we knew them to be true. Today, we’re programmed to see everything through the fake news lens.

It always give me a thrill me when someone who I don’t know personally, but with whom I share many kinship connections, shares stories we’ve both heard from different yet common sources.

Here is one case. This picture and story was posted by Mrs Viviane Roberge, who maintains a wonderful Facebook page about events past and present of the town of St-Gabriel de Brandon, where I was born.

Most of these names are all very familiar to me: although not direct ancestors, Celina Corriveau and Calixte Courchesne are the grandparents of my uncle, Rolland Desrochers. We are related through his wife, my aunt Jeanne Mathews.

1940

Aunt Jeane and Uncle Rolland at their 50th wedding anniversary celebration in 1986

I had the pleasure of spending many of Summer vacations with Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Rolland. Although they had moved down to Florida back in the 50s or 60s, they came back almost every Summer and stayed with my grandfather while they visited with their respective families. Uncle Rolland’s brother owned the garage in town and the family was well-known hotel and shopkeepers.Uncle Rolland’s family were seasoned travelers. Like many families from our community, they had been to many places, like the Voyageurs our ancestors all were. Uncle Rolland regaled us with stories of cousins they’d meet during their many travels in a succession of fancy home on wheels.Uncle Rolland’s grandfather Calixte Courchene had left St-Gabriel de Brandon several times, going as far South as Lowell, Massachusetts before setting roots West in the Temiskaming town of Lavigne, where Calixte passed away in 1940. His son Télesphore made sure that all of Calixte’s six wives were named in his burial record.

Télesphore Courchesne war born in St-Gabriel de Brandon in 1897, of Calixte’s second wife, Marie Louise Allard:

Télesphore married Marie Anne Aubin in 1920. Himself recognized as a Knowledge Keeper by the Centre franco-ontarien de folklore: https://www.cfof.on.ca/porteurs-de-tradition.One son, Narcisse, followed his father’s footsteps and became the region’s Knowledge Keeper. He published over a dozen books on the region of West Nipissing and is also co-founder of the Sudbury Area History and Genealogy Society. Having become an expert in this field, he helped several members of his community produce their family trees and obtain their Métis cards.

BIOGRAPHIE DE NARCISSE COURCHESNE

Until Mrs. Viviane Roberge posted in her group St-Gabriel de Brandon, d’une génération à l’autre, I had no idea of this Knowledge Keeper’s name, but I had heard stories of Uncle Rolland’s cousin who even made the trip all the way back to the Chicot to visit his father’s birthplace.I wish I knew this when I had the absolute privilege to visit the area at the invitation of members of Parliament Marc Serré of the riding of Sudbury and Paul Lefebvre of the riding of Nickel Belt back in the Summer of 2017!

mfc visit sudbury nickel belt 2017 — Gathering of concerned MNO citizens and the Metis Federation of Canada, August 2017 from left: Robert Pilon, Saskatchewan Métis, President Johanne Brissette, Chicot river Métis, Treasurer Dr. Keen Savard, French river Métis, Consultant Marc Serré, MP for Sudbury Paul Lefebvre, MP for Nickel Belt

If you are related to Calixte, Télesphore and Narcisse and would like to chat about our communities, please drop me a line!

Baptêmes MITIF & MITIVE Baptisms

Posted on December 30, 2018October 1, 2019 by Abitawiskwe

	Abitawiskwe on Îles Dupas et du Chicot, Easte…
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	Anita Beausoleil-Par… on Liens entre les communautés de…
	Dale Adams on Notable Chicot Métis

	Abitawiskwe on Îles Dupas et du Chicot, Easte…
	Jodie on Îles Dupas et du Chicot, Easte…
	Lucie Beausoleil on Liens entre les communautés de…
	Anita Beausoleil-Par… on Liens entre les communautés de…
	Dale Adams on Notable Chicot Métis

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